...a journal entry I said I would write.

Finally, I have some time to sit down and write an entry. I've been busy scanning my graded and raw currency to send to a the software company whose program I use to keep track of my coins & currency. I'm also finishing up some photos of my coins, but I'm still having some issues with my proof Sac dollars. Oh well, guess I'm learning something every day.

In an earlier entry, I said I was going to write a couple of entries about my raw coins and sets. I have come to the conclusion I can't make decent registry sets of all the coins I like. The big problem of course is financial. For example, I truly love the Liberty Nickel. Along with the Morgan dollar, the Liberty Nickel is a design that caught my fancy when I collected as a boy, and it still has attractions now, close to 50 years later. I would love to put together a registry set of these, but to have any kind of set, even in the top 25 or so, would cost me more than I could dream of having. So I believe the next best thing will be to make a raw set in lower grades. To me, an attractive EF coin (or even VF) is still a coin worth having. I also believe the same criteria we look for in a top graded coin also apply to the circulated grades.

Another couple of sets I'm really starting to like are the later issues of half & large cents. Both coins are really starting to "grow" on me. I can forsee making sets of these two coins in the future, again in lower circulated grades. Pricing will be a factor of course, with an eye to quality.

The other main point of this (and possible one more) journal entries is "What dealers have other members found to be accurate in their grading and descriptions, and fair in price?" I was going to go both ways, both good and bad, but I think it's best for now to talk about the good.

One dealer I have found, that I like and feel grade accurately, is Harlan J. Berk in Chicago. His descriptions seem fair and complete to me. If he feels the coin has been cleaned, he says so in his description, and will also identify other that affect the coin's value and eye appeal. For example, he will list rim bumps, scratches, etc. I also feel his prices are in line with what the coin's value is. I'm eager to hear from other members their experiences with various dealers.

As my custom, I'm attaching a photo of a raw 1912 Liberty Nickel.

Thanks for reading.