Coinbuf

So, this will be long and perhaps rambling, but I have several things to touch on and I don't like making multiple posts too close together, so I just refuse to break this up.
At a different time in my life this probably would have been posted yesterday but you don't always get time to sit down and write with 2 kids under 5 around in the time of CoVID, and I had cube organizers to build. I snuck in some posting on the boards mostly on my phone, but I wanted to take my time with this more.
First and foremost, I need to thank NGC for the 3-peat on the Journal award and PMG for the “Best Presented Set” for my Zimbabwe signature set, “Gradually, then Suddenly.”
 
The journal award continues to be a great, and appreciated, compliment to these writings. I’m glad NGC likes them. I’m always glad to hear others say they enjoy what I write.
That note set has been a labor of love for 2 years now. I’m super-excited to, next month, when I have a bit more spending money again, buy some raw examples of some notes I need to fill some final gaps and send those in for grading. I may also buy some old fuel coupons, branch into that and add that to the set / display / story of that set. I will probably go into more details on this later in a journal entry on the PMG side.
I think that’s also going to mostly close the book on that note set for a while. I’m not going to be in any hurry to start any major upgrades on that set for now. I’ve been building it like a man possessed for 2 years now and I’m starting to just feel a little tired and ready to move on to some other project, and I have some other projects / initiatives coming up in my life that are going to demand more of my time for a while. And, given that credit, I want to fill those holes and leave that set feeling more or less “finished” and it a good place, and that credit will let me do that. But, Again, “Thank you” to PMG, both for this award and also the article highlighting my Venezuelan Bolivares Fuertes Set in December. The greatest praise that that set has received however are the other collectors here that have called it out, said it inspired them to start collecting that series / those series (depending on how you look at it) or who say they’ve used to teach their kids something. There have been a lot of kind words sent my way from members and PMG lately, both for my family and about my writing, and it is really appreciated. I was also touched to see the call out to / for Samuel in the awards announcement. Sam is going to be posing with another plaque this year.
Speaking of Sam… It has become apparent that his shunt was mostly blocked and he was experiencing some ill effects of elevated intracranial pressure for a while – probably 6 months to a year. We had no way of knowing this before the surgery and you make the best decisions you can with what you know then. But, now that the pressure is gone his eyes are crossing less, he’s speaking more, he’s picking up new words faster, he’s getting better at walking faster. He was a Rockstar according to his physical therapists before but he’s accelerating. He’s showing signs of headaches still but those can apparently continue for 2+ weeks after the surgery. The cut meanwhile is healing well and we’re almost done with the period of daily baths that it required to keep him clean.
I still haven’t mailed those coins in, though I admit that at this point I’m also being given pause by the long back-log of packages they seem to be dealing with and the crush of new 2021 coins they’re getting in bulk submissions now. I’ve been stressing about having the grading credit from 2019 expire, but, now, I may just let it expire and use the 2020 credit again – since my brief reading of the front matter suggests that they’re giving the Journal authors the $500 credit again this year. I really do want to get those 10G coins re-holdered so they’ll all match and be super pretty and I want to get a few other things graded but this winter (year!) has been rough and crazy.
My wife and I had a little wine together after the kids were in bed. In part because of this, in part because the cube organizer was finally done, and in part because wine is just good.
The anniversary is coming up and I have part of her present. We'll see if I get the other part before Friday. One of her students yesterday morning told her that her Boyfriend was a lucky guy. 😆 When she showed him the ring, he said that He had an awesome wife. I'll agree with both statements. 😆

2020 what a ride, some ups and lots of downs.  The year started off promising enough and then covid covered the world with a wet blanket like we have not seen before.  A rough year of many especially those who lost loved ones to the pandemic, but a boon to some that were able to continue and even profit due to it.  As I look back my life was not terribly affected by it overall from either a personal or numismatic perspective.  As I do every December I looked back as what I did, what I bought, and what I sold and reflected on how I feel I did with my numismatic journey throughout the entire year.  As I resorted my spreadsheet by date I realized that I had spent more than I had thought; don't tell the wife ; maybe a few too many impulse buys.  But as I looked back I don't have any regrets for any of the purchases, some were to further a few registry sets, some like the $3 gold coin were to satisfy an itch for a type, but all were good coins and I can enjoy looking at each one.
 
