Things like this are very "uncommon" in my life...

Greetings Collectors,

Understanding there is more to "numismatics" than FBL Franklin halves, I have decided to share with you all something that happened to me in the last couple months. I have shared this story with a few of you so for you guys, forgive me for being redundant.

Since my construction business is only doing about $.25 on the dollar from what I have been accustomed to, I decided to start a business on eBay. I buy and sell jewelry and coins in platinum, gold & silver. Or I guess I would be a little more correct if I said I buy jewelry & coins but I sell mostly jewelry. I think if I were to be completely honest, I am using the proceeds from this business to continue to feed that "numismatic monkey" that has set up "permanant" residence on my back.

I try to buy items that have a large collector base or a large interest, as in the jewelry dept. Many of you love the Silver Eagle series and you are not alone, and as you probably know, there is a "worldwide" appetite for those little one ounce silver coins in both proof and mint state. I mainly look for them in as large a lots as I can find, rather than buying them one at the time. Usually I find them in 4-6 coin lots. One rule that I do not break, is that they have to be in their original govt. packaging (ogp) with the box, paperwork, and with the proofs, that really neat little velvet box.

About a month ago, which was the last time I found a group that fit my price range, I won a 5-coin lot that consisted of 4-proofs and 1-mint state. All were in their OGP. In that same group, and I remember it well, was #10 1960 proof sets (un-opened & pristine original) and #1 1959, again a sealed yellow envelope, never opened. On the silver eagles I had in the proofs, 3-1987's and 1-1986. The mint state coin was in the box with the papers and the date was a 2008-W. As I inspected the group of items, which I always do before I put them aside for sale, I was digging down through the box that was filled with the "peanut" packing material and taking each item out that also included some very nice "Prestige Proof sets" and a 3-coin proof commemorative Veteran set, I got to the large ziplock that housed the 5 silver eagles coins, I opened each and was very pleased to find all the proofs looked as if they were minted yesterday. No spots or flaws of any kind. Even all the boxes were in perfect shape.

When I opened the 2008 and looked at the obverse and then turned it over, I paused and at the same time had a "mental block". I thought to my self was it the 08-W proof, or the mint state that had a different "U" in "United States" that determined whether it was the "rare one"? I own a PCGS example of that "rare one" but I did not have it at home. It was in the bank. I couldn't beleive that I could not remember which it was, MS or Pf.

Well anyway I went to the bank the next day and was very pleased to find that "it was" the Unc. SE and not the proof and I had picked one up for a little under $30, taking into account an average of what I paid for the 5-coin lot. Then I had to remember that the one I already had was one I had bought off eBay for over $400 about a year earlier and had sent it off to PCGS and only attained a "69". But all in all this was a great win and one that in my life only rarely comes around. But it just goes to show you that there are still very good finds at eBay and the bank in searching rolls and even at shows & other auction venues. This type of find is what makes this hobby so special and is an example of "you do get a special piece if you stay on the hunt".

So that's my little story of my "lottery win" on the Bay. Also have another small slab of silver that I find very special and that has found a home among my coins. It's a 500 gram 1/2 kilo bar mined and poured by L-son refiners from Colorodo silver circa "early 1900's". My last post had the 1-ounce "baby brother" bar to this behemoth 16+ ouncer.

I close feeling very lucky to be alive and be in Fl. in a hobby I love. Here's wishing all of you find that lucky piece you have been looking for. Happy Collecting!

WKF