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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;dougsmit, post: 1996492, member: 19463&quot;]Seriously!&nbsp; Were I able to trace every coin back <u><b>to the ground</b></u>, I would be able to spot those which started life in a forger&#039;s shop, those that made a side trip to a tool shop and answer some of the pressing questions of our hobby with absolute certainty.&nbsp; I would be able to prove one way or the other whether the gold EID MAR are or are not ancient.&nbsp; Silbannicus would be or not be; there would be no question.&nbsp; The cash value of that information would only be exceeded by its danger since there would be people who would benefit greatly from my termination.&nbsp; Assuming that were not a factor (this is, after all, theoretical) I would be able to sell individual &#039;readings&#039; for at least, lets say, 2% of a coin&#039;s value which would add up to more than the price of an EID MAR just certifying EID MAR coins.&nbsp; Today we have people who will not buy a coin without a certificate (or slab).&nbsp; How many would pay to know?&nbsp; How many would pay to have that information withheld?&nbsp; I suspect I would turn out to be a Numismatic Cassandra, always right but never believed until someone decided that I was definitely more trouble than I was worth.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>In truth, I would find that power much more appealing than one coin of a type that some people even doubt in silver (I do not go that far but they do exist).&nbsp; A coin worth $1M would not change my life.&nbsp; For that matter neither would that amount of cash.&nbsp; Times have changed since John Beresford Tipton made the number seem high but inflation made it too little to count on for what many consider a comfortable retirement.&nbsp;&nbsp; If I did get an EID MAR (found on street or as a cereal box premium?) I would sell it and convert it into something I would rather have.&nbsp; It is not enough (by far) to buy a serious coin dealership, not even the better ones of the type that sells coins to me.&nbsp; My collection has a lot less cash value than a proof EID MAR but I could not bear to trade straight up.&nbsp; I might consider trading half of my coins for half of the EID MAR.&nbsp; You cut it and I&#039;ll pick my half. <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie14" alt=":angelic:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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