As I look forward to the new year I am wondering what direction will next year take me, should I scale back after buying more than expected in 2020, are there any sets or projects that I should focus on or just do what I usually do and move on a purchase when the time and mood strikes me.    Ever since I finished my Lincoln 09-58 date/mm set in 2017 I have not felt the same sense of purpose or direction with my collecting.  I've bounced the idea of selling some sets like the Morgans or Mercs, but have not been really motivated to do so yet.  Part of me says that would be a good way to kick start a new collecting direction or set, and part of me isn't ready to let go of those.
 
I am also having trouble getting excited about the new year knowing that at least the first half of 2021 will be much like 2020, the vaccine rollout is taking much longer than many had hoped and I really do not see an end to the silly mask restrictions and other big brother oversights for several months at best, sigh.  Well enough of that I'm going to pull up my boot straps and find a way to enjoy myself this next year, and I feel confident that I will find a few special coins to purchase and enjoy in the new year.  To all my collecting friends have a safe new years and I hope everyone enjoys 2021 first from a family perspective but also from a hobby/numismatic perspective.  As a sendoff to 2020 here are my two favorite purchases made during 2020.  Get it two purchases from a year with two twos in it,I crack myself up.!   Both are type coins, first is this beautiful 1876 seated dime purchased from Gerry Fortin.  This is a great looking coin and filled a hole in my type set, but it also fits into my holder generations custom set theme, this holder is the first one used after the last old soap style and was a transitional one that was only used a very short time.  And the second coin is the only gold coin I bought in 2020, I was not looking to buy any gold in 2020 due to the high price of gold but a longtime collector on the PCGS forum was selling his collection of $3 gold coins and it is a type that I've wanted for a very long time.  Apologies for the different photo styles, I have not gotten around to taking photos of the gold coin yet. 

2020 what a ride, some ups and lots of downs.  The year started off promising enough and then covid covered the world with a wet blanket like we have not seen before.  A rough year of many especially those who lost loved ones to the pandemic, but a boon to some that were able to continue and even profit due to it.  As I look back my life was not terribly affected by it overall from either a personal or numismatic perspective.  As I do every December I looked back as what I did, what I bought, and what I sold and reflected on how I feel I did with my numismatic journey throughout the entire year.  As I resorted my spreadsheet by date I realized that I had spent more than I had thought; don't tell the wife ; maybe a few too many impulse buys.  But as I looked back I don't have any regrets for any of the purchases, some were to further a few registry sets, some like the $3 gold coin were to satisfy an itch for a type, but all were good coins and I can enjoy looking at each one.
 
As I look forward to the new year I am wondering what direction will next year take me, should I scale back after buying more than expected in 2020, are there any sets or projects that I should focus on or just do what I usually do and move on a purchase when the time and mood strikes me.    Ever since I finished my Lincoln 09-58 date/mm set in 2017 I have not felt the same sense of purpose or direction with my collecting.  I've bounced the idea of selling some sets like the Morgans or Mercs, but have not been really motivated to do so yet.  Part of me says that would be a good way to kick start a new collecting direction or set, and part of me isn't ready to let go of those.
 
I am also having trouble getting excited about the new year knowing that at least the first half of 2021 will be much like 2020, the vaccine rollout is taking much longer than many had hoped and I really do not see an end to the silly mask restrictions and other big brother oversights for several months at best, sigh.  Well enough of that I'm going to pull up my boot straps and find a way to enjoy myself this next year, and I feel confident that I will find a few special coins to purchase and enjoy in the new year.  To all my collecting friends have a safe new years and I hope everyone enjoys 2021 first from a family perspective but also from a hobby/numismatic perspective.  As a sendoff to 2020 here are my two favorite purchases made during 2020.  Get it two purchases from a year with two twos in it,I crack myself up.!   Both are type coins, first is this beautiful 1876 seated dime purchased from Gerry Fortin.  This is a great looking coin and filled a hole in my type set, but it also fits into my holder generations custom set theme, this holder is the first one used after the last old soap style and was a transitional one that was only used a very short time.  And the second coin is the only gold coin I bought in 2020, I was not looking to buy any gold in 2020 due to the high price of gold but a longtime collector on the PCGS forum was selling his collection of $3 gold coins and it is a type that I've wanted for a very long time.  Apologies for the different photo styles, I have not gotten around to taking photos of the gold coin yet. 

