Tom's Recommended Film of the Week

Dan in Real Life

Dan in Real Life is a film that I think most anyone can enjoy. My wife and I watched it together and that's no small trick. Normally our tastes differ so much that finding a film we both want to see is next to impossible, but each of us had decided independently that we wanted to see Dan in Real Life. So we watched it - I loved it, she like it, we both enjoyed the evening.

It wasn't until the credits got going that I realized Dan in Real Life was directed by Peter Hedges, the author of What's Eating Gilbert Grape. I used to sell books to Carole Hedges, Peter's mother, a good number of years ago. A year or so before the film version of What's Eating Gilbert Grape, staring Leonard Di Caprio and Johnny Depp, was released, Carole and I met in New York for cheese cake. When she mentioned that her son was an author, I said I would have to read his book. She said I might have trouble finding a copy before the film release and offered to try and get me a copy. A few weeks later a lovely dust jacketed first edition of What's Eating Gilbert Grape arrived with a warm inscription from Peter Hedges. It's an excellent novel from an outstanding author and a cherished volume in my personal library.

For Dan in Real Life, Peter both wrote and directed and his gental humorous touch is present in every frame. Casting is near perfection in this film, with Steve Carell, Juliette Binoche, Dane Cook, Dianne Wiest and John Mahoney all in central roles. The story offers the humor of discomfort, but is set in the warm and sensitive environment of family. The kitchen scene with Dianne Wiest, John Mahoney and Steve Carell just cracked me up! The DVD also offers a number of excellent and highly recommended extras. I enjoyed hearing some of Peters perspectives on directing, as well as many of the actors perspectives on Peter as a director.

The dialogue is wonderful and delivered at a streaming yet natural pace and the situational comedy is both touching and outrageous in turns. Peter did a great job with this film and I will be looking forward to more unique stories from him in the future.

Error Dollar in Heritage Auction

With the U.S. Mint State Quarter program and again with the Presidential Dollar program there has been a great flurry of activity focused at detecting and capitalizing on error coins. Off metal strikes, missing legends, plain edges and extra corn husks, there are seemingly lots of them out there waiting for collectors to uncover in rolls, bags and pocket change.

Several books and websites can help you learn more about error and variety coins. KP published one last year, titled Strike It Rich - Eith Pocket Change by Brian Allen and Ken Potter. I really enjoyed this book and from what I'm told it sold gangbusters, so others must be finding it useful as well. Allen and Potter provided excellent close up images, clear explanations of differences and terms, plus many cross references to other books. Web based sources are noted as well for specialty clubs like Combined Organization of Numismatic Error Collectors of America known as CONECA - whose publication is nmaed Errorscope and the National Collectors Association of Die Doubling known as NCADD - whose publication is called The Hubb.

Some error and variety coins have relatively little value, but many are quite expensive. Recently at least one rare 1969S doubled die Linclon cent was found by a collector in a roll of 1969S cents. The coin was full red and graded MS 64 by PCGS the Professional Coin Grading Service, which makes it one of the finest know examples. Check out this great photo of the coin, provided by Ken Potter. An example found and sold in 2007 brought about $85,000 and this latest one brought about $125,000 at auction! 

Some of the State Quarter errors have sold in the hundreds, as have the edge varieties of the Presidential dollars. In fact, Heritage Auctions has a plain edge John Adams dollar closing in their Sunday night Internet Auction which currently is bid at $425 and has at least four active bidders and five trackers watching the lot.

There is certainly interest in error coins and the opportunity is there for wonderful finds if collectors obtain a bit of knowledge and keep a keen eye out for the unusual.

Owls on Coins Remain Popular

If you are involved in animal coin collecting, then you know that Owls have always been one of the more popular design choices. From ancient to modern issue Owls have always been used in attractive coin designs to represent strength and wisedom. Even more common circulating coins which bear Owl designs ususally go up in value over time. There is always demand for Owl coins.

The Finland Owl coin which celebrates the 350th Anniversary of the University of Helsinki went up in value this year from $60 to $90 in BU on NumisMaster. It's a lovely traditional design by Raimo Heino with an Owl on the obverse and a Harp on the reverse. Struck in silver, denominated at 100 Markkaa and cataloged as KM#68, this coin has always had a strong following.

A few years ago, South Africa struck a pair of Owl coins with a less-traditional perspective. Cataloged as KM#283 and KM#284 in the Standard Catalog of World Coins 2001-Date, these Owls offer a unique sense of the Owls life in the wild. The 2 Rand is struck in proof with one ounce of silver.This type shows a close-up of the Verreaux's Eagle Owl's face. Released in 2004 with a mintage of 3,000 this coin has moved up in value from $45 to $60 over the last year.

It's counterpart is a small silver coin, also struck in 2004 to proof standards. Denominated at 2 1/2 cents, but not used for circulation, this type sports a Pearl Spotted Owlet on a tree branch. Currently it is holding it's value at $25, though it's mintage of 2,000 is too small to maintain at that level indefinitely.

Al Beck of the Coin Lode, a specialist in animal coins, tells me that the 2 1/2 cent Pearl Spotted Owlet coin has come to him in two different types of packaging. Some were held in a knotted leather pouch, while others were contained in a sonic sealed capsule. Either way, it has been a popluar type for which Beck has seen continued demand.

 

Namibia Takes Over From Namdeb

Seems the Namibian Government has taken over the exploration of the shipwreck uncovered during a Namdeb Diamond Corp. excavation in search of diamonds last month.* After being contacted by the Portuguese Government, Namibian officials have stepped in and are considering this Oranjemund wreck a prime historical site on which they plan to bring in their own archaeologists and technicians to ensure the careful examination and cataloging of all items.

In another arena, the Odyssey Marine vs. Spanish Government case currently making it's way through a Florida court, highlights what can happen when joined parties to shipwreck exploration keep secrets. Odyssey Marine had an agreement with Spain to search for a particular ship, found another wreck site, removed the coins and artifacts, transported them to Gibraltar and flew the back to their home base in Florida, without clarifying the situation to Spain. A year later the Spanish government has done their research and believes they know the origin of the ship. They think it is the Nuestra Senora de las Mercedes and have made claim to all contents, as that particular ship was Spanish and would have been sailing under Royal flag.

I don't know a great deal about maritime law, nor am I an expert on the Namibian Heritage laws, under which Namibia has laid claim to the Oranjemund wreck site, but I am wondering; if the 500 year old Namibian shipwreck site turns out to be a Royal Portuguese ship, who retains title to it's contents, which include large numbers of both gold and silver Portuguese and Spanish coins, along with eight cannons, 50 ivory elephant tusks, copper ingots, two Mariner's Astrolabes and many other artifacts?

In the case of the Mercedes a Florida court will decide between Marine Odyssey and the Spanish Government. With the Namibian wreck, it seems there may be better cooperation, at least for the moment, between the four interested parties of Portugal, Namibia, Namdeb and De Beers.

With the large number of significant coins involved, the numismatic community will be watching closely and hoping that these treasured numismatic properties will be handled with care and consideration, both for future researchers and for hopeful sea salvage collectors.

*For more details about the Namibian shipwreck uncovered by Namdeb, check out my archived interview with Lisa Bellavin on Coin Chat Radio!