Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of the Treasure Beaches Report.
---
The scene where the seven dwarfs admire Snow White in her glass coffin is one of the fairy tale's most emotional and impressive moments. The dwarfs placed Snow White in a glass coffin on a hill in the forest because her body, even in death, remained so beautiful and unblemished. The coffin is intricately designed and made of clear glass, allowing Snow White to be visible from all sides and admired at any time – a worthy resting place for "the fairest of them all."
In European numismatics, however, a transparent coffin is still considered by many collectors to be a coin's worst fate. They refer to the rigid plastic holders in which certification providers like the Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) or the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) grade coins as "plastic coffins"—and some even break the coins out of the "slab."...
Experienced coin dealers and auctioneers, on the other hand, criticize hard plastic capsules because they hinder the detection of counterfeits. They argue that with coins in hard plastic holders, they cannot apply their skills and knowledge to detect counterfeits—such as examining the edge, sound, and weight. Indeed, there have been isolated cases where counterfeit coins have made their way into a grading holder...
Here is the link for more about the subject of third-party grading, and believe it or not, there are still some communities that do not like it.
Third-Party Grading: Is it a curse or a blessing for European numismatics? - Numismatic News
As you probably know, and will see in the Sedwick auctions, even what I call "treasure coins" are being graded and slabbed by the grading companies.
I am sympathetic to the need for and advantages of third-party grading, but am also sympathetic with the other side of the argument.
I personally like coins that aren't perfect and that show wear and like to inspect them in ways that slabbing makes impossible. And, of course, even graded and slabbed coins are being faked.
---
Yesterday I mentioned pirate/scientist William Dampier and his books. Below is a link to one of those, and here is a description.
A VOYAGE TO NEW HOLLAND ETC.
IN THE YEAR 1699.
Wherein are described, The Canary Islands, the Isles of Mayo and St. Jago. The Bay of All-Saints, with the forts and town of Bahia in Brazil. Cape Salvador. The winds on the Brazilian coast. Abrolho Shoals. A table of all the variations observed in this voyage. Occurrences near the Cape of Good Hope. The course to New Holland. Shark's Bay. The isles and coast, etc. of New Holland.
Their inhabitants, manners, customs, trade, etc. Their harbours, soil, beasts, birds, fish, etc. Trees, plants, fruits, etc.
Illustrated with several maps and draughts: also divers birds, fishes and plants not found in this part of the world, curiously engraven on copper plates.
Here is the link.
----
 |
| Source: nhc.noaa.gov. |
As you can see above, Oscar is still supposed to go out into the Atlantic.
 |
| Clip of Oscar Source: windyty.com. |
 |
| Source: SurfGuru.com. |
And we will get a five-to-six-foot surf through Wednesday. We are still having the King tides.