My annual collecting cycle starts on Labor Day

As summer winds down, the excitement of once again being solvent has elevated my anticipation of my annual collecting cycle. Summers are spent living on budgeted savings. There is only enough money to get by and acquiring coins is put on the back burner in favor of the mortgage, bills and food. In fact, I very often sell the extra coins I get during the year to help the budget. This year has been particularly good for selling coins. My bottom fishing for the real deals over the last year netted me 20 cents on the dollar. Of course, I only sold the extra coins I picked for a steal over the last year not the coins in my core collection. But with surviving the summer this also means a new list of goals for the Labor Day and the next 12 months..

1) Complete my Album Set of Eisenhower Dollars ? I still need the 73S 40% Silver Proof. I also want to upgrade the circulated coins from 1971 and 1972.

2) Complete my Proof 70 Registry Set of DC & Territory Quarters ? I do not figure this will be too particularly difficult. It?s just a price thing at this point.

3) Complete my Album Set of Kennedy Half-Dollars ? I?m only missing a few modern proof coins, late 90?s and 00?s. I also want to upgrade my 1982 and 1983 circulated halves. (By complete I mean through 2010. I realize the this set is still on-going.)

4) Upgrade my Lincoln Cents Album (1934 -1942) to Red BU ? I spent the last year getting everything from 1944 to present in Red BU. This is one of my prettiest collections.

5) Fill half of the remaining holes in my Lincoln Cents Album ? I?m only 16 coins short of a complete set (18 if you count the 1955 DDO and the 1944 D over S). It would be a real coupe if I can pick up one of the 3 big ones, 09S ? VDB, 14D, or 22 no D.

6) Get at least 6 graded Eisenhower Dollars to start my Registry Set ? My mouth starts watering when I think about this one.

7) Upgrade and fill the holes in my Jefferson Nickel Album ? This set has taken a back seat for too many years so I think it?s time.

8) Add at least 6 Proof Roosevelt Dimes to my registry set ? I?ve never been a big fan of Roosevelt Dimes but for some reason I have a particular fondness for this set.

9) Add at least 6 MS66 or better Lincoln Cents to my Registry Set ? This was just a natural extension from my Album set.

10) Add at least 6 Proof 69 or better Lincoln Memorial Proofs to my Registry Set ? The significance of this set has grown since its inception. I was born in 1959. This set is the story of my life.

I have a number of other things kicking around in my head as well but these are the top-ten. I?m playing with the idea of acquiring rolls of Sacagawea Dollars since my youngest son has taken a liking to them. I guess I could pick out the top 5 coins from each roll for grading, let him take one of each for his set and then build complete sets with the rest and sell those to defray the cost. I?m also looking for Walking Liberty and Franklin Halves to add to my sets. I suspect those will make the top-ten list next year or so. Of course I will continue to work on my Proof State Quarter set and I suppose I will probably start an America the Beautiful set as well.

Now, only time will tell. Wish me Luck.