2020 what a ride, some ups and lots of downs.  The year started off promising enough and then covid covered the world with a wet blanket like we have not seen before.  A rough year of many especially those who lost loved ones to the pandemic, but a boon to some that were able to continue and even profit due to it.  As I look back my life was not terribly affected by it overall from either a personal or numismatic perspective.  As I do every December I looked back as what I did, what I bought, and what I sold and reflected on how I feel I did with my numismatic journey throughout the entire year.  As I resorted my spreadsheet by date I realized that I had spent more than I had thought; don't tell the wife ; maybe a few too many impulse buys.  But as I looked back I don't have any regrets for any of the purchases, some were to further a few registry sets, some like the $3 gold coin were to satisfy an itch for a type, but all were good coins and I can enjoy looking at each one.
 
As I look forward to the new year I am wondering what direction will next year take me, should I scale back after buying more than expected in 2020, are there any sets or projects that I should focus on or just do what I usually do and move on a purchase when the time and mood strikes me.    Ever since I finished my Lincoln 09-58 date/mm set in 2017 I have not felt the same sense of purpose or direction with my collecting.  I've bounced the idea of selling some sets like the Morgans or Mercs, but have not been really motivated to do so yet.  Part of me says that would be a good way to kick start a new collecting direction or set, and part of me isn't ready to let go of those.
 
I am also having trouble getting excited about the new year knowing that at least the first half of 2021 will be much like 2020, the vaccine rollout is taking much longer than many had hoped and I really do not see an end to the silly mask restrictions and other big brother oversights for several months at best, sigh.  Well enough of that I'm going to pull up my boot straps and find a way to enjoy myself this next year, and I feel confident that I will find a few special coins to purchase and enjoy in the new year.  To all my collecting friends have a safe new years and I hope everyone enjoys 2021 first from a family perspective but also from a hobby/numismatic perspective.  As a sendoff to 2020 here are my two favorite purchases made during 2020.  Get it two purchases from a year with two twos in it,I crack myself up.!   Both are type coins, first is this beautiful 1876 seated dime purchased from Gerry Fortin.  This is a great looking coin and filled a hole in my type set, but it also fits into my holder generations custom set theme, this holder is the first one used after the last old soap style and was a transitional one that was only used a very short time.  And the second coin is the only gold coin I bought in 2020, I was not looking to buy any gold in 2020 due to the high price of gold but a longtime collector on the PCGS forum was selling his collection of $3 gold coins and it is a type that I've wanted for a very long time.  Apologies for the different photo styles, I have not gotten around to taking photos of the gold coin yet. 

2020 what a ride, some ups and lots of downs.  The year started off promising enough and then covid covered the world with a wet blanket like we have not seen before.  A rough year of many especially those who lost loved ones to the pandemic, but a boon to some that were able to continue and even profit due to it.  As I look back my life was not terribly affected by it overall from either a personal or numismatic perspective.  As I do every December I looked back as what I did, what I bought, and what I sold and reflected on how I feel I did with my numismatic journey throughout the entire year.  As I resorted my spreadsheet by date I realized that I had spent more than I had thought; don't tell the wife ; maybe a few too many impulse buys.  But as I looked back I don't have any regrets for any of the purchases, some were to further a few registry sets, some like the $3 gold coin were to satisfy an itch for a type, but all were good coins and I can enjoy looking at each one.
 
As I look forward to the new year I am wondering what direction will next year take me, should I scale back after buying more than expected in 2020, are there any sets or projects that I should focus on or just do what I usually do and move on a purchase when the time and mood strikes me.    Ever since I finished my Lincoln 09-58 date/mm set in 2017 I have not felt the same sense of purpose or direction with my collecting.  I've bounced the idea of selling some sets like the Morgans or Mercs, but have not been really motivated to do so yet.  Part of me says that would be a good way to kick start a new collecting direction or set, and part of me isn't ready to let go of those.
 
