THRILL OF COMPETITION VS THE PASSION OF THE HUNT

I RECENTLY CAUGHT MYSELF IN A EVIL THOUGHT: I CONSIDERED BUYING A COIN FOR THE SAKE OF ADVANCING IN THE REGISTRY COMPETITION. FOR THE BRIEFEST OF MOMENTS, I DREAMED A WICKED 1000+ POINTS ADVANCE.

THEN THE MOMENT PASSED.

THE COIN WAS A WINGED LIBERTY (MERCURY, FOR YOU HEATHENS) DIME NGC GRADED MS-67FB. I REJOICED IN FINDING IT, SUCH A STEEP GRADE,AND IMAGINED MYSELF APPROACHING THE TOP 25.

BUT THE STRIKE WAS WEAK IN SEVERAL POINTS OF THE OBVERSE AND REVERSE AND THE TONING.....THE POOR THING WAS UGLY IN THE EXTREME.

SO I SAID NO TO THE DEALER. I AM CERTAIN HE WAS TRYING TO UNLOAD THIS SPECIMEN SINCE IT WAS OFFERED AT MORE THAN 50% BELOW FAIR MARKET. HE KNEW I WAS BUILDING A REGISTRY SET AND BASED HIS SALES PITCH ON THAT FACT.

I ENJOY EVERY COIN I OWN. EACH ONE TELLS ME A STORY AND I CAN SPEND MANY A NIGHT LISTENING. NOT A DAY GOES BY THAT DOES NOT FIND ME CONTEMPLATING ONE OF MY UNIQUE PRIZES.

THE REGISTRY CAN DAZZLE AND SEDUCE. IT CAN CREATE A COMPETITION AMONG US, THE COLLECTORS. BUT IN FACT, THE COMPETITION IS "INTERNAL". I AM IN A STRUGGLE AGAINST GAPS IN MY KNOWLEDGE, LIMITATIONS IN MY INCOME AND THE MOMENTARY WEAKNESS OF CHARACTER WHICH WOULD HAVE ME BUILD POINTS RATHER THAN MY ONE-OF-KIND SET.