Belloq, Raiders of the Lost Ark.

What an exciting time for the humble coin collector/consumer: to be alive and actively collecting during a transformation in our nation?s coinage. Within a 10 year span subtle to dramatic artistic changes have occurred to so many of the U.S. denominations: the Sacagawea Dollar; Washington Statehood Quarters; Jefferson Westward Journey Nickels and the ?Return to Monticello?; American Buffalo Gold $50s; reverse proof (ooooh, aaaaaah) silver and gold Eagles; and the soon to be released Presidential Dollars, First Lady $10s, and modified Lincoln Cent. Wow! Sure, the lucrative marketing tactics of the U.S. Mint have contributed to this coin consuming furor, but luckily for me I could reject the whoopla and modify my coin collecting if I was offended. Luckily for me, I?m not, and I am enjoying some wonderful coin designs. I am also enjoying the opportunity to acquire nearly perfect specimens of these new designs at essentially retail prices ? I just buy the coins from the mint (sometimes very quickly) and avoid much of the after market mark up. All in all, I?ve been having a lot of fun, and will just keep on adding to both my new and old coin collections.

Now, I?ll go home, look down on my PF70 Gold American Buffalo and think to myself, ?Who knows? In a thousand years, even you may be worth something.?