now it's time to send them back

I don't know if it is a fluke or whether this kind of thing just happens every once in a while---however I got a package recently that wasn't mine.

This is the third time that I have gotten coins in the mail that belonged to someone else. (actually twice with coins and once with notes--and I don't collect notes).

Before anyone gets the wrong idea---of course I sent them back, but each time it gets just a little harder. The first time was a note/bill that was sent to me out of the blue by Heri*****, this one was easy because my coin and this buyers note had been juxtaposed-his note in my envelope, my coin in his envelope....so I mailed it back to Heri**** insured (my costs/ their mistake) and it was fixed when I received my coin about 10 days later.

The second time was a bit more tempting....again Heri**** mailed me someone else's purchase-only this time it was coins and they were untraceable !! Boy it is tempting when you know they can't trace it ! So this is what happened--I won a coin at auction and when the package came it had not only my coin but 4 other coins in the envelope. The other coins came with a seperate receipt (someone elses obviously) They consisted of 2 semi-key buffs and 2 semi-key standing liberty quarters in mid-grade---close to $1500 purchase price. It took me about 3 days this time to contact Heri**** because I really liked these coins and was enjoying studying/ogling them. So I called Heritage and told them what I had-this time they said I would be reimbursed my postage fees and even receive a coupon !! See, it pays to do the right thing !! For what it's worth however--I never got any reimbursement and I did get a $25 discount on my next consignment-which expired about a year ago.

Well it has happened again. This time for 2 very nice coins whose value is just under $3000. I was expecting my newest coin in the mail and I got 2 seperate packages. I opened them in the parking lot at the post office to figure it out and discovered the error. I'd be dishonest if I told you that I didn't fatasize about scenarios where I might be able to keep them, however I knew inside that I'd be sending them back. It's especially easy to do the right thing when I think about my fellow collector anxiously awaiting the coins he paid for.

I walked in my house and showed my wife what had happened (again)--and to her credit she said "make sure they pay you for insuring them for the full $3000 when you sernd them back". It makes me feel good to know, that she knows that I will always do the right thing. Anyhow, I sent an email this time--to make sure I'm contacted by the person in charge of these things.( the first time I was referred to the shipping department??!!??) I have not heard back from them yet--so I will call on Monday and see if I can talk to the right person--if not, I'll just send them back and eat the cost (again)...or better yet, maybe I'll get another consignment discount coupon that can expire in my filing cabinet like the last one....

At least I got a week of enjoyment out of them.........

A special thanks to BBB Sam (coindude)for helping me snipe this commemorative from Russia of their Arctic Exploration...very cool coin..and soon to be slabbed along with 37 other coins (by far my biggest submission ever)