I have enjoyed the NGC Collectors Society web site since I first browsed it in mid-2008.

The journals that people have posted here have given me insight about how others go about collecting coins so that I might better develop a better strategy for myself. My coin purchases in the past were mainly limited to the two local coin shops and the semi-annual coin shows. This, of course, had the effect of restricting the range of coins available for me to purchase. I have since moved to northern Virginia which puts me in driving distance to some of the major national coin shows. Coin dealers on the internet have also developed better web sites with clear photographs so I have become more comfortable purchasing coins on-line. So, faced with a much larger selection of coins for me to choose from, I have developed a wish list for 2009.

The bulk of my coin collection is foreign coins -- only a handful of which are slabbed. I do purchase US Mint products every year but the main focus of my US collection is older proof coins. My big purchases last year were a proof shield nickel with rays, a proof variety 1 indian head cent, and a proof 1699 off-metal (silver) British farthing. All three have relatively small mintages in proof condition. This coming year, I have several registry sets that I would like to focus on: the US Type set (1792-1964), the Gold Type set (1795-1933), the Morgan Dollar set, and the $2.5 Indian set. I am not close to finishing any of the sets so I do not expect to complete any of the sets this coming year. I will be happy if I can get one-third complete with the Morgan set and reach the half-way point on the other three sets.

I am always excited to get the new coins for a year. I purchased the 2009 six-coin quarter proof set on friday. The coin designs are all quite nice. I also got a bunch of the 2009 Sacagawea dollars on friday. They did come out of a change machine so they are a bit dinged up. I find it a bit jarring to see the obverse without the date and mint mark (moved to the edge this year). I don't know if the changing design will help with the acceptance of this coin into more general use but it can't hurt.

Happy Collecting!

mtitamu