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W.K.F.

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Journal Entries posted by W.K.F.

  1. W.K.F.
    Higher prices and after that... even higher prices.
    Greetings Collectors,
    The dawn of a new year and a new decade will be a "double edged" sword. I have followed prices closely on several different popular series through the course of this year and have come to the somewhat disappointing conclusion that all of the lacking spots in my sets are becoming more and more expensive. I have watched dozens of worthy specimens be bid far in excess of what I was willing to pay based on past auctions of the exact same coin of similar eye appeal and the same grade. And now as I have cut way back on my spending, I watch coin after coin sell for way more than I am willing to pay. In 2009 I purchased several dozen silver and gold coins but for this entire past year I can count the acquisitions of merit on less than two hands. Teletrade was an auction venue that I patronized weekly and sometimes would make one, two or more buys in each of their then, 3 auctions a week. My Teletrade purchases for 2010 has been 5 total coins. There have been many nice coins listed there but the prices even before the buyers fee have been at times, sometimes 30% higher than I was willing to pay.
    On the flip side, this bodes well for the coins we all own already. Precious metals have a great deal to do with this I'm sure. But I'm not convinced that our hobby is growing by leaps and bounds. In fact I think the best that can be said is that we may be just holding our own. Many collectors are older like myself, and I believe that more of us are dieing than are beginning the hobby. I think back to as little as 2005 and 2006 when I was buying MS-62 $20 double eagles for $6-$700. Now the same coins are in the "high teens". The fact that gold has doubled is the obvious reason for these coins but there are many Walker and Franklin halves that have "skyrocketed" in this same time frame and many have not only doubled in price but tripled and better.
    I am of the belief that at least twice as many auctions need to be followed if not more just to snag a single nice coin. And the price again, way in excess of what feels comfortable. But, again on the "flip side" this is all "well & good" if you are selling rather than buying. Double edged swords are great for "slashing" on both sides.
    I have mentioned the silver to gold ratio in each of my posts and I just looked back to when I started doing this religiously, and it was on Oct. 14th and it took 56.265 ounces of silver to be equal to one ounce of gold. Right now just a few minutes ago Apmex.com had the price of gold at $1422.50 and the price of silver at $30.94 That brings that silver to gold ratio down to 45.976 My last post, a week or so ago, had the ratio at 47+ These have been huge moves in both metals but silver is blowing gold away with no end in sight.
    About the only thing I know I will buy in this 1st month of the new year is a roll of the new 2011 silver eagles when they are available for shipment on 1/14/11 The price today for the roll is almost $35 per coin. That's nearly $700 for a roll of 20. My 1st roll I ever bought was the 1996's and I paid $120 ($6.00 per coin) when silver was a little over $3 per ounce. Now I am fortunate to know that I own a roll of all 25 dates but it pains me to think these 2011 coins will cost more than the 1st 4 rolls of silver eagles I ever bought. But I really feel I need to move on them before they are $800 a roll. If silver reaches $50 by this time next year, and I firmly believe it will, that means the rolls of 2012's will be possibly in excess of $1,000 for a single roll. Whew! Any of you that are interested in getting your 2011 silver eagles early to send in for the "ER" designation check out Apmex. They have all bullion items along with gorgeous quality coins by PCGS, NGC & Anacs. I've dealt with them many times and have actually sent off single "raw" gold and silver eagles and got MS-70's on most of them, just to give you an example of the quality of their products.
    We are beginning to enter a land that I would not have dreamed possible 10 years ago. All of our gold and silver coins while being worth more, will start to price many of us completely out of this market. Bottom line for me is that I'm making 50% less today than I was in that period of time where $20 gold was way less than half what the cost is today. It is very sad that coins that were once within my grasp are suddenly out of my financial reach. So I guess now I can compare it to a boxer that could once go toe to toe with the best of them, now being reduced to being only a spectator and reminiscing about the past. I sincerely feel that "quality" coin collecting is quickly becoming a thing of the past for many including myself. I'm just wondering if it's just me or are those of you out there that feel the same?
    Regardless I still love the hobby but holding a valuable collection is not near as much fun as the continued procurement of those pieces that made the collection what it is today. Pictured here is one of just a few coins that I was lucky enough to procure earlier this year. A mid 19th century $2.50 Liberty to fit into the mint set I'm attempting of that same year. Sure would love to have gotten that 53-O "no arrows" half dime that "Electric Peak" picked up. Oh well, maybe this year...
    I wish a Happy New Year to all of you and your families and an enduring love for this "Hobby of Kings".
    Happy Collecting!
    WKF

  2. W.K.F.
    The "hard copy" of ones "15 minutes of fame". Muchos gracias NGC!
    Greetings Collectors,
    I have just come through 48 hours of pure hell. I can't remember the last time I've been sick with anything more than a slight cold but what hit me on Wed afternoon was like something out of a horror flick. The most horrible cramps, nausea, throwing up from both ends etc. These are the kinds of times when one is oh so thankful for a significant other. A symbolic prelude to getting older I guess, as today, the 18th is my birthday. As far as "happy birthdays" none is needed or solicited. I'm just glad to be alive after what I just went through. I have been blessed with extremely good health up 'til Wednesday. Stamina, blood pressure, sex life, all reading the same numbers as age 18. But I know this will not continue indefinitely and it makes me more aware of friends and family that don't have the same degree of good health. All of you that have had, and still have health issues, my earnest prayers are with you. It really sucks when portions of our bodies begin to fail.
    I am sure God knew I needed some cheering up as my strength returned enough to walk the 100+ yards to the mailbox to find the award plaques for 2010 located therein. Those of you that have one of these in your possession, I'm sure feel like I do. They are definitely worth their weight in gold. I think more of these three awards (one from 2008 & the two latest) than I do of any contest trophy's from past surfing events. And those that know me, know that surfing has always been my life and getting to the point of actually being competitive, was well, as close to having Heaven on earth as one can get. Any award from the "numismatic realm" far exceeds those in joy to me, hands down. They will "hang in honor" on my office wall 'til at least the day I die. (they almost "hung" in my mailbox 'til my heirs checked the mail after this last illness)
    I have enjoyed reading the journals of late and the procurements of those latest acquisitions. Of course with the good, always comes the "not so good" as in, submissions gone awry. As in life in general, we all must take the ups & downs as learning experiences. For me, I'm just trying to remember what I ate before I got sick so that I never eat it again.
    The silver to gold ratio has gone from 62 to 1 in Sept 2010 to its current rate of 42.470 a couple minutes ago. Silver at $32.75 per oz. is still a great deal. Continue to amass all that you can.
    Happy Collecting!
    WKF