I am also having trouble getting excited about the new year knowing that at least the first half of 2021 will be much like 2020, the vaccine rollout is taking much longer than many had hoped and I really do not see an end to the silly mask restrictions and other big brother oversights for several months at best, sigh.  Well enough of that I'm going to pull up my boot straps and find a way to enjoy myself this next year, and I feel confident that I will find a few special coins to purchase and enjoy in the new year.  To all my collecting friends have a safe new years and I hope everyone enjoys 2021 first from a family perspective but also from a hobby/numismatic perspective.  As a sendoff to 2020 here are my two favorite purchases made during 2020.  Get it two purchases from a year with two twos in it,I crack myself up.!   Both are type coins, first is this beautiful 1876 seated dime purchased from Gerry Fortin.  This is a great looking coin and filled a hole in my type set, but it also fits into my holder generations custom set theme, this holder is the first one used after the last old soap style and was a transitional one that was only used a very short time.  And the second coin is the only gold coin I bought in 2020, I was not looking to buy any gold in 2020 due to the high price of gold but a longtime collector on the PCGS forum was selling his collection of $3 gold coins and it is a type that I've wanted for a very long time.  Apologies for the different photo styles, I have not gotten around to taking photos of the gold coin yet. 

And I'm tired of writing, phew.    Now I do not consider myself a natural when it comes to writing, I don't live on facebook or any other social media platform nor do I do much writing for my job so it just is not easy or natural for me the way it is for some.  But I spent a great amount of time over the last month updating descriptions, writing new ones for both individual coins and for the sets themselves.  I am quite sure that none of that will go down as great works of writing art  but I'm very pleased with the results overall.  Time to take a break from all that and enjoy, soon it will be time to go back and refine what I have done and work on better photos.  Good thing I enjoy this hobby.  

And I'm tired of writing, phew.    Now I do not consider myself a natural when it comes to writing, I don't live on facebook or any other social media platform nor do I do much writing for my job so it just is not easy or natural for me the way it is for some.  But I spent a great amount of time over the last month updating descriptions, writing new ones for both individual coins and for the sets themselves.  I am quite sure that none of that will go down as great works of writing art  but I'm very pleased with the results overall.  Time to take a break from all that and enjoy, soon it will be time to go back and refine what I have done and work on better photos.  Good thing I enjoy this hobby.  

And I'm tired of writing, phew.    Now I do not consider myself a natural when it comes to writing, I don't live on facebook or any other social media platform nor do I do much writing for my job so it just is not easy or natural for me the way it is for some.  But I spent a great amount of time over the last month updating descriptions, writing new ones for both individual coins and for the sets themselves.  I am quite sure that none of that will go down as great works of writing art  but I'm very pleased with the results overall.  Time to take a break from all that and enjoy, soon it will be time to go back and refine what I have done and work on better photos.  Good thing I enjoy this hobby.  

And I'm tired of writing, phew.    Now I do not consider myself a natural when it comes to writing, I don't live on facebook or any other social media platform nor do I do much writing for my job so it just is not easy or natural for me the way it is for some.  But I spent a great amount of time over the last month updating descriptions, writing new ones for both individual coins and for the sets themselves.  I am quite sure that none of that will go down as great works of writing art  but I'm very pleased with the results overall.  Time to take a break from all that and enjoy, soon it will be time to go back and refine what I have done and work on better photos.  Good thing I enjoy this hobby.  

Ok down you animals I'm already spoken for,  no what I'm referring to here is that this year for the first time ever I will have a registry set (multiple sets in fact) that are eligible for NGC major awards.  My 1936 mint set has 10 of the fifteen slots filled and all the coins are NGC certified, yep not one PCGS coin in this set.  And I expect that I will have high quality photos and descriptions for all of the current ten coins in the set by Dec 4th.  I have set a goal for myself to have this set 100% complete by 2023 so that will be one of my collecting areas of focus going forward.
 
My 1940 set is the one I'm most proud of as this set was put together to celebrate my mothers birth year.  The 1940 set does have three of the 14 slots filled with PCGS coins and while it would be nice to have this set also all NGC it would be impossible to replace my 1940s dime, while only graded as MS65FB this coin has been awarded a gold CAC bean and I believe that it would at least grade as an MS67FB coin today.
 
Also this year I have restructured my 1909-1958 Lincoln set in order to meet the 75% rule, sadly I had to reduce the overall score with some under graded coins.  And while this set is actually 100% complete I will also have to remove three of the PCGS coins to meet the 75% rule so for this years competition it will appear as though it is not complete.  However my set is the only set to have 100% nice high quality photos; and 100% full complete descriptions (well it will as I am finishing up the last of the photos now).  There is not another set in this category that can even come close to this claim, most have a few of the stock NGC photos and a handful of comments; and most of those comments are a word or two at best.
 
