- Bands
- Refers to fully separated and distinct horizontal cross bands on the
reverse fasces of a Mercury dime. A coin's price can more than double in
value if this feature is full. Typical grade description: "1916-D Mercury.
Mint State 63. Full Bands." (Larry and Ira Goldberg of Superior Galleries,
an A-Mark Company, have instructed the their cataloger to substitute "split
bands" in cataloging when a coin doesn't quite justify the "full"
expression.) See
McDonalds arches.
- Beater
- One who drives a hard bargain. Conversation heard January 22, 1993
between Richard H. and his friend Ed concerning a wristwatch sale H. had
just concluded with another person: Ed. "That fellow sure tried to nickel
and dime you on the one piece." Richard. "He's a beater." Ed. "Yeah, a lot
of those wristwatch guys are beaters." See
negotiating.
- Bellybutton Dollar
- A variety of 1884 silver dollar has a defect from the die causing a
strategically placed depression on the eagle's lower abdomen.
- Bid
- Also Mr. Bid. Wholesale buying price as established by
market makers, and listed in the weekly Coin Dealer Newsletter.
See ask; also
singles for an example
of how bid is used in conversation.
- Blazer
- An Uncirculated or Proof coin having above-average luster and visual
appeal. Veteran coin collector Fred Y. (a Chinese gentleman) used to ask to
see any "braziers" I had in stock. Also dazzler, flash, Godzilla,
hard white, killer, monster, moose, mother, stone white, wonder
coin, and a host of others.
- Blue Ikes
- 1971 to 1978 Eisenhower Uncirculated 40%-silver dollars in original blue
envelopes of issue.
- Blue-white Luster
- A variant of blazer, a few silver coins exhibit
inordinately striking luster that has a bluish tint.
- Booby Head
- 1839 large cent variety. Term used as early as the 1850s. Evidently Miss
Liberty exhibits an idiot's or booby's expression on her face.
- Bow-Wow
- Short for Bowers and Ruddy Galleries, Inc., a large coin outfit of the
seventies and eighties situated in Hollywood. Dealer Kevin L. apparently
coined this term. "John, what's new with Bow-Wow?"
- Brick
- (1) A block of 4,000 Federal Reserve Notes bound together with metal
straps, as shipped from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to the various
Federal Reserve district banks. Rarely seen outside the "system". (2) A lot
of 500 American silver one-ounce Eagles sealed in a brick as delivered by
the mint. See rounds.
- Broken 3
- Variety of 1823 half dollar. The 3 in date from a botched puncheon. Not
rare.
- Brown Ikes
- 1971 to 1978 Eisenhower Proof 40%-silver dollars in brown box of
issue.
- Breakout
- With the advent of third-party grade-certification or "slabbing" in
1986, a new technique developed of breaking a coin out of its plastic slab
and resubmitting it to the same service or another grading service for a
hoped-for upgrade. If the coin came back with a higher grade, its value was
enhanced accordingly, often to the tune of two or three hundred percent! A
coin that was a good candidate for this magician's transformation was said
to be a "Breakout" or "Crackout".
- Bullet Sale
- A relatively new kid on the block, Bullet Sales are sales by auction of
slabbed material. The auction house
conducting the sale prepares a no-frills catalog and the sale takes place at
breakneck speed. Consignors pay low commission rates. Those desirous of
dumping their unsold treasures find this a quick means of generating cash.
Bullet Sales emerged shortly after the 1985-1989 bull market in
slabbed coins began to crash. This may
have been a coincidence. They are now an integral part of the market, with
Heritage (Steve Ivy) conducting the biggest and most successful events.
. . .
. . .
. . .
Numismatica / 15 Sep 2003