  3. W.K.F.
    I have been waiting on this "totally" "completely" "awesome" "incredible" book for over a year.
    Greetings Collectors,
    About all I can say is this book will tell you everything you need to know about the Franklin & Kennedy half series. To borrow the quote on the back of this "hard cover" beauty from one of the "high priest's" of coin collecting, Q. David Bowers, where he says: "Between these two covers is just about everything you wanted to know, and more than you ever imagined existed". And he's not telling the "half" of it, no pun intended.
    There are total pops, values, scarcity figures, along with crisp photos on "EVERY" half dollar minted between 1948 & 2010. The example photo for each date & mint are of the "nicest looking" and "highest graded" half dollar of that particular date/mint in "captivity". If you love the Kennedy and/or Franklin half series, you "have" to have this book. Period. There are pages of the most awesome color pics of the finest halves from both of these half dollar series. There are coins that were sent into Rick so they could be professionally photographed & used as examples in this book. And from those that I saw, it's unbelievable to me there are coins with that many colors. They almost look as though they were artificially toned, they are that nice. All of these for the most part came from mint sets and the colors they turned were because of the cardboard those mint sets were shipped & stored in. Primarily the result of the "acids" in the paper cardboard of the day. Other reasons include the coin albums collectors used for display and/or storage. The color pics include Kennedy's as well, and there are several of those halves from 1964-2010 that are simply gorgeous. Rick Tomaska is "THE AUTHORITY" on mid 20th century to present proof coinage (along with being the most knowledgeable on the pf. & ms Franklin half) and this has everything on every proof Kennedy & Franklin half that exists on the planet, (MS also) and for a limited time, there are copies left of the "like this", special limited edition hard cover which is signed and dated & addressed to the 1st 2000 buyers. Total price with S&H for this one is less than $65. Whitman Publishers don't usually do "hard backs" but they did so on 2000 of these. If by the time you order, they are gone, you can get the same thing in "soft back" for a few dollars cheaper.
    Actually any half dollar fan of "ANY" series will get a treasure trove of knowledge that would be impossible to find elsewhere unless you did thousands & thousands of hours of research. And even then, I don't think you could come close to having half of what this 273 page book has to offer. I AM STOKED"!!! You will be too!
    I think what I like most about this book besides what was just mentioned, is that it will disclose just how rare and how few most of these Franklin half coins really are. A truly superb piece of numismatic literature.
    Happy Collecting!
    WKF
    Silver to gold ratio a little while ago was an "odd 45" to 1

  4. W.K.F.
    Do "whatever" you have to, in order to take advantage of it. Unless you're like me, and the lack of extra funds stands directly in the way.
    Greetings Collectors,
    A year or so ago I made a comment in a post about the stock, General Electric. The stock had plummeted from $17 to $8 & change. Now I know we deal in coins here, but most of us are into other investments as well. My point in that post, in regards to GE, was that, this was an incredible opportunity because of the valuation, and the fact that GE is a very diversified company that in essence, is a mutual fund in its self. Well in a short couple months, GE was back in the mid "teens" and lately has been on another tear and closed today at $20.80. I'm sure most of you have been watching the prices on gold and silver and hopefully have taken advantage of this 15%+ drop in silver and the more moderate drop, percentage wise in the other metals. I'm fairly certain that common date gold follows the price of gold melt and while the prices of common date Morgan, Peace, Walker & Franklin's do so also, but in a much smaller degree. This resembles the same type of opportunity.
    The large correction down to between $26 & $27 for silver has been, and still continues to be, at least for the next few days, a great opportunity to pick up some silver "on the cheap". Anyway, that's what I've been doing. So far this year I've picked up a roll of the new 2011 silver eagles, along with some rolls of 90 & 40% silver Kennedy halves and several "melt price" pieces of foreign gold. I'm still waiting to add some slabbed examples to my "much needing" empty slots of several sets. My deal for 3 P-mint dates for my Franklin half set has all but fallen through. I really wanted them but just can't/couldn't bear to have to "charge" them. (charging, or the lack thereof is about the only "vow" that I continue to keep) Two of the 3 coins were "top pops" and the dates, the 1948, 1949 & the 1950, were all PCGS coins grading MS-66 with FBL's. The opportunity to acquire all three for $1400 will probably never present itself again. I am still being haunted by my decision not to snag them. Oh well, I have to keep telling myself that one "can not" take advantage of every good/great deal that comes along.
    In this hobby, unless one has "very deep" pockets, I find that many times, I just can't "pull the trigger". It is a struggle that I continue to have with myself and one that I really have a problem with. In fact, this one thing is the only part of this hobby that I really dislike. Personally, I have found that the pain is less severe if I just, "plain & simple", stay completely away from eBay, Heritage, Stacks and the like. This way seems to lessen the pain. But being an "ostrich" for the most part, doesn't agree with me either. I hate to "read the menu" if I can't "order the food". How the women in my life can derive any pleasure whatsoever out of "window shopping only" is beyond me. That more resembles torture in my book. Having to constantly weigh, pick & choose, really sucks in my opinion.
    Below is pictured a group of my latest gold coins with the bottom three arriving in the last week. I finally got my French Rooster which arrived Monday with the proof Austrian gold Ducat "re-strike". I'm still undecided as to what to send in to NGC with my "5-coin coupon". I have gotten to where I don't like sending any coin in just for the sake of having it "slabbed". I'm glad I've gotten to the point that "points" are far from important to me. I also want to say "congratulations" to the latest acquisitions by Electric Peak & Kamakazy. A Humbert $10 and an AU- low-MS 1853 half & large cent have been on my lengthy "wish list" for a very long time. I briefly looked at the numerous varieties of large cents from 1853 that were available in this recently closed auction, but I overcame the urge and was able to safely navigate away before I incurred some major financial damage. But, great "snags" by these two very astute collectors. So again, congrats!
    Happy Collecting!
    WKF
    The silver to gold ratio is currently at 46.927

  5. W.K.F.

    PHOTO "LIGHTING" TEST PIC

    By W.K.F.,

    Trying to get rid of the yellow tint. Definitely a work in progress as I am still not happy with these results...
    Greetings Collectors,
    During the last six months I have changed out all of my light bulbs throughout my home with the newer style "curly" florescent bulbs and while doing so, changed out the bulbs on my two table lamps I use for my coin and jewelry photography. I have noticed that the quality of my journal pics have gone down "considerably". Rightly or wrongly, I blame the bulbs. It's the only thing I've changed. At first I had two 100 watt bulbs for the lamps and still kept the subject piece on top of a sheet of white printer paper. The 100 watt bulbs made it look as if the coin/subject was on top of a yellow piece of paper. This pic is one with a reduction to 60 watt curly fluorescent and doesn't appear quite as yellow but it still shows quite a bit too much of yellow tint. I think I'm gonna go back to regular 60 watt "old fashion" bulbs because it appears I got a better finished product.
    I have as late, been going through all of my gallery photos and made a list of all the re-shoots needed. Wow, there is way more to do than I thought. I'm also going through and re-taking all pictures to be just the "coin only" rather than the whole slab. I mean after all, it's the coin that counts. So I really have my work cut out for myself. In fact it's going to be so much work that I going to start with just all of the Franklin halves and the Walkers, followed by all of the gold coins. I have my Franklin set #1 done as they were re-shot back in the fall to highlight just the coin only. But as an up-grade would occur in that set, I moved the replaced coin down the line to subsequent sets and thus have some shots of the coin and the slab and some with just the coin. Quite a "hodgepodge" of very unprofessional looking shots.
    This is a shot with the lower wattage newer bulbs and is what I'm still not pleased with. Soooo, it's back to the drawing board. It's a reverse of a newly acquired $5 I just picked up.
    Happy Collecting!
    WKF
    Silver to gold ratio is at 49.621 which has been slowly rising during this latest correction in all of the metals. Again a great buying opportunity for those that can take advantage.

