Now I am only "lacking" one coin...

Greetings Collectors,

I have somewhat blown my "vow" of refraining from spending any more money on coins for the remainder of the year. Well, I guess the vow may still be good as I bought the two Gold Eagles before I made this promise to myself. Oh, and then the minor glitch when I purchased a pawltry two roll set of the latest Lincoln Cent, along with another couple of "Braille" items. This was a small expenditure of about $100. That really shouldn't count. So other than this slight "relapse", I have been true to my vow.

I did however find a way to skirt around this well intended pledge by convincing myself that "bullion" does not count as "coins". Therefore I have tried to take advantage of this slight "pullback" in silver to pick up a few more ounces. I actually would have been able to refrain from any bullion purchases if only a couple of things had happened. The first being, the loss of sight in both of my eyes and secondly, the thieves that were to steal all of my computer equipment, failed to show up. So still being able to see and still having use of my PC, along with the retained knowledge of finding my way to E-Bay, I may as well have been on "auto pilot". I found absolutely nothing standing in my way. (except common sense, which I completely disregarded)

Anyway, I just bought a little bit. The old "soap bar" style 5-Oz. you see here and two more 10-Oz. bars, along with 10 1-Oz. bars rounded out my "justified" expenditure. The two baby gold eagles, a quarter ounce and a 1/10 ounce are maybe the first seen as "Apmex" just got their shipment, and I had paid for mine a couple weeks ago, so I was one of the lucky "first" to receive mine in the mail. These 2009 "fractionals", I am told, will be very low mintage pieces. And with the US Mint not producing any of the fractionals in proof, along with none at all for the "Buffalos", these may end up being a good buy. I do see that Apmex has raised their prices considerably for all of these Unc. baby eagles. I just wish I could have been able to afford the 1/2 Oz. coin as well. See, there I go, acting dissatisfied and ungratefull. Sometimes I really think I need to "talk" to someone. This addiction seems to have no end. But, as I always say, there are many "worse" things to be addicted to.

I am only lacking one coin and as soon as my proof Braille Dollar arrives in the mail, I will have all the coins for a "sixteen" coin submission to NGC. I have a total of #5 Moderns, then five pre 1933 gold coins, all which are "crack outs" on my "free coupon" and then one more $20 Liberty, one $2.50 Liberty, both of these are "crack outs", one very "undergraded" 1934-D Walker and for the last two of this 5-coin "earlybird" group, a couple of "Aussie" gold soveriegns, an 1886-M and a 1900-M. Here at the last minute I have included a "16th" coin to the submission, an 1861 type two $2.50 gold Liberty. It was in an old green PCGS slab,AU-58, but the detail and luster say at least 60-61. As I cracked all of these coins out of their respective holders and re-examined them, I was hoping that I did the right thing.(a little late to turn back now) I suddenly went back in time to a "high stakes poker game I was in. (7-card stud, dealer antes $5, then "pot limit" on the bets going forward) It was going to cost me $600 to see that 7th card, and I was high on the table with a pair of ten's showing. (also had a ten in the hole) I had a feeling this old guy was trying to bluff me out so I stayed, seeing his raise, very reluctantly, but I stayed. I ended up getting a 5th heart on the 7th card but as thrilled as I was winning a very large pot, I was more interested in seeing what that old man had. Well when he threw his cards on to the table, conceeding, the person whose turn it was to deal, flipped them over like I was hoping, and low and behold, the old man didn't even have a pair of shoes. My "three tens" would have held up all around even with a couple of guys staying with their two pairs, which would have beat my "trip" tens or my flush, had they hit their "full house". I took the chance, and the gamble paid off. That was indeed a nice hand. I hope to win this submission hand as well, just a little less tension, if you please.

I am more excited about this submission to NGC than I have ever been on any other one. The reason being, "The Gamble". There is a possibility of some "huge" dollar swings in the value of the coins being sent in. On the other side, the "downside" risk is somewhat minimal. Three of the coins are $20 type three Double Eagles, two are $10 Gold Liberties and one $10 Gold Indian and a couple of $2.50 Libs. This is a very important group of "sixteen", that I feel very confidant as to the outcome. But, I will just have to "wait and see". I know that once thay are received by NGC, it will be the longest "12-business day" wait I have ever experianced. NGC has said, and I hope it true, coins are being graded "on time". If every thing goes pretty good, it will be a very nice way to start the new year. I am going to try real hard to break into that top 200 in the points standings. It seems I have been stuck at 294 forever. I know,... maybe I should go and get me a "half dozen" sets of Sac Dollars, I think each one is worth about 5,000 points. That would get me there quick.

Happy Collecting!

WKF