feeling my collecting roots...

One of my favorite gifts at Christmas are always gift cards. I know that a well thought out personal gift is supposed to mean more, but for those who know about my thirst for knowledge in so many subjects--a gift card to a bookstore is a great gift for me.

Today I had a "date" with my wife. We went to Annapolis Mall and enjoyed a peaceful lunch together (no kids). Later we went shopping with some of our gift cards. I stopped in the Borders and went straight to the hobby section to look at coin books. I wasn't intending to, but one of the items I selected was a Presidential Dollar album with both the P & D mints.

As I've mentioned before I still enjoy albums. It always keeps me a bit grounded in this sometimes crazy hobby--where I can get caught up in the chase for points and rankings just like anybody else. I have a complete (so far)collection of BU statehood quarters. These are in an album and I'm proud to say that every quarter was plucked from change. I have gotten a handful of prez dollars at my bank at each release and I have a friend who lives in the Western USA whom I send 1 or 2 to him in exchange for my P mint coins he sends me 1 or 2 D mint coins..

I really like collecting like this in addition to the registry...like I said, it keeps me grounded and focused on the coins themselves...but it will always be a tie to my collecting roots and my early "fold up" albums.

I'd also like to congratulate all of the registry winners this year--and although I got completely skunked I can live vicariously through many of you. I was very pleased to see the journal awards go to the "newer" collectors who add so much to my collecting experience with the contageous enthusiasm and genuine love of the hobby. I was also glad that all 4 of the winners are on my friends list and have talked to me over the year via emails too.

It's wonderful that we have become a true community in that we all share a common passion for our hobby...I look forward to this next year reading and sharing our experiences...and to all of you, Happy Hunting..

Here's a coin that I received today...a beautiful $10 coin from Barbados with Poseiden--I want to thank my friend Ant who included this coin as a Free Surprise in a trade we recently made...Ant, awesome coin, thank you-I love it !!