This is not hold the press crazy amazing news, but for the first time ever a few of my sets are over the 75% NGC coins in the set rule and the at least 50% complete rule.  While I do not expect to win any major awards its nice that at least I have something that can be considered.  

Ok down you animals I'm already spoken for,  no what I'm referring to here is that this year for the first time ever I will have a registry set (multiple sets in fact) that are eligible for NGC major awards.  My 1936 mint set has 10 of the fifteen slots filled and all the coins are NGC certified, yep not one PCGS coin in this set.  And I expect that I will have high quality photos and descriptions for all of the current ten coins in the set by Dec 4th.  I have set a goal for myself to have this set 100% complete by 2023 so that will be one of my collecting areas of focus going forward.
 
My 1940 set is the one I'm most proud of as this set was put together to celebrate my mothers birth year.  The 1940 set does have three of the 14 slots filled with PCGS coins and while it would be nice to have this set also all NGC it would be impossible to replace my 1940s dime, while only graded as MS65FB this coin has been awarded a gold CAC bean and I believe that it would at least grade as an MS67FB coin today.
 
Also this year I have restructured my 1909-1958 Lincoln set in order to meet the 75% rule, sadly I had to reduce the overall score with some under graded coins.  And while this set is actually 100% complete I will also have to remove three of the PCGS coins to meet the 75% rule so for this years competition it will appear as though it is not complete.  However my set is the only set to have 100% nice high quality photos; and 100% full complete descriptions (well it will as I am finishing up the last of the photos now).  There is not another set in this category that can even come close to this claim, most have a few of the stock NGC photos and a handful of comments; and most of those comments are a word or two at best.
 
This is not hold the press crazy amazing news, but for the first time ever a few of my sets are over the 75% NGC coins in the set rule and the at least 50% complete rule.  While I do not expect to win any major awards its nice that at least I have something that can be considered.  

Ok down you animals I'm already spoken for,  no what I'm referring to here is that this year for the first time ever I will have a registry set (multiple sets in fact) that are eligible for NGC major awards.  My 1936 mint set has 10 of the fifteen slots filled and all the coins are NGC certified, yep not one PCGS coin in this set.  And I expect that I will have high quality photos and descriptions for all of the current ten coins in the set by Dec 4th.  I have set a goal for myself to have this set 100% complete by 2023 so that will be one of my collecting areas of focus going forward.
 
My 1940 set is the one I'm most proud of as this set was put together to celebrate my mothers birth year.  The 1940 set does have three of the 14 slots filled with PCGS coins and while it would be nice to have this set also all NGC it would be impossible to replace my 1940s dime, while only graded as MS65FB this coin has been awarded a gold CAC bean and I believe that it would at least grade as an MS67FB coin today.
 
Also this year I have restructured my 1909-1958 Lincoln set in order to meet the 75% rule, sadly I had to reduce the overall score with some under graded coins.  And while this set is actually 100% complete I will also have to remove three of the PCGS coins to meet the 75% rule so for this years competition it will appear as though it is not complete.  However my set is the only set to have 100% nice high quality photos; and 100% full complete descriptions (well it will as I am finishing up the last of the photos now).  There is not another set in this category that can even come close to this claim, most have a few of the stock NGC photos and a handful of comments; and most of those comments are a word or two at best.
 
This is not hold the press crazy amazing news, but for the first time ever a few of my sets are over the 75% NGC coins in the set rule and the at least 50% complete rule.  While I do not expect to win any major awards its nice that at least I have something that can be considered.  

For about the last week or so Ben keeps saying that he needs things for his “collection.” He has a robot “collection.” His Legos are a “collection” now. His toys are a “collection.” He needs all my old dice for his “collection.”
I’m not sure where this came from, but I really don’t think it was from me. I don’t think I use the word “collection” around him very often.
I’m thinking he must have gotten this from one of his little shows he watches on Netflix – maybe even power rangers since I think there was a character / villain on that not too long ago that collected “goodies” in glass jars (kinda creepy).
It's cute and all... now he just needs to stop taking all of my stuff!