Here is my story...

I have been reading in these journals about other people's opinions and experiences with the new Ultra High Relief Gold $20, and wanted to add my story.

I knew that I wanted one of these once I first saw the promotional photos. I knew that the US Mint order process would be paralyzed the first day, so I wanted until the next day. I entered my order on-line on January 23 quickly and without any problems.

Within a day I received an email saying that the ship day would be in about two weeks. I was not in any hurry since I had ordered late and I read that it could be several months for the mint to catch up with all of the orders. I then received an email around once a week saying that the ship day would be in two more weeks.

To my surprise, I received an email on February 25 saying that the coin had shipped! The coin arrived (the plain white box was left on my doorstep by the letter carrier) on February 27. I even received this coin before I got my Lincoln Commemorative Dollar.

The packaging is impressive but I do not think many will keep their coin stored in the box. It probably will not fit into a bank's safety deposit box, and I do not imagine anyone will leave it sitting out on a shelf as a display item. Anyways, I hope that my heirs figure out that this coin from my bank safety deposit box belongs with that US Mint wooden box in my closet.

I was not thinking of sending it to NGC for grading, but after a few days on a whim I checked their website and found that the early release date had not passed. So I bundled it up and sent it off, and crossed my fingers.

Well, I made the deadline and my coin came back graded MS69, though I did get the "early releases" designation. Thanks for reading.