  6. W.K.F.
    These are absolutely gorgeous...except for a couple. And "Silver was down BIG today".
    Greetings Collectors,
    I had a nice surprise today when I got my mail. Actually I was expecting them as the mint delivered all of the SE's to their distributors on Friday the 14th but they did not ship them out 'til Tuesday because of the holiday Monday. I hadn't seen any posts concerning the new silver eagles and was just curious as to, did anyone already receive theirs yet? My order came from Apmex (American Precious Metals Exchange) and along with the roll of eagles I had ordered a 20 Franc gold Rooster. They are approx 1/5th of an ounce (.1867 oz.) of pure gold in each coin. But when I opened my package they sent me a Swiss 20 Franc gold Helvetia instead. Now this gold coin they sent contains exactly the same amount of gold as the Rooster but I already own a few of the Swiss gold pieces and do not own a Rooster. Plus it's a 1930 dated coin, not an early 1900's coin like the rooster is. I just got off the phone with them (Apmex) and told them about the wrong coin along with several of the silver eagles not being "up to snuff". Actually 5 of the 20 of the coins have distracting marks that if sent in, probably would grade 68 or maybe even 67. The two coins in the pic on the left are the worst of the 5. Am I being too picky??
    Each roll of all the silver eagle dates I have bought down through the years have been, for the most part, "pristine". And something else I noticed with this roll, all of the coins should have been facing "heads up". These consisted of a few one way and a few the other way with several being head to head or tail to tail. It's almost as if these coins were dumped out and then put back in maybe like someone was checking for oddities or errors.
    So, bottom line is, I'm undecided as to whether to send all of them back and go through the hassle to pack them up, drive to the post office, stand in line and then wait for another shipment. I suggested to the girl I talked to that maybe they could give me like $25 off of buying an additional 20 Franc gold rooster and ship it for free etc. I'm waiting on a call back or an email as to what they are willing to do. As I write this, I'm almost at the point that I don't want the roll. Every roll of the 25 previous years I own were all facing one way, heads up and all were virtually "flawless". These are not. My whole reasoning for having a roll of each date is sometime in the far distant future, I could always "make up" 20 complete sets consisting of ever how many coins that are out when this time finally comes. The dings aren't terrible but like I said, they are far below, quality wise, compared to the 20-coin tubes I have bought before. From them and others down through the years. I really hate when something like this happens. I feel on one hand that I am being "nit picky". But on the other hand, I don't want to settle for less than I deserve. So kinda a happy day and then again "not".
    On a separate note, those of you that can afford the 5-coin sets, I'm hearing that the new 5-ounce silver coins the mint is doing on the "America the Beautiful" format will be one of those things that will compare to the 1995 proof silver eagle that only came in the 4-coin gold set for that year. The prices I'm hearing are around $1000 for the 25-ounces of silver. I'm thinking that these will be a very good investment along with being some absolutely gorgeous 5-ounce silver coins. "So many coins" & only "so much money". Seems to be the story of my life.
    For all of you Franklin half dollar fans, I have an opportunity to obtain 3 NGC coins all grading MS-66 with full bell lines and the dates are the 1948, 1949 & the 1950. All three but the '48 are "top pop" coins with only 2-3 coins graded higher by any service. The price tag for the three, $1400 shipped. I have a couple days to decide but I'm thinking it's a deal I shouldn't pass up. But $1400 there, $1000 for the 5-coin ATB set and here I am, back in the same situation of spending way more money than I should be spending. And I was doing so good for a while. Oh well, I guess "hopelessly addicted" is the only words that come to mind. Decisions decisions...
    Happy Collecting
    WKF
    The silver to gold ratio is 48.945 as all of the metals, especially silver, took a beating today. Silver was down $1.36 an once just a minute ago. For those of you that can, now is a great "buying opportunity.

  7. W.K.F.

    RUSSIAN "FLIP SIDE"

    By W.K.F.,

    Now that I have carefully inspected this piece, the "newness" has worn off and it's...
    (reverse pic in my previous post of eBay bucks coin.)On to the next "slaying" of the next "beast". As some of you may have noticed, I'm off my silver bullion kick and now since my recent trade with a fellow collector here for 3 other U.S. gold coins, I am now looking at different pieces of "foreign yellow metal". Most can be had for around "melt" (or less) and there is some gorgeous works of art in some of these old "workhorses" of international commerce. An obverse bust of czar Nicholas II containing .1244 ounces of pure gold. I was having a conversation the other day with a fellow collector and the topic of "surviving pieces" was being discussed. If you think of all the massive "gold" melts that have occurred along with the 1/2 dozen or so large wars since this coin was minted, I'm sure the surviving pieces are much fewer than one would think. Wow, 1899. Afterward, you have two World Wars, and a revolution or two... And coins that were just flat "worn out". 112 years is a long time for sure... How many of these have made it to "present day"??I have one more little gold coin that should ship tomorrow from Apmex (and is one that I don't yet own. "French 20-Franc Rooster" .1867 ounces pure gold), one that will accompany my roll of 2011 silver eagles. Each of these latest gold coins (3) minted by foreign mints, are much more attractive than I thought they would be. World gold coinage is a whole 'nuther ballgame and one that I would like to know more about. But the thought of additional research coupled with the creation of additional "monsters" has me tense to put it mildly.I'm gonna try to keep it to a minimum and really try to keep it all under control. My "mindset" is that if I am aware of a possible problem, I can keep it from becoming a full blown problem. Does that make any sense?? Naw, I didn't think so.Happy Collecting once again.WKF
  8. W.K.F.

