finding coins is half the thrill

One of the great things about coin collecting are all of the small thrills involved { and occasionally a great thrill}. I always get a charge when I go to my post office box and find that a package is there for me. Usually the anticipation has built up enough after waiting for my purchase or the return of a submission that the package is lucky to make it home unopened.

Another great thrill {which doesn't happen to me too often} is getting a coin graded higher than I expected. Also receiving a coin that I purchased that is nicer than the photo you saw in the listing is sure to give me a smile.

When I win an item at auction for well under my maximum bid--definately worth a woohoo or fist pump {and if I get it for half of what I expected I may even do a little "dance around the computer chair"}

However for me a lot of the enjoyment of collecting is the hunt. I have thoroughly scoured my 3 different Krause catalogs of over 2 centuries of World Coins looking for ones that will fit my favorite signature set. I make a list of the ones that I find that fit my collection and then search various places for them. Sometimes I'll locate one but the price is ridiculous and I wait. Sometimes I get the thrill of finding one at what I was willing to pay and I jump all over it.

A rare thrill, which I had just tonight, is finding a coin by chance that fits my collection and I didn't even know it existed. Recently I have been building a little set of Proof-like Canadian dimes with the schooner on the reverse. A simple and attractive reverse design, and the coins dated from 1937-52 and 1953-67 have the younger busts of the queen which I like.

Tonight while inspecting a Canadian Coin website I found, I discovered a wonderful commemorative dime from 1997 commemorating the anniversary of the Cabot voyage from the UK to Canada. I went to ebay and BINGO..I found one for about half what the website was selling theirs for. A double thrill!!!! Finding a coin that I didn't know about to fit my set, using the" buy it now" option, and getting it for around half ....

Here's a photo from the listing. I'm pretty sure that when it arrives that this is one package that will be opened at the first red light I hit on the way home...