Just when I thought I could pay off my credit cards...

...I had to buy some items in some of Stack's auctions.

I hope everyone understands first of all, I'm not trying to blame Stack's. :-) My tongue is firmly planted in my cheek as I write this. It seems that Stack's have a cacaphony of items that I like, and want to put into my Wild West theme collection. Unfortunately for me, I don't have unlimited cash, so I have to pick and choose what items to bid on. So, as I try to pay off my credit cards, the first item I found that I couldn't live without was an ABN plate entitled "Falls Of The Yellowstone". Since Yellowstone is my favorite western park, yes, you've probably all guessed I just had to have this plate. (To be honest, there were several more I wanted, but couldn't swing the price.) Actually, this plate was my second choice, I couldn't hit the Insta-Bid button on my first choice fast enough before the auction closed. But I'm very happy with my purchase, it's the first plate I've acquired that had a print included. So I scanned the print, and it's attached to this journal entry.

Then in the Marshall Collection auction sale, I found 3 items. 2 of the lots I purchased are Arizona mining stock certificates. The third is an Elminger print entitled "Stolen Treasure". Of the 3 lots, I'm most looking forward to seeing the Elminger print. The whole scene, to me, invokes an image of the old west that I've always liked. So rather say any more about it, I think I'll wait till I receive it and scan it so everyone here can see it. :-)

I know none of these lots are coins, but they fit in with the way I approach my collection; I try to show the whole economic picture; the stock certificates are an integral part of it, and of course you need money (coins & currency mostly) to buy them. The plate was used to print, of course I can't say with any certainty what for sure, but I can see the vignette appearing on currency or stock certificates.

I've also made a few minor coin purchases this month; a pair of Canadian nickels from the '40s, and a German medal showing Gutenberg, and a so-called dollar.

Also, I've been still going through my ungraded Mexican coins and I'm still getting a lot of satisfaction from them.

However, in the next week, I'll be finally deciding on what to send in for my coupon. I'll probably wind up sending in some silver eagles, but that's not 100% certain yet.

All for now, and thanks for reading.