For all of you "Lincoln Cent" collectors out there & those wishing for a miracle...

Greetings Collectors,

I also wanted to share the fact that Congressman Gary C. Peters Dem. Mich wrote a letter on Nov. 12th to Mint Director "Moy" and also wrote a "Dear Colleague" letter to the other 434 members of Congress asking them to "co-sign" his letter to Moy. In his letter to the U.S. Mint Director, Peters wrote.

"We understand that there has been extraordinary demand for the "business strike bullion versions and that the mint is required to produce the bullion versions in quanities enough to meet public demand". "While we appreciate your efforts to comply with the aforementioned laws, we do not believe that this should preclude coining proof Silver and Gold American Eagles this year". He went on to cite collector disappointment at the interruption of an anual series that has been "unbroken" since 1986.

He went on to ask Moy to reconsider his decision even if it meant fewer proofs this year than in 2007 & 2008. He asked Moy not to destroy the already prepared dies until after Jan. 1st 2010. Peters said that the Mint could take orders for 2009 Proof versions of Silver & Gold American Eagles, coin as many as possible before the end of the year and then devise a fair way to apportion the coins that were minted. Peters said a "lottery" system with a limit of "one coin" per household would be equitable and would ensure that as many collectors as possible would be able to participate.

Peters titled his "letter to colleagues" as "HELP COLLECTORS AND RAISE REVENUE". He said this American Eagle program makes money for the treasury and cited profits of $166 million for FY08 and $220.1 million for FY07. Whatever your "political" stripes, it is refreshing to see ANY politician work toward increasing revenue, rather than just spending it...

But when looking at this possibility, it may be trading one group of pissed off people for another. You have the group now mad for there being none (proofs) and you would have another group mad if they were unable to procure one, as there would be alot fewer to go around, and some would for sure be left out. I for one would love to take my chances on getting a coin or coins that would indeed be rare. I would love to see this but the "clock is ticking" and we're "burning daylight", if they are gonna do it, they better "hurry every chance they get".

We can all continue to hold out hope that we may get some "proof Eagles yet. Happy Collecting