It's been a busy few weeks to end the numismatic year.

Since joining the registry I've come to think of my collecting in more of an "annual progress" way. Each year I have goals that I'd like to achieve before the numismatic year ends. I also tend to view a numismatic year from Dec 1st thru Nov 30th as this coincides with the Collectors Society/NGC's dates for registry inclusions of coins to be added into the sets for their yearly awards recognitions.

While I didn't aspire to compete for any of the coveted annual awards here at the NGC registry this year, I definitely had some set goals--most which I progressed on but fell short of completing ( which is fine by me.)

One of my goals for the year was to finally get the 2 Canadian coin sets that I collect in order and up to date-if not fully complete. The 2 sets are the Bluenose Schooner 10c proof series and the $2 "Twonie" polat bear coins with the silver outer ring and silver with gold or gold gilt inner ring.

I love both of these sets--the 10c with the sailing ship since I have been an avid sailor here on the Chesapeake for years and have long collected themed coins with ships on them. The $2 polar bear coin set was started just because they are just such beautiful coins.

Which brings up the issues that myself and NGC together have been having and working to resolve. It seems that various books and publications have had errant info about the issuances for these series in proofs. The massive variances of issues by the Canadian mint did not make it easy to get the correct info either.

I will give you a brief example of a partial explanation of the $2 proof series and you'll see how confusing it was for NGC to have the proper slots and for me to try and explain to them.

Ex: The series started in 1996 and the 1996 and 1997 proof issues were Cuni with also a piedfort silver 1996 issue with gold gilt center and a seperate 1996 issue which had the center of 22k gold throughout and not gilt. In 1998 the proof sets began to make all $2 coins of silver with no more cuni-again with gold gilt centers. In 1999 there were 2 $2 designs with a silver gilt 1999, a "nunuvat" commem silver gold gilt and a 1999 Nunuvat silver with 22k solid gold center ring. In 2000 there were 3 issued--the regular silver gold/gilt polar bear, a millenium polar bear with cubs silver gold/gilt and another silver with 22k solid gold center.........etc etc etc....

You get the point of how confusing this series was for everyone to correctly list with the bi-metallic nature of the coin being the major confusion. ( A large part of the problem was extra slots being added for the same coins as "gilt" on the labels were being confused as different coins than the "silver" listed on the label, when in actuality they were the same thing, silver coins with gold gilt.)

Major props to Melissa for correcting submissions that were denied as "not eligible for the slot"...and especially to Ali Emery who persevered with patience through this aggravating series and continued until these 2 sets are at last 100% up to date and accurate on all slots--thanks.

My latest submission was a larger one for me personally as I submitted several Canadian proof sets to finally fill some straggler holes, also with some special foreign commems and Britain pounds, dollars and Britainnias.

I also have my annual renewal every November for NGC membership which adds to solidify my perception of a numismatic year running from Dec to Nov. I squeaked in under the wire my usage of my 5 coin submission coupon-using it for an attempt to crossover 5 coins from PCGS slabs to add to my NGC sets--this didn't go well as only 2 crossed.

I'll go more into the submission craziness I had and my continuing crossover fails on another journal, for now I am just pleased to have my 2 canada proof sets in order and to a point where I will need to only add the next year's release..

Here's a picture of my 2007 PF70UCAM "Twonie"...not so popular a series in the registry so far, however now that the issues have been clarified, maybe more collectors will venture to assemble a set of these beautiful coins.....

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