    EBAY 'bucks" COIN

    By W.K.F.,

    It feels good 'til you think of what you had to spend to get that 2% kickback. Actually "deep down" is just another sick way of justifying another gold coin purchase... Not that the lack of any "justification has kept me from any other past purchase...Bottom line... Hopelessly ADDICTED...Only difference now is... I've finally accepted this cold hard fact!
    Greetings Collectors,
    I haven't been "beat up" too bad for my last post. (actually surprisingly, all were in agreement with my position) At least I have use of my hands. No "brain control" but boy oh boy, can I point and click. I was gonna wait 'til my Big Crumbs deposit was made on the 17th and use it along with the eBay bucks to get an even larger piece of some yellow metal, but this way, my sick mind can convince the rest of me to get one more (coin) on or around the 17th. I'm still trying to not spend that which did not come from other numismatic or jewelry sales. Of course that's not been difficult since I have no jobs at present and thus no extra cash coming in.
    Anyway, it's amazing what $33.52 will buy (along with eBay's $161.88). 1899 Russian 5-Roubles gold in unc. Pure gold content is .1244 ounces. (obverse pic in the next post. "flipside")
    Happy Collecting!
    WKF
    Silver to gold ratio is 47.740

  9. W.K.F.
    And a few additional comments. Why I touch on "controversial" issues is beyond me...
    Greetings Collectors,
    I am into my 6th year at the Collectors Society. My anniversary falls in late Nov. Each year around this time I look back on my past year and also think about what I want to accomplish in the coming year. I always make my 1st purchase of the new year, again, about this time and I have started my year off like this for about the last dozen years. A "green lid" mint tube of the newest silver eagles starts my year. According to Apmex, the coins will ship on or around the 14th of this month. I don't know of anyone else that ships the new SE's any sooner. As I await these coins and a little additional gold piece, I want to really think about what I'm gonna try and procure and just how much money that each coin will cost. I also have my "free coupon" for 5 free submissions and the thoughts of what to send in is also in the fore-front. I think our coins, in the coming year, will increase in value by a large amount and the ones we are still lacking, will be far costlier as well. Even if one has only one set they are working on, chances are they have several coins they are still in need of. And there are those that have their set complete and are now working on upgrading certain slots. Lots and lots of "homework" and research and also lots of money expended.
    Those of us that have more than one set that they like and are working on finishing all of those, the work & the funds are multiplied many times, several fold. I have been working on condensing and even dropping several sets that are populated by by a single coin. In the past I let my "total points" standing play a more more aggressive role than it should have played. To make a set that has a single coin and when one (I) knows they have "no intentions" of adding to that particular set, much less completing it, the set probably ought to be deleted. I have several sets that fall into this category. All of these some 1/2 dozen or so sets of mine that have one coin only, and when that coin was bought, it was a coin that was purchased either as a coin needed for a mint set or strictly a coin that filled a slot in "type" only. Either or, the points for that coin have already been counted once and adding them to an additional area or set that they were not intended for, is just "fluff" and basically, un-necessary. As "no more" additional points are attributed to one's "total points". I am thinking very strongly about getting rid of this "fluff".
    On the matter of one having their sets obscured, My main question is?? Why are you even here?? The few that I have seen that have "obscure" sets are right on "up there" near the top, or even at the "top" in some cases. I see no advantage or any purpose for those sets to even exist here. I think of this place as a family of collectors that interact with one another and even buy and sell and trade on occasions. I'm not out to start spending holidays with any of you but it's nice to hear and see how each of you are doing, in the art of numismatics and in whatever aspect of your private life that one wishes to share. Again I'm not interested in looking at each of your family picture albums (nor you mine) or hearing every aspect of yours or your kids educational exploits but some of that is fine too. I'm genuinely interested in your lives and I think the more we can share (without divulging sensitive info pertaining to family or security of one's self or property) just makes us that much more a family. But my opinion on obscure sets is just that, an opinion. I don't make the rules but if you're "NOT" gonna share what your sets have, just keep the inventory on your own personal PC and not have them here. I mean, I just checked out a couple guys (or maybe gals) and they have "NO BIO", "NO FRIENDS", NO IGNORES", and last but most important, NO SETS" & "NO COINS". I've asked myself this question on several occasions and keep coming up with the same conclusion, and that's I see little on "what they are even doing here"??? I thought maybe they wanted it as an inventory format? Then I thought maybe it was just for a sense of power or maybe "bragging rights". But none of this even makes any sense as for some there is ZERO info in zero areas. Now I'm sure I will get some hate mail or posts with some saying "obscure or not" they "ARE" welcome here. Well, guess what?, NGC has already determined they ARE welcome here and they are the ones that make the rules. I'm OK with that. It's just my opinion they are doing nothing positive for the hobby or for the site, so that if you "don't" want to participate, take your coins that you won't show to the rest of us, and "hit the road". (Please don't take this "hit the road" comment too harshly but I could not think of a more suitable term under the circumstances).
    I leave you with a coin from a set that "is not" obscured. It's the obverse of the weakest struck coin in the series. This NGC MS-66 Franklin would be worth well in excess of 100k if only the bell lines were complete on the reverse. The "holy grail" of all Franklins, the 1953-S from my Franklin set #1.
    And also one last comment and thank you to Clay. It's an honor to be in the collecting company of you and Jackson and all of the rest of those that won and to those that didn't. I will say this. If I can win with a set that is ranked #35 overall, that's proof positive that anyone can win. Thank you again.
     
    Happy Collecting!
    WKF
    The silver to gold ratio is presently 46.764 A little lower as the silver correction "re-corrects". Silver is now at $29.55 and gold sits at $1381.90

  10. W.K.F.

    ARE WE A FAMILY HERE??

    By W.K.F.,

    I tend to think we are. What do you, "the masses" think of this idea?
    Greetings Collectors,
    After seeing a pic of a fellow collectors son, it dawned on me that it might be nice to put a face on some of you out there. It started me thinking that if we all shared a pic of ourselves or one with us and the kids etc, it would be kinda cool and possibly bring us all even closer together. They're may be those of you that feel like that would be TMI (too much info & if so, don't do it.) Me, I don't see how it could really hurt. So I'll throw one out from Labor Day weekend 2010. Last outing before my daughter left for NYC to attend NYU. She's the one behind the lens taking the shot of the boys (Dillon-13 on left & Clayton-15 on the right) and myself. This is where we spend a lot of our time when we're not at home. Next to numismatics, I have yet this additional love. I love to rip down the beach, just outside the breakers at 55+ mph.
    On a coin note I purchased my 2011 mint roll of silver eagles and on the same ticket, purchased one gold 20 Franc "French Rooster". It will probably be my only large purchase of the 1st quarter. Actually I should say I've paid for the two items and now the wait begins for the day they will ship the newest silver eagles, which will be Jan. 14th 2011. Apmex clipped me for about $32.46 per coin for the roll of twenty. My first roll back in the mid 90's was $120 ($6 per coin) Oh to be able to go back and change just a few things. That would certainly not hurt.
    Happy Collecting!
    WKF
    The silver to gold ratio is 47.294 at 10:17 am EST

