It has been several months since my last journal entry and many good things have happened during that time.

First of all, I had sent eight Silver Eagles to NGC for certification back in May. Twelve days after I mailed them, they were setting in my mail box at home. That was the fastest turn around time I have ever received from NGC. Thank you NGC and keep up the good work. Three of the Silver Eagles were 2006 W uncirculated coins fresh from the mint. I examined all three of them very closely and could not find any flaws in two of them. NGC agreed with me and assigned both of them the ultimate grade of MS-70. The third one was a different story altogether. While visually inspecting it, I could see a tiny spick of light flashing from the surface on the obverse as it was rotated under the light. I knew at that time this Silver Eagles didn?t have a prayer of receiving the ultimate grade, but I sent it in anyhow just to see if I was correct. I was correct on this one also; it was graded as a MS-69. The other five Silver Eagles were Proofs in which the 2007 was graded as a PF-70 UC and the other four were PF-69 UC. This was the best results I have ever received on any of my submissions.

I would like to thank everyone that has helped me in my education on how to grade coins. I have received a lot of excellent advice from more experienced members of the Collectors Society during the time that I have been a member. Their excellent advice and their willingness to share valuable knowledge has helped to develop my skills in coin grading. I still have a long way to go before I will think of myself as a competent coin grader (those lower MS grades are still killing me), but I am determined to get it right.

The second thing that has me excited is that my 2007 W uncirculated Silver Eagles have arrived from the mint and I can?t find a flaw in any of them. I am hoping for all three of them to come back as MS-70?s. I will be sending them in just as soon as my Proof Presidential Dollars arrive from the mint (they shipped on the 28th). I hope that they are as nice as the Silver Eagles.

Finally, I received three very nice George Washington Presidential First Day Covers. I am not sure, but I believe I have a couple of MS-67?s here. I could be wrong, because the MS-66 to MS-68 range is where I am having my biggest problem in grading. I will be sending these in as soon as my John Adams covers arrive. I will find out then if I was correct with their grade.

Thanks again for all the help,

Tom.

Here is one of the MS-70 Silver Eagles.