The "Lure" of Gold & Silver never leaves me...

Greeting Collectors,

Started my day off at a customers job site to pick up a draw early this morning and to meet with a couple of rep's from the "homeowners association" who disliked the color the owners had chosen. Long story short, I will get paid a second time to paint the exterior of this 10,000 sq.ft.+ home located on the banks of the beautiful St. Johns river here in Jacksonville.

While I did lobby on behalf of my client, to no avail, this whole picture played to the positive to the ever beckoning temptation of a "hard core" coin addict. Additional funds to further the addiction.

Having left with a high four figure check in hand and the clock reading eleven fifteen AM, I headed for the nearest Wachovia bank to make it before noon. Once the cash was in hand, did I head to pick up another pvc pipe and caps to bury it (the cash) for a rainy day?... nooooooo... I headed directly to see my buddy "Emory" who runs the largest coin shop (and the most honest) in Jax. I keep my "want list" (some of it) tatood right in the front of my cerebellum (or is it my cerebrium)? anyway straight away I went as fast as legally possible 'cause I knew they keep a short day on Sat. (1:30pm).

When I got there all my coin dealer friends were there, Emory, Bob, Patsy and Johnny. I was thinking I wanted so many differant things but knowing I had payroll and materials for the week coming up, I showed what I felt was moderate restrant. I knew I wanted gold and of course silver, but to further what set? I settled on trying to find a $2.50 gold liberty or two and maybe one of the three rolls of silver eagles I still lack.

The rolls I need are the '95, '97 & '98 and of those dates there were none. No problem,that would free up $300+ dollars for the little "lib's" I need. I do beleive that few things compare to being at your favorite coin shop and having a small area of the counter covered with little gold coins to pick from. Even though he had nearly a dozen raw to choose from, and several "slabbed", nothing caught my fancy or the amt. of funds I could put towards such a purchase. The only one I came close to buying was a PCGS 1847-O AU 53 which would have set me back $900. Way more than I could justify spending on one small coin.

So now the silver eagles were out and the $2.50 libertys, I had to think "back up wants". Knowing I like full bell line Franklins, and having several yet to complete my "Franklin set #1" in MS-65 FBL, Bob brought out a tray with several. I struck out here as well. He did have a nice 1957 NGC 66 with FBL's and beautiful "rainbow" toning but I passed on the account of I do not want to create another "monster" by starting a set in "66" knowing full well I do not have the funds to finish such a set. Mind you I had several people bringing this and that for my inspection and possible approval, but did not see a thing I could use in my Franklin set except one. It was a beautiful 1953-S NGC-66 which I fell in love with but did not buy. This date in 66 FBL sold at this years "Fun" show in Orlando for over 50-K. This coin I was looking at WAS NOT a full bell line but was a solid strike with 75% FBL's. The coin "gray sheets" at $500+ and Emory wanted $350. I should have done it as the one I have in my set is only an MS-65 and fans of this set usually try for a 66 in the '53-S slot. I did tell him to bring it to our show the last weekend of this month. My wallet hopes he sells it before then.

So far I have looked at forty or more coins and have decided on "zilch". Feeling somewhat disapointed I asked Bob if they had any Aussie or British sovereigns and he brought out yet another box of coins to look through. By this time it was 1:40 and the girls were closing out the register and taking out the trash so I just picked out the two best gold sov's I did not have, to at least get a little something seeing I was already here. One was in an ICG holder (I hate that holder & co. see the reason in my previous post)a 1900-M MS 61 "Veiled Head" and the other was raw, an 1886-M.

This 1886 is of couse a Melbourn Australia mint coin but when I got home and saw where, when graded it would go in that set, there were two options for that date. One of the slots for an 1886-M said "Shield" and the other said "George". Now I am confidant this coin is what is known as a "Jubilee Head" but there are only the two aforementioned slots. I do not know which one I have. Anyone out here know? I am guessing it is an 1886-M Shield.

But to make this long story not so long, (too late for that) I picked up the two sovs and six "Mexican Onza's" (one ounce silver Mexican bullion coins) dated 1980. I did not get what I went in to get but in my opinion, there is no such thing as a "bad coin day" when you can get a coin or two (or eight) that you like.

Now I will walk down my dirt lane to the mailbox and see if my latest additions from Teletrade" came. In last Sundays auction I picked up a couple more Mercury dimes in the "old PCGS rattler green holders" I am trying to complete a 34-45 set made up of all, in those old 1st generation PCGS holders. The two I am expecting are the 1944 and the 1944-S both MS 65 with full split bands. Sure hope they are sitting there in the box when I go check. If not, it's no big deal as I will have something to look forward to on Monday.

Hope everyones weekend is going well and that all of you are having "fun with your coins". I know I am. Happy Collecting! WKF