Today I received the "final" piece to the 25 part puzzle.

Greetings Collectors,

Today I finally was able to hold in my hand, the last roll needed to be able to always put together #20 complete sets of United States Silver Eagles. This is a quest that began in 1996. This was the year I bought my very first "mint roll" with the green top of what may be America's most widely collected silver coin. Of course this last part of the statement may be one that could be argued against. The Morgan Dollar may or may not hold an edge to this "latter day" silver coin. Regardless, if it's not the most widely collected, it's dam close. And each and every one of these coins look "pristine perfect". Too bad none will ever be sent off for grading, as I am sure there are some 70's in this group of twelve year old silver coins.

The silver eagle is a coin in both MS & Proof that was my favorite for many years and while today my enthusiasm may have waned somewhat, the coin itself still holds a special place in my numismatic heart. I can still remember where I lived and where I was sitting when that first "green lidded" roll arrived. At that time I felt mixed emotions about the purchase because of the price I paid for the roll. That 20 ounce/coin roll cost me a whopping $120 and the $4 dollars in shipping had me paying $6 + an ounce for silver, that at the time was around $3 per oz. In fact it bothered me so much I did not buy any rolls for the years 1997 through about 1999. Wow, to only be able to go back and buy a few more of this 1996 "key date" @ $120 a roll.

It was in the late 90's that I decided to try and get a proof silver eagle for all the years prior to my starting regular purchases from the mint. At that 10-12 year ago period I was buying 3 or 4 of each item the U.S. Mint was putting out. Around that time or shortly thereafter I was making trips down to Edgewood Coins and trading/selling some of my "triplicates" to get the back dates I did not have. It was during this Y-2K hype that got me back into buying the silver rolls for not only the present, but the dates from 1986 onward.

Each year that went by, the first thing I would buy in Jan. was a roll from that year and have done so ever since. There was even a year that I had forgotten I had already bought one and ended up buying a second roll. This was 2004 and I ended up with two mint rolls. During these last few years as the rush to buy precious metals has been pushed into the forefront, I would pick up a roll here and there that I did not have. For the longest time, I was lacking 4 rolls from having them all. This year I have picked up the last three I did not have with the purchase of the 1995, 1997 and finally today the 1998. I can't begin to tell you what a rush it is to finally have them all.

Of course one goal accomplished, always leads to other goals, as I don't think I will ever be satisfied. My new goal, and one that is "cost wise", going to be ever bit as daunting & costly is I am attempting to get an "original bank wrapped" roll of the entire 35 date and mint Franklin series. This is going to be a "very expensive" undertaking, even more so with the constant rising of all the precious metals which of course silver belongs to. So far I have a roll of the 1954-D, 1955, 1956, 1961-D, 1962-D, 1963 and the 1963-D. That's 7. I only need 28 more. Whew! Each one of these rolls cost as much or more than 50% of the silver eagle rolls I've bought. And they have less than half the silver content. Again, my goal is to be able to make up twenty complete Franklin half sets. Someday in the distant future when silver returns to a more normal ratio of gold to silver, these 20 sets of both silver eagles and the Franklin halves will be worth a "pretty penny". Today that ratio runs around 62 to 1. Back in the 19th century and the early part of the 20th century it was always 20 to 1. ($20 double eagle to one silver dollar) This is why I have been loading up on silver this year. I've been buying gold as well but I really believe on a percentage basis, silver will do better.

I hope all of you are off to a good start to your week and that your goals are in the process of being achieved. This hobby we share is oh so great in oh so many ways. While I have other hobbies, this one by far is my favorite. While surfing buddies are cool, many of mine have given up the hobby for golf or fishing, there is nothing like a "coin buddy". I am very thankful for each and every one of you.

Happy Collecting!

WKF