have been doing some thinking...

Ok, first of all, I'm not parting with anything for a long while. I have just been thinking about that day in the future....

I have been re-hashing some thoughts recently after reading the journal entry by AEAGLE01...who is selling his #2 ranked Buffalo Nickel set at Heritage this month. As much as I enjoy numismatics-and it truly is a hobby foremost to me-the objects of our collecting endeavors have VALUE. When I see a fabulous set of buffalos like AEAGLE01's I realize the time and effort he must have spent putting it together. With the abundance of internet auctions, ebay, websites, local auctions etc etc it is not hard to put together a complete set of decent/upper grade coins..or even Super High Grade modern sets if you have the money. To put together a wonderful set of classic coins--many in the top-pop range-- and especially an enormously popular set like buffalo nickels is a labor of love, and much invested time. The higher end coins are not readily available and when they come up for auction there is heavy competetive bidding.

Anyhow, to sell a set like that got me thinking...what would make me sell my sets and if I never sold them...who would I leave them to when I'm gone?? First of all I have a wife and 2 daughters, none of whom share my level of interest {my wife's response is usually "that's nice honey" and the girls usually give me a "cool coin dad" response}. Because my sets have value I do look at them as a bit of an investment/security. God forbid any tragedy should strike my family but I do count my coins along with my other investments as potential assets for a rainy day.

I also can see a much slower collecting period in my not too distant future. My older daughter just finished her freshman year of college and in 2 years my second daughter will be a freshman while my older daughter will be a junior. Things will be a lot tighter on the coin buying front for a few years to say the least.

These are just a few of the thoughts swirling in my head recently concerning my collection....and in the end I have decided nothing. I guess I will have to hope for continued health and good fortune and maybe someday.... a grandson!!!

Here's a photo of a super Maryland commem I bought many years ago... I tried twice for an upgrade from its current 65 {I've never seen a 66 this well struck, lustrous, and completely free of contact marks}..but now I'm happy to just own it...I figure if it were properly graded I wouldn't have invested the money to own such a beautiful example of a coin that fits no set..I only bought it because I live here in Maryland and in Calvert county {the bust on the coin is Cecil Calvert-the first Lord Baltimore}

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