Lehmann's Big Beagle Bonanza Bash

My NGC PF-70 Silver Eagle set story begins on April 19, 2009. While working on my state quarter series, I saw some Eagles on E-Bay and I bought one on a lark. It was the 2005 W. When it arrived, I was very pleased. What a monster sized coin!!! These things are huge I thought!! That was all it took.

I began to watch for them on E-bay, and checked with dealers and such as I began the search for perfect Eagles!!!

I decided to build the coolest, most complete set of Beagles I could. I wanted to collect them all!!!!

I started buying the brown labels as I could find them at good prices.

I also picked up the early releases blue labels and the first strike reds as I went along.

I found a 1986 green label first year on e-bay, and added that one in.

Towards the end of June, I was able to score the 2006 3 piece set of black labels. We were getting somewhere now!!! This was fun!!!!

The whopper came on July 20, 2009 with the purchase of the elusive 1995 W. I never thought I would get this bad boy, but the wife said ok and it was done. (There were conditions and such, but.....) What a cool coin!!!!

As I have gone along, I have met some great folks, and had lots of help in putting this set together. I had forgotten how much fun coin collecting had been when I was a child, and boy, am I ever enjoying this hobby!!!!!

As I write this dribble, I only have two coins to go-the 93 and 94. I have a line on the 94, but need to find a 93 yet. I will need another job to afford it, though!!!!! Will see what happens!!!!

10-9-09 1999 and 2000 Eagles arrived today. Very nice coins. Only one registered-other needs to be released by former owner.

Both are very, very nice!!! 2000 will be sent in for re-holdering-in old style holder now. Two more down!!!

10-15-09 1994 I bought on the 10th arrived today. Wow-an amazing coin! Incredible strike-the detail is just awesome. It is one of the nicest eagles I have seen. Just really spiffy!!!

It is in a new generation NGC holder. Excellent!!!! Only two more to go!!!

10-16-09 After being lost in the mail for a few days, my 1989-S arrived today. Fantastic coin! Strike is awesome!! It was really worth the wait!!! Cooler yet is the last three digits of the number are 007!! Makes me think of Bond, James Bond!!!! Yeehah!!! And then there was one!!!!!!!!!!!

10-17-09 I boxed up and shipped off 12 Eagles to NGC for re-holdering. A few are in old style holders, and a few holders are scratched, nicked, or something. This is an amazing set, so I want all the holders to be nice looking and match. Hard to ship them off!!! Hope NGC is quick!!!!

10-27-09 Playing with my new scanner. Scanned the 03, 05, 07 Beagles and put in my set registry. Photos are now much better than using my camera-but still looks like I have some toning on my coins. I don't, so will have to play around with it some more and see if I can get them better still.

10-28-09 Did the 04 and 02 this morning. Playing with hue and contrast. Still need to adjust a bit more. Getting a bit better. I see my 12 eagles I sent in to NGC are scheduled for grading. Getting closer!!!!!

11-1-09 Trying to get good scans of these things is tough!!! I can do better than my camera, but still need work. Playing around with the settings, hope I can improve as I go. Thought this would be an easy deal!!! NOT!!!!! I will take a break for a day or two and play with my editing software and see if I can figure this out!!!!

11-2-09 Made a deal on a 93 PF-70 eagle today! The last one!!! Hope to have it on Thursday for addition to my set!!!!

11-5-09 Well, today is the day! My 93 P Silver Beagle arrived!! It is a great coin!! No spots, toning, hazing, no nothin', no foolin'!!! Awesome coin!!! I added it to my set, and put in my so-so scans of it. What an amazing thing. Never thought I would ever actually get this set completed. I did it!!! It is a great feeling to get it done!!!!! I also see my 12 Beagles I sent in to NGC for re-holdering are finally in quality control. As soon as they return, I will get them scanned so I can reach that #1 ranking!!! I can't wait!!!!!

11-6-09 Still can't believe I actually completed this set!!! It has not sunk in yet!!! As I paw through the coins this morning, great feeling!!!!!! Started and actually finished something!!!!!

11-6-09 Part 2: Hot Dog!!!! Just checked NGC's site and my 12 Beagles are on the way back to me!!! Yeehaw!!!! Way to go, NGC!!!! I should get them next week and scan away!!!!! Cool mo dee!!!!!

11-10-09 Well, well, the Eagle has landed!!! My 12 Beagles I had sent in to NGC for re-holdering returned to me today. First time I had possesion of them all at once!!! A good day, indeed!!! Now comes the fun of trying to scan the dang things into my registry set. Just did the 86, just ok. Need to play around to get rid of the brown on the front top. Will keep on tryin!!!

Should be at work, but scanning Eagles instead. Getting a bit better, but.....I did notice a few of the coins I got back from NGC have contact marks in the white foam. I wish there was a way to eliminate this from happening. Bummer on coins that were just re-holdered and arrived home today.

Well, it is done. Scanning of the Eagles is complete. Just finished the last three tonight. The 2008 was the last-and I think the best scan of all my Eagles. Too bad I didn't get the 95W as good!!!

This set was a lot of fun to collect. Had a great time of it!!!

Met some great folks, made some friends, and had a blast!!!!

My set contains a few extras-my reverse proof is part of a three coin set, all NGC black label PF-70's. I also include in my set a 2006 NGC PF-70 first strike red label, the 2007 and 2008 NGC PF-70 early release blue labels, and a 1986 NGC PF-70 First Year of Issue green label. I am looking for the 2005 NGC PF-70 first strike red label to have a truly complete set.

This was a hoot to complete!! What shall I start next? Only the Shadow knows!!!! TTFN!!!!

12-10-10 Well, it is not done after all!!!!!! The 2010 is here!!!! After a break of over a year, we get to add a new ASE to our set!!!! Very cool!!!!!! It is a very nice coin!!!! We are tickled to add it in!!!!! It is an ER coin, and we will get a regular brown label when we can get it at a little better price. Want to keep the set complete!!!!! Neat to be able to add to this set, one of our favorites for sure!!!!!

12-23-10 Our brown label 2010 ASE arrived today. Got it online at a super deal!!! Even came in a new style holder. This really looks great!!!! Now we are all caught up to date!!!!