Well, its time for me to add to this thread....I was the person who bid on the Fitzgeralds ss at a buy it now for 175.00.....I received an email from Richard saying someone emailed him and said this was not a rare strike with the .999 on silver but rather on the brass...he said I could pass on the strike if I choose to,and would not hold me to the buy it now of 175.00 and at that time I did then pass on the strike.....The strike before that was a Fitzgeralds with .999 on the silver and I did buy it now for the 175.00 because they are rare to find...Each of us are adults, and as adults we do have the choice to bid on auctions we choose to bid on...we all have heard all the facts and rumors about Richard, and I believe it is now time to move on and let each person decide for themselves if they choose to bid on his auctions....I have always been pleased with the strikes I have bought from him....the only thing I ever thought when he was giving free rings and bracelets with his auctions was that he should have rewarded thoughs of us that did alot of business with him ,to throw in one of thoughs goodies for us too.....but that was his choice...so lets just move on and stop all the crap that has gone on on this message board...Christine (QRU2002@YAHOO.COM) &(QUEENIBE) both of which I go by on my auction sales and bids