  11. W.K.F.
    Talk about a shock, well let me tell ya...
    Greetings Collectors
    I'm unsure why it is, but for the last three years I have always remembered when the "deadline" ends for those whose sets may be considered for awards, but have consistently forgotten the actual day the awards are announced. Not sure why Friday, the announcement day, blew by me again but it did. The 1st inkling I had was from a pair of early emails from two members here I know and respect. As I read the well wishes and congratulatory notes from Clay and Gary I'm not sure which mentioned "award" in the plural form. As in more than one. As I clicked on my "always open" tab for the CS and went to news, only then did it dawn on me that it WAS more than one award my friends were referring to.
    I just want to say that while both (awards) were very humbling, gratifying, and appreciated like one couldn't imagine. To achieve an award for my beloved Franklin halves was the shocker. I want to say 1st off that the description NGC made referring to my Franklin set #1 was overly inflated. The 1st group of coins they mentioned are not 66-FBL. They are 65-FBL. AS I wrote another member here, I told him I could only hope, to one day to own those several condition rarities in the lofty grade of 66-fbl. It is a set I have worked very hard on and even made mention in a past post jokingly that since I had upgraded several slots and through other acquisitions the set was populated by NGC coins 2 to 1 over their PCGS counterparts, maybe that would be enough for consideration. But the realization as to where I stood in the overall "rankings" would prevent even a second glance, much less an award. To be in the same building as a set like the "Coppers" "Electric Peak" won with, along with Jackson's Walkers, Lehigh96's Jefferson's is as far away as the east is from the west. Boy do I feel honored to be in the collecting company of these guys. There are so many fine sets that won and there are so many fine sets that did not win. This whole aspect is one of the "driving forces" behind an "already loved" hobby we share. A set to be considered for an award must have over half of them graded by NGC. To have been honored by an award here seems like a coup engineered by grand design as my meek set is not even in the top ten, or the top twenty. Why it's not even in the top thirty. This may be my single most happy moment in all my years of collecting. Thank you to all the judges and thank you to all of my friends here who most have written me personally. This is an unbelievable honor. One more award winning set that I feel worth checking out, and one that Clay has worked very hard on is (there's way more than one other set to check out) Clay's Canadian Dollars. Well done, to not only these just mentioned guys, but to all of you!
    The only member that won an award in the best presented that I don't know, as in, I've corresponded to each of the other winners, over the last year or two on various occasions, about different topics, but Jon Lorenzo is someone that looks "worthwhile" knowing. His winning set has some of the nicest Trade Dollars I've ever seen outside a mint museum. And has several coins from the "top pedigrees" of all time "top collections". Quite an impressive collection of a short lived series. When ones coins of this series, get to the condition that Jon exhibits in his examples, we're talking scarce if not "bloody" rare. Great photos and kick butt descriptions. Way to go Jon.
    And lastly, about the journal award. I think now just about the same way I thought in 2008. How could my lengthy "ramblings" on so many different things be construed as even being close to "journal award" material. While I firmly believe there are dozens of sets out there way more worthy than mine for a "best presented" set along with many other collectors whose journals I've enjoyed reading this last year and feel they were again, more worthy of recognition than I, I just want to end by saying a heart felt "thank you" to the powers that be and the ornate plaques will hang on my coin wall 'til at least the day I leave this world. Thank you all very much.
    Happy Collecting!
    WKF
    Silver to gold ratio stands at 47.693 which since this somewhat large correction is a little higher on the week. Thought I'd include a pic of one of three gold coins I recently traded for with a fellow member here at the CS. (1862 Type-3) "Thanks Bammer". You and all of the rest here at the C.S. are all a great group of folks to say the least.

  12. W.K.F.
    There is some very "ornate" art in foreign gold.
    Hello again,
    The "obverse" features "Vreneli" or "Vrenelli", the Swiss Miss of Swiss lore. The lady with the plated (braided?) hair is facing left. She wears a garland of flowers (Edelweiss?) and appears against the background of the Swiss Alps. Above her head appears the word "Helvetia" which is why the coin is known as a Helvetia. The model for the portrait was Francoise Engli and looks quite attractive in her elegant floral gown and looks way too good to be "76".
    An absolutely "gorgeous" piece of art. And one that with a super low mintage that after usage, wars, and melts, they're may not be very many, this nice, left in captivity.
    Happy Collecting!
    WKF
    P.S. Pic of the reverse along with stats is in my previous post.

  13. W.K.F.

    VINTAGE SWISS GOLD

    By W.K.F.,

    I get very weak whenever I see "art" surrounded by yellow metal.
    Greetings Collectors,
    I trust everyone had a great new year weekend and that returning to work was not too much of a shock. I know I really didn't want to go in today. But I did. This was a piece I justified because I had a pretty fair weekend on "The Bay". I own a couple of 20-Franc French gold coins but this is my 1st Swiss piece. It was a "melt" buy but appears uncleaned and is "solid" 1/3rd up the "mint state" ladder. A few stats on the "reverse" and I'll share the "obverse" stats along with a pic in my next post.
    1935-LB 20 Franc Gold
    weight: 6.4516 grams
    .900 Gold Approx. 21mm
    .1867 oz. pure gold
    Edged Lettering- Raised Stars
    Reverse: The reverse features a Swiss cross on an ornate Swiss shield superimposed on an oak branch tied with ribbons. The value, 20 FR appears on the sides of the shield with the date centered below. The mint mark is on either side of the date. "LB"(Bern Switzerland??)
    The coin is commonly called a "Helvetia" named after the beautiful maiden on the obverse. She is known as The "Swiss Miss" of Swiss lore. (photo of obverse next post)
    I was gonna say something about "Obscure" sets/collections, but I think I'll hold off making comment 'til next time. I have to think carefully, just how to say, what I want to say.
    Happy Collecting to "ALL"!
    WKF
    P.S. Silver to gold ratio at present is 46.016 (slightly higher).

  14. W.K.F.
    There's nothing like feeling you've gotten a bargain...
    Greetings Collectors,
    The mailman was good to me today. I have met a real nice guy through eBay who has tons of Kennedy halves. He is a "Kennedy man" from the word go. He just sent me a full pristine roll of each 40% Kennedy less the "S" mint marks for the entire 1960's run. What makes these halves so nice is that each was from a "broken-up" SMS "special mint sets". All the coins at 1st glance look as nice as any "non cameo" proof in a grade of 67-68 or better. I'm sure that if I go through each coin from the five rolls I got, they're may be some cameos in the bunch. I won't be having any of these graded but if I were to, I firmly believe that there would be quite a few MS/PF 68's and maybe even a "69" or two. I'm coming to the end of my buying binge on these 40% silver coins and actually after all the odd numbered lots of these coins I have purchased, I was lacking 17 coins to make my last roll. So these "extra #17" were supposedly nothing special coins, I bought "on top of" the other 5 rolls. A couple were scratched and a couple were from regular circulation but at least 12 were of as high a quality as the pristine roll coins of the solid dates. I got the 1965, '66, '67, '68-D, & the 1969-D. Along with the 17 pictured here, that I bought to make up my last roll.
    Also received in the mail two more 500 gram 1/2 kilo blocks from an old refiner named: Lawrence & Sons. This makes a total of 4 bars this size along with a very rare 1-ounce version from the same refiner. Of the two bars shown below, the one on the left is a "reverse stamped" error bar, the only one like it of the four I have this size. Yes I think this silver buying binge has finally come to an end. I have a couple of coins that I am going to try and strike a deal on between now and Christmas. And while I have bought this last bunch of silver about $2 off its high, I will continue to see if this "mini correction" has any "staying power" and will maybe pull the trigger on a little more if I see the likes of $22-$23 per ounce anytime soon. Hope all is well with all of you and that you are "not forgetting" to keep your "addictions fed".
    Silver to gold ratio is slightly higher at 52.923
    Happy Collecting!
    WKF

