Is sending in "raw recruits" a feasible, economic alternative, to purchasing "slabbed dates"???

Greetings Collectors,

I have been watching as I am sure most of you have as well, the price of the "metals" slowly inching higher. This of course, due to the fact that our economy, like the rest of the world, continues to weaken, even with all the massive spending. This is, as I have said before, a "double edged sword". If you are selling, this is a good thing. (the rising price of gold & silver) But if you are buying, most all that you are looking at, is creeping higher in price. For those of us with a limited budget, the thought that has come to my mind on several occasions, is the possibility of taking "raw" "un-graded" coins I already own, and getting them graded & slabbed. But as you all know, this can become "quite expensive" as well. "Decisions, decisions"...

The majority of my collection is raw, and of that, most is/are pieces that would kinda be a "toss-up", as far as sending them in for grading, compared to buying them (those dates) already slabbed. This comparison has come to my mind before, and while I own some minor keys in a fairly high grade, I have been burned sending in what I thought to be "gem 65-67" condition coins, only to receive back from the graders, a pile of 62-63's. This is very disheartening, as most of the time a roll was broken into to obtain those examples to be submitted, only to get back, a "slabbed coin" that one would be only as lucky, as to recoup the grading fees.

So while I continue to watch certain coins at all the usual auction sites, financial issues prohibit me from "pulling the trigger". I am really trying to recondition my "psyche" to one that is content with the fact that I own many silver and to a lessor degree, gold coins, that will bring much joy if I will only "let it". I have said many times that for me, it's a cycle I go through. And along this entire cycle, I achieve a certain euphoric high, starting with the "hunt", then the "kill" followed by the trophy on the wall, or in this case, the "slabbed coin" inserted into the set. Once this final act is complete, I am "in search of" my next specimen. Then the cycle begins again, along with the "high", only to "climax", and then disappear until the next time. I am desperately trying to add other aspects, to these cycles that will continue to let me have as much fun with my coins as possible. But with my past experiences, as to guessing grades I will receive on certain coins, each time the fact is "reinforced" that I have "no future" in "grading" most coins and only limited success when it comes to grading "Coronet Liberty Gold".

So I will just continue to indulge, in surrounding myself with all things, "Coins" and just see the different joys that await. I do know that most ever weekend, the two main things that bring me pleasure are my kids and my coins, in that order. And when you have those two, everything else is "gravy".

Happy Collecting!

WKF