Switching Gears in Florida...

Greetings fellow collectors addicts & Numismaniacs,

I have been reading the journals of late and the tales and exploits of all of you, and your dealings with buying, selling, grading and new found loves.

The latter is what I would like to touch on. I have always loved coin collecting in general but have liked some issues over others. My main loves have been the mid 20th century halves. I do love the Walkers and Franklins. It seems that just before I finish a set 100% another " Love " catches my eye and attention and before I know it, I am "full bore" into another set to aquire.

I have always liked Gold, but with the high cost, it takes some time between aquisitions, more so if it's the $10 or $20 eagles or double eagles. I have always liked the Silver eagles as well and have the series in proof and have mint state in 20 coin tubes that I can not bear to break into. I did break in to the first roll I ever purchased, the 1996 and sent several off to NGC but now wished I hadn't because now I am several shy of a roll. I am slowly picking up the MS SE in the auction venues.

I have never really liked the modern gold eagles and only had a single proof one tenth oz. 1988 that I bought from a friend years ago. A few months ago I got to looking at it and other coins that were in the box at the bank and I said, what the heck, I'll send it in to get graded. I am convinced that it was a "70" when I got it and almost 20 years later when I sent it in, it has degraded to a "69". But my point is, when it came back and I held it in my hand, I felt the rumblings of another "monster" being created. I now have picked up a couple more proofs in "70" and have also made more of a showing in the mint state one tenth oz. issues. I have watched closly and have made some very good buys getting almost a dozen in MS 70. This is not the only thing that has happened since I left my silver half dollars.

I have always liked the Morgan Dollar but never in my wildest dreams conteplated starting that "million Dollar" series. Well, such as life would have it, I have. I have set limitations which don't mean "squat" but I have limited myself to the New Orleans coins and others that can be had in MS 64 for around $100 each. I am staying away from the "Vams" as if they have the plague. I went to add an 1880 issue to my registry set and I counted FORTY differant coins for that one date alone. That is borderline lunacy. ( Which SHOULD go quite well with my collector mentality )

Anyway my point being is that I have once again found a new love, or should I say loves and it's in the shape of the "smallest gold coin" and the "largest silver coin". I sometimes wonder if there is any hope for me and the others out there like me. I am "justifying" my latest addiction as a means to obtain funds for possible future conseling, if and when the need arrises. Until then I will continue to persevere onward with utter abandon forgetting the kids, the dog, the girlfriend and the beer. Well maybe not the beer... Happy Collecting to All! WKF