BUT we all figured it out earlier...

Greetings everyone!!

Amidst my daily internet journey today that entails my school courses and email checking, and of course, my daily visit to The Collector's Society, I found an email from The Mint that notified me as a "Silver American Eagle Subscriber" that there will officially be no SAE's in Proof or "Burnished" or "Uncirculated" this year.

I have been saddened by this all year long, actually. We collectors knew there would not be any SAE's (I am generalizing SAE but I mean collectible SAE's to save a few keystrokes, I am just preventing any emails that want to correct me when I type "no SAE's") but to get an official notification has made it final, and has me a little more sad today.

The SAE is why I started collecting in the first place. I love that coin. There is nothing about the SAE that I don't like, and when I knew I would not be getting my subscription this year, I really felt an empty space inside of me. That feeling of "something missing" turned more into a reality of "something missing" today, almost like the feeling of that relative that would not be at the Thanksgiving table after years of being there, in the same chair every year.

Sure, I did buy two 2009 SAE's this year in MS 70 ER condition. And those coins are a grand addition to my set. But, it is not at all the same as getting the raw coins from the Mint in the very beautiful government packaging, and then scheming about sending the coins to NGC for grading. To me, this is equivalent to sending kids off to college and hoping they get good grades, and then being very proud when they come back with perfect grades.

For collectors, I have to say this is a sad year. I know many of you feel the same about not getting our subscription.

But, SOME positive did come out of all of this for me this year. Since I was looking for a set to fill the void, I did discover the Mint Proof Set, and I am glad to own that. Also, my credit cards have been cooling off as I did not have to spend so much on SAE's this year. So, my credit rating improved, which is also a good thing.

I am sad, yes, but I am also inspired and optimistic about a better day when the SAE's will once again be offered. I feel the cold chill that reminds me of the first days as a coin collector and NGC Collectors Society member when this was all very new to me, and it is still very exciting to me, not once has the excitement crept away.

Keep your heads held high everyone!! Better days will be here soon, your coins will rise high and our hobby will forever live on!!

All the best!!