  15. W.K.F.

    PAST COLLECTIONS "REWIND"

    By W.K.F.,

    It's pretty cool going through all of the coins that we have picked up down through the years. Talk about "memories"....
    Greetings Collectors,
    For the kids it down to "clock watching" time and all are just counting off the minutes 'til they can open their stuff. I think I have heard somewhere that there will come a time when "ONE GIFT" will suffice from one loved one to another??? Is there like an "age cut off" when this is supposed to happen?? Anyway I'm just happy that I have all three kids in the house at one time and I'm not having to "bribe" any for their company. So while I have one on their laptop, the oldest boy on his guitar and my daughter hanging on Face-book and Twitter, and dad, well he's where dad usually is, at the dining room table with a bunch of coins and books/mags.
    It's borderline eerie that even though the coins I'm holding, have not been seen, much less held, for many years, almost every one sparks a section of the brain that re-calls all of the hows, whys & whens of how each came to be in my possession. Coins to me, are funny that way. I guess it's because they are technically money and most of us are fairly observant when it comes to our money. But I just thought it worth mentioning that of the coins pictured, I remember each one as far as about when I got it and from who it was procured from. Each one of all of these almost "worthless" (value wise) pieces of metal have a story, and so far today I have entertained myself watching "mental re-run playbacks" about how each one came to be. And the beauty of it all, all of this joy has materialized with a cost of nada.
    Well it's off to the store for some last minute food shopping and maybe a stocking stuffer or two and then our evening around the tree with each family member opening one gift. Then in the morning, all heck will break loose. But I will say that the effort and the cost of this happy time can not be put in a dollar figure. There is no way the amount of joy and fun that these three kids will have could be equated to anything else and no matter what the cost, I feel it to be the deal of the century because there is no way you could go out and buy this much happiness for the measly amount it all cost. These kinds of moments are what life is all about and to have a few coins thrown in for good measure is like the "cherry" on top of the most delicious banana split around.
    Again Merry Christmas to all. Don't forget to capture as much of this happy time on film as you can. And then when all the gifts have been opened and the kids are off downloading music to their new MP-3's or playing that much anticipated video game on their PC, the rest of us can escape into a great article on our favorite coin series. Happy Collecting!
    WKF
    The silver to gold ratio is 47.085 This figure is fast approaching the "mid 40's" I'm sure there is a lot of you that have watched this ratio fall since I have been posting it. It was in the low 60's in late summer and in the high 50's since I have been posting the figure. As I said in my last post, there are those in well respected areas of the metals market that say the ratio will fall to 16 to 1. I am of the mindset that the ratio of where it stood for decades and decades is where it will settle out, which is 20 to 1. (Twenty silver dollars to one $20 gold piece) Regardless of where it ends up, coins, be they silver or copper or other, is a pastime that is way past "worthwhile" and enjoyable.

  16. W.K.F.
    ME TO ME! Please don't take this as me being greedy because I'm not. This represents probably 90% of the dollars spent on dear old dad and they were spent by "yours truly".
    Greetings Collectors,
    As we approach this very happy time where most of the world does not celebrate this coming day for the real reason, I just want to say that the birth of Christ has got to be the single most important date in the history of the world. I for one am glad I know him in a personal way. Aside from this VIP the others on my list are my children. And lastly since it's Santa Clause that does most if not all of the giving, I thought it fitting that I got a little something for myself this year.
    I have had several jewelry sales in the last few weeks so I did something I have wanted to do for quite some time. The Spanish silver cobb pictured is from the 1715 fleet that sank in a hurricane off the south east Florida coast in that same year. It's a nice chunk of silver that I picked up at the annual coin show here in my home town a couple years ago. At that same show I saw some of these coins for sale from another south Fl dealer that had already been made into pendants. I really liked the look they had so I had a jeweler friend here in town make this up for me. The coin is 2 inches long & one inch wide. I used some of my scrap gold so all I had was the labor which was what I thought very inexpensive. ($140) So this is my "big" Christmas present. And as usual it was me that had to buy it. It never ceases to amaze me that the kids never think of the parents this time of year. To them it's all about them. But I guess that's just the way it goes. The house and the tree are decorated to the hilt and under the tree is brimming with presents but what you see here is my "biggie".
    I would like to wish all of you guys and gals a very Merry Christmas and pray that for those of you that are having a "lean" Christmas, that the future will start to look a lot brighter. Be safe, forget the diet, enjoy the food and try to keep Jesus in the forefront of your holiday festivities. And again, Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to all.
    Continue to have fun with your coins for not only the remainder of this year but on into 2011 and beyond as well. What a great hobby we all share.
    Kindest regards, Kerry
    Silver to gold ratio is rumored that it will continue to fall until it reaches 16 to 1. At present it is 47.274

