Truly a "Double Edged" Sword that can "defend" from, or contribute to, our own "demise"...

Greetings Collectors,

I have been doing a lot of reading lately which leads to a great deal of thinking. My thoughts, while for the most part are positive, but at the same time, nostalgic and actually quite sad. We as collectors get interested in a certain coin series and most of us begin the quest and the chore of acquiring the pieces for those respective sets. The vast majority of sets require the spending of large sums of money to complete, even more so if "high quality" examples are what we are determined to have. For some strange reason, I have almost "never" gone after the "keys" 1st. I would be a wealthy man if I had a dollar for each time I have come to the conclusion that the way I have done it, is not necessarily the right approach. I have keys yet to be acquired for my two most favorite sets, the Franklin & the Walker halves. Each day I wait, means the costs of getting these coins climbs steadily higher. I guess the "old saying" that says, it's difficult, (not impossible) to teach an "old dog" new tricks. Our coins are becoming more and more expensive (and valuable) Is this a good thing???

The continued steadily, but orderly rise in the price of silver & gold is making the acquisitions of those empty holes, much more expensive to acquire. On a positive note, the other "already purchased" specimens are worth a little more than when they were procured but the percentages are vastly different between the "commons & the keys". Thus in conclusion, my thoughts are, maybe, I took the wrong trail.

The positives of silver approaching $27 and gold just shy of $1400 is very obvious. There is also a "painful truth". I love the "big" type three gold "double eagles". But with higher gold prices, it's possible that I have bought my last one. And this "last one" has been I think, well over a year ago. This is sad. A set that I long thought I would complete was the $20 Liberty gold minted in the 20th century. (1900-1907) Just a few years ago, I thought this "doable. But with a total of 18 coins, aside from the proofs, the six I have is probably the end of this quest. My greatest feat was when I finally finished getting the last roll of silver eagles, thus having a roll from each and every year up to the 2010 issue. I think that I "barely" made this quest a reality, and probably just in the "nick of time".

Myself as a collector, I am extremely pleased with gold where it has ended up. And silver too. It re-enforces that what I have thought for well over 15-20 years, has finally been coming to pass. On the other hand, I believe that my "unhappiness" in the fact that many of these coins are totally out of my reach, and this possibly outweighs the "happiness". This again is sad. I reflect as to what I think has caused that which is "our current state" and many things and indiviguals come to mind. Policies by our govt and others in the world, in my opinion, are the main culprits, and in the past. Both political parties share almost equally in this situation which has come to pass. I blame one a little more than the other, but again, they "both" reek on occasion.

We need our coins for more than one reason whether we like it or not. (future paper may not be sufficient to feed our families) Some collectors go for just the sheer joy of the hobby, never contemplating future value. (I think these folks are the "True Collectors) Others do it for pure selfish greed and all they are out to do is "MAKE MONEY" on that which they have bought. I started as the "former" but fear I am treading more toward the "latter". And this makes me sad as well. For probably 85% of the time I have been collecting, buying the highest grade example of a coin has never been my focus. I just like coins. Period. But the urge to buy a coin for an investment in my future is rearing its greedy ugly head more and more. This too makes me sad.

Our countrymen in government, for far too many years, have made the wrong decisions when it comes to almost everything. Nothing they do works better than the private sector. Just look at the post office or the DMV. That's all I need to see to form my own conclusion. Yet all that they decide and do affects our hobby. And more times than not, in a negative way. I really pray that those, recently elected, embark on a new course. One that have "We Americans" foremost in the decisions they make. The "spending" they do affects the spending we do and plays heavily on our hobby. Taking a quote that is often aired on "talk radio" is one that I feel worth repeating. Was Thomas Jefferson right when he said, "Does a Central Bank issuing the public currency pose more of a threat to the "LIBERTIES" of the people, than a "Standing Army"??? All of what I have touched on affects each and every coin collector in ways that are becoming more apparent each and every day. I pray for this country and all of you daily. We still have to remember that we still live in the "GREATEST COUNTRY" on the planet. Things can and will change, for the better. Of this I am "cautiously optimistic" The fight is far from over and all of us need to realize this, and keep our sleeves rolled up and ready ourselves for phase two. Our continued freedoms depend on "staying engaged" to defeat that which erodes our personal liberties & freedoms. As for me and my house, we choose to serve the Lord. And, "Give me Liberty or give me death".

Happy Collecting to all of you "GREAT AMERICANS".

WKF

Silver ratio is unchanged at 52.067