Franklin set, points discussion, registry set suggestions and the Mint missed the boat...

First though, a personal note to Mr. Thompson. I sure will be thinking of you, as I think all of us will, and hoping things turn around for the better for you.

I can't believe it's the middle of March already. Where does the time go?? I know, we all spend it looking at our coins, searching for coins, preparing submissions and on and on.

My main goal for the year, as I mentioned in an earlier journal article, is to complete my Franklin FBL set. I'm still short 8 coins. I don't know why I'm having problems finding them. The ones I'm missing, for those of you who don't want to go to my set to look, are: 49-S, 51, 52-S, 53-S, 57, 58, 62 and 63. I had a feeling when I started that the 53-S in a fairly good grade and FBL would be tough, but I was surprised to find the 62 and 63 are so hard to find in FBL. Not that I haven't come across some of these in various places, but it seems like every one I've seen didn't fit with my set. I've tried to keep my set white and lustrous, with no hint of toning. All the ones I've seen have been (and I'm sorry to anyone who likes toned coins) ugly. I guess I'll keep plugging away, and keep hoping to finish my set.

As for the points discussion that has been going on, I guess I'm in agreement with the members who've mentioned the registry sets made should have a hope of completion. I will admit right up front that my Half Eagle set is going to take me a very long time to complete for the following reason: I'm looking for the best looking coin I can find (read minimal contact marks and top notch striking) with a cost I can afford. As we probably all know, this is going to take a very long time, I would forecast it will take me at least the 10 years till I can retire to even have a glimmer of 50% completion. I hope you will all bear with me. Otherwise, coins I like (for example Mercury Dimes and Standing Liberty Quarters) will be put in my Brian's Beauties signature set.

Since I'm talking about registry sets, this may be a good place to make my suggestions to NGC. I would really appreciate more choices of Mexican sets. For example, I started an silver American Eagle set today, as I've been spending one of my days off going through my still ungraded pile of coins and found 5 Eagles that either I've bought or my brother has given me as presents thru the years. (As an aside, yes I'm getting some submissions ready, I still haven't used my coupon yet.) So I would really appreciate a Mexican Onza registry set to complement the bullion US silver sets. Also, maybe Pesos and 8 Reales sets. I'm thinking more along the lines of all the Canadian sets available.

Finally, I think the Mint has missed the boat with the State Quarter covers they've been selling. The first covers I bought from the mint were the Westward Journey Nickel covers. I think these covers are truly gorgeous, with the full color artwork. Then compare them to the plain-Jane (no offense to any Society members named Jane) State Quarter covers. I'm sure all of us (because we love the coins, the art of them and the beauty, could think of beautiful artwork to grace the state quarter covers that would so SO SO much better. I mean, wouldn't a panoramic view of the Grand Canyon in all of it's colorful splendor look awesome on the upcoming Arizona cover. There's so much natural beauty, historical beauty etc. etc. in American, I feel the Mint could have done so much better for us.

I'm attaching a picture of a Westward Journey cover and a Missouri state quarter cover, so you can all see what I mean, comparing them nest to each other.

Thanks for reading.