  17. W.K.F.
    A CURE PLAIN & SIMPLE!!!
    Greetings Collectors,
    Each year around this time (usually a little later, after Christmas) I reflect back on several things. Since time is something none of us have enough of and the clock is ticking away toward our ultimate demise, I always ask myself if I have spent my time wisely? I always put the kids and family above all the rest of my time consuming activities and try to invest as much time as humanly possible with the kids. My daughter is away attending NYU for her last year of what seems like a "career in education" but we are all looking forward to her return on the 22nd for about a 10 day stay. My two boys are at that age of 13 & 15 where "hanging" with dad is not at the top of their priority list. Non the less, I force myself on them every chance I get because I am feeling them slipping away. Not in a bad way but those of you with pre-teen and teenagers know what I'm talking about.
    Anyway my hobbies are few and close friends even fewer because of the way I spend my time. Another thing that takes up thought around this time is how I can improve sales/contracts with my construction business which as most know is far from where it should be because of the present economic situation. I just try to do the best I can and feel that if I am at this point in the year and I have not borrowed any money to support the family and the business and no one is in the hospital or jail, I really feel thankful.
    But having said all that, I just shared with a fellow collector here the major problem I have with myself at present. I just compiled a tally of the amount of money spent since Jan 1st 2010 and it really got me thinking. I'm not rich by any means, but what I would say, I'm somewhat comfortable. The total of funds expended in 2010 has scared me into a realization that I have really got to change. I mean in a big way. I'm one who has to have everything paid for before I get it. I never borrow any money that I can't pay back at the end of the month. I've been this way for a little over 10 years. My main issue at hand is that I believe something to be wrong with me when I drive an '89 Chevy Astro van (it's an antique and in great shape) and continue to strive toward amassing as much gold and silver that any spare money will allow. I don't know if I have been sub-concisely trying to figure out a way to take it all with me when I pass or what, but it has finally dawned on me that something is wrong with me. I am really going to try and get a handle on what I spend my free cash on. Up til now, 95% has been put into coins, precious metal & stocks. Some of you may think, "that's great"! wow, I wish I could do that. Believe me, what ails me is a curse, not a blessing. At least the way I have been doing it. It seems I would have woke up to this fact after it, among other things, cost me my marriage. My mindset has ALWAYS been, "I can always sell something if I really need to. But fortunately I have never needed to and that's the problem. Coins, precious metals, stocks and just collections in general consume me. I have joked about it before, but I'm finally coming to the conclusion that I really may have a serious problem.
    With all seriousness I feel a change in direction is in order. This hoarding and acquiring does not make me feel the way it once did. I've never felt this uncomfortable about the whole thing in general and that's what's making me think I should step back and try to figure all this out before I buy another thing. It's already been a while since I bought a slabbed coin of any significance but this whole thing is actually like a drug. I've just swapped one addiction for another. As in, coins for precious metals. And always jumping back and forth between not only these two but other investment avenues as well. I don't want to die and have people say, Wow!, "did you hear about Kerry, all this time we just thought he was just OK. Did you hear what they found in a bunch of safe deposit boxes and in his closet and even under his bed?? I've read about people like that and I'm sure you all have too. I "do not" want to die in that condition. I really think I'm through with what some (including my three children) think as me depriving myself of what would make my life more pleasant. Maybe a new H-3 and a little renovating around my own house would be in order?? I mean, after all, I've been wanting that ride since they came out and I've been wanting that "game room" for the boys since they were 5 & 7. Of course I don't want to go too far the other way either as in a quote I heard once in a movie, which said: "Anyone who dies with more than $10,000 in the bank is a loser".
    I'm not sure right now but I really think something has come over me and I feel a big change looming. How this will all play out, I don't know. I just know that the way I've been doing things "WILL NOT" continue. I may be making myself somewhat scarce around here as I try to make heads or tails about the whole thing. I'll still be reading the journals, but I will be posting quite a few less than in the past as there just won't be that much to say. I hope all of you have a great Christmas and a happy new year. Don't ever lose your love for numismatics. I know that the love will always be there for me no matter what happens with my buying habits, or the lack thereof. The book pictured is just one of many titles of the type propaganda that has clouded my thought process over many years.
    The silver to gold ratio stands at 47.151 and continuing to fall. Happy Collecting and Merry Christmas to all!
    WKF

  18. W.K.F.
    A few choice Lincolns...
    Greetings,
    I remember I put back several dozen various dates that I had the opportunity of "cherry picking" from some original bank rolls. I had actually forgotten all about them 'til just this last week. They look a whole lot nicer than the few 66's I own that are slabbed. Just thought I'd share these with you all. Why these were not with all the rest of them is beyond me.
    Later...
    WKF

  19. W.K.F.

    Finds Worth Mentioning...

    By W.K.F.,

    Not being an authority on very many coin series, it's tough to judge what's worth slabbing??? And what is silver and what is not...
    Greetings Collectors,
    Just spending a lazy Sunday afternoon with some coins that I haven't seen for many years, I found a couple I have questions on. I am a "pack-rat" in lots of different areas and with coins, I am no different. Down through the years I have stashed away everything from mediocre wheat cents to foreign coins in silver & misc other metals. In fact I have stashed away coins that were probably "NOT" worth saving at all. I'm certain there is a web site that will inform me as to the silver content of any foreign coin, and I'm sure there are those of you out there that could steer me in the right direction. I have literally hundreds and hundreds of foreign coins that look like they ARE silver but maybe they AREN'T. I am curious to know just "what is" & "what is not" (silver). So if any of you know where there is a "blanket type" site that has info on "all" foreign silver coins, I would be most appreciative.
    Then there is the question as to what is worth slabbing? One needs an entire library on each coin series to be able to accurately come to the determination of what is a 66 and what may be a 67 or even a 68 which would be deemed worthy of encapsulating. I am kinda of the mindset that unless a coin is very very "high grade" (67+) it's not worth slabbing. Of course I know the ones that are the exceptions, which like the 1901-S & 1923-S quarters and the keys in the Lincoln series IE '09-S VDB, the 1914-D etc. The 1916-D Mercury dime. Then you have the "holy grail" coins in the Morgan dollar series such as the mint marked coins of the early to mid 1890's ('93-S & CC to name a couple) Other than the major keys to any series, is it worth-while to slab an obvious high grade coin that is not a key date?
    Pictured is some misc coins I found in an old rectangular box that's sized to hold 2X2 flips. I think the 1950 one-peso is 30% silver but am unsure of the other one-peso coins dated 1957, 1958, 1962, & 1963. Of course I know the Mexican Onza's and the Panamanian Balboas are silver but they are ones that I am unsure of the "worthiness" of having slabbed? They appear very high grade and they have been stored properly and protected well but there again, if you don't have a book on Mexican silver coins,or one Balboas from Panama, it's questionable of whether or not they could be slabbed without wasting money. I'm thinking these two roughly one ounce silver coins from Mexico & Panama are like our Silver Eagles in the sense that millions and millions were minted and they will only be a "silver bullion" coin and nothing more.
    It really boggles my mind that for someone like myself, one that studies coins day and night, has no more basic knowledge than I do. When I start to feel stupid (and this happens quite frequently) I just tell myself that it's impossible to have a "degree" in everything. Once I do finally get on a certain "kick" when it comes to anything, I read and study like there's no tomorrow. Nothing bothers me more, than to be ignorant of a certain subject or topic.
    Anyway I have these two question that I sure could use an answer to, if any of you have the time. I found also what looks like some very high grade Lincoln cents. They have been in stapled flips for many years and still retain 95% of their red color but there again, I'm definitely not an authority on grading Lincoln cents either and can only go by what I've seen and what I own. I know an MS-66 is only average and only when the grade reaches 67-68 Red does the penny start to really take off in value. I will post a pic of these 2-3 Lincoln's to see what anyone thinks about their possible grade. They are not "key dates" but they look a whole lot nicer than any 66 I own at present. It would be nice to have one or more of these that I picked from some original bank rolls many years ago, end up as "top pop" examples. Somewhere else in my boxes I have a few dozen other "cherry picked" Lincoln gems that from a "layman's" perspective, they looked practically "flawless.
    There's not a day that goes by that I don't receive a "boatload" of fun from hanging out with a few coins. I'm sure that there are other hobbies that affect others this way. At least I hope for their sake, they do. Happy Collecting!
    WKF

  20. W.K.F.
    Duh... What else is new??? But I do believe it's for the best. It's just there is so many coins, and only so much $$$.
    Greetings Collectors,
    To start, it sure was nice of the Collectors Society to re-value "points wise" all of the Silver Eagles. I had been stuck at 199k for the longest time. Now I have been pushed passed the 200k mark by a couple thou. I still don't understand why they would "figure down" on the Walkers and go the opposite on the S E's. But, oh well, I will definitely take it. That's probably the only way I was going to bust through 200k.
    It wasn't a couple weeks after I listed 70% of my "old pour" silver bars that I went back in and removed 1/2 of those. I started thinking right about the time I had sold my 4th bar that I loved these old pieces of silver way too much to sell them, no matter what the price. Each bar that sold bothered me more and more, so finally I just said, "to heck with it", I'm just gonna sell duplicates or ones that just don't "turn me on" the way some of the others do. So much for the idea of raising cash to buy other coins.
    Speaking of other coins, and particularly the Walkers and Franklin's that I'm missing, all of the prices I am seeing are way north of prices these same coins were bringing just a few short months ago. Surely the increase price of silver would not have as much to do with the higher prices these semi-key examples are bringing at present. One part of me says go ahead and grab one here and there forgetting the prices, but the "practical" side of me says, wait for a better deal. So no new examples to share at present.
    The bank that has my safe deposit boxes was bought by another bank and they closed the deal a week ago so now I have to move 4 large boxes to another branch because as luck would have it, the merger of the 5-branch acquiring bank to my 4-branch bank has meant the closing down of just one of the branches and as luck would have it again, it was my bank branch they are permanently closing. So this last Thursday I brought everything I had at home and cleaned out one big box and then moved all that to the new bank. But they don't tell me 'til I get there that they don't have any big boxes, so they gave me a group of #12 5" X 10" boxes with more that size if I need them, to move all of my contents to a time in early March, when they can bring all the other deposit boxes from the closed branch to the new location. This has proved to be quite the hassle as I will have to move my contents twice. But they are going to give me a free year on all of my boxes and also give me a "5th" big box on top of the deal, also at no charge. So I guess this is kinda a blessing in disguise.
    But now I have only emptied one box and with the stuff from home, I have #6 of the 5 X 10's filled. I'm hoping and praying that 5 big ones will be enough to comfortably house everything. This whole deal has given me the opportunity to take a good inventory and organize things better than they were before. It's amazing how much different stuff one can accumulate over the years. It's been fun bringing some things home and noting each piece. Just wish I could find a few choice halves to fill some empty holes I have. Early Nov. is my anniversary here at the C.S. so I have my 5-coin coupon I can cash in if I can find some worthy pieces to submit.
    I hope everyone is getting prepared for Christmas and also want to add that it's been great hearing and seeing all of the acquisitions all of you have been getting. I'm jealous of Jackson and the mini-hoard of very nice Walkers and have also been drooling over the gorgeous Jefferson nickels by lehigh96. There are others of you that have been getting some really nice pieces and I for one, always enjoy reading about those "snags". There are so many variations to this hobby, there is hardly ever a dull moment. Keep it up, all of you.
    The silver to gold ratio today is at 48.275 This is well below 50 and will be at 40 before you know it. Keep buying and Keep collecting! Here's a piece I found in the box. Old Mexican silver, "Cap & Rays" with a few ancient "chop marks".
    WKF

  21. W.K.F.
    Who wudda thunk it???
    Greetings Collectors,
    I was up early this morning to be at a local retailer for some huge electronic bargains for a couple of Xmas gifts for my two teenage boys. They opened at 8am and I was out front at 7:15 to be 1st in line. I had my latest issue of Coin World to keep me company which is an issue I would recommend to all. It touches on all of the "highlights" of the past decade with in depth articles on everything from the State quarters to all of the coins that have sold breaking the "million dollar" mark. Lots of stuff on Chinese counterfeits, error coins from the mint and the last ten years of surging bullion prices, just to name a very few. Maybe the best issue I have ever seen in all my years of being a subscriber. But anyway Big Lots opened, got my MP-3 players, cameras and camcorders and when I was checking out, a manager came up to the cashier and complained that the Armored Car delivering the cash left no one dollar bills. The manager that ordered the previous night had not specified bills so they brought coin instead. He, according to her had left $200 worth of silver dollars, but no bills. Needless to say my ears went up and I waited the, what seemed like minutes, for their 30 second conversation to end. I then asked about the silver dollars and inquired as to whether I could buy a few of them. I never have cash, only debit cards, but looking in my clip which holds the last few days of various receipts, drivers license, and other misc cards and saw that I had 4 one dollar bills and that was it for cash. I said that all I could help out with was $4 and she said that would help and she would be happy to trade me $4 for $4. What she brought out was not silver dollars but original Fed wrapped rolls of the new Lincoln dollar issue.
    Having not seen any new issue coinage at any of my 3 banks for I know is well over a year, this was a nice surprise. I had already made my purchase but was willing to make another and get "cash back" to pick up all of the new rolls she had. But they don't do cash back at Big Lots and that would have hurt them more than it would have helped. I asked if she would hold them and I would take an eight minute trip to my bank and be back in a flash with 200 one dollar bills. Now I had watched this armored car driver arrive 40 minutes before the store opened and we had made some serious "eye contact" as he was driving a truck full of cash and here he sees a lone individual with a bulky heavy coat standing outside a store that was far from ready to open. His partner actually was turned around in his seat and I watched him keep his eyes on me the whole time his pal was inside the store. When the guy exited the store, he walked with his head turned toward me the whole time and did not take his eyes off me while his partner opened his door.
    But back to the point at hand, when I returned the manager and I talked for about ten minutes and said that just about all the coin they get from this armored company was new fed wrapped stuff. She said that if I wanted, she would order me what ever I wanted within reason. She actually had some new nickels and pennies but they were much too busy at the time for her to go back and see exactly what all she had. But this got me to thinking about maybe getting some coins from her in the future. Maybe after things calm down with the holidays. These 8 rolls of P-mint Lincoln dollars are the first new coinage I have seen with the exception of one box of Grand Canyon quarters that I saw at one of my banks several weeks ago of which I bought two rolls. I do believe that any of you that have relatives that own or manage medium to large retail stores, you can order at face value much of the new coinage directly from whoever has the armored car contract with that certain store. It's a thought anyway.
    So now I have these rolls and that's all I have because of the trade I made a while back with a collectors society member here, in which he releaved me of all that I had amassed since 1999. Earlier in this decade was when the new quarters and the new dollars and pennies and such could be had for face value at any local bank. I still ask those at my banks every time I go inside if they have rolls of half dollars or any "new stuff" and the answer is usually always the same. No. So this may be a way to get some of the new stuff that the banks can't or won't get. It never hurts to ask.
    So we only have a little over two days before we end another year here at the C.S. I wish all of you luck that are trying for an award. I'm sure every one of you have a lot of competition and any award won would be very well deserved win. A set has to be awesome in oh so many ways to have a chance.
    In closing, how about silver? Is it "on fire" or what. Almost $29 per ounce. I had thought we would have made $30 by the end of November but it will definitely get there by Christmas. There is quite a bit of room for it to run. I would not be at all surprised to see $50 silver by the end of 2011, if not sooner. And oh that ratio thing with silver to gold, it continues to drop and is now firmly below 50 at exactly 48.702 Remember we were in the low 60's to high 50's just shy of two months ago. Don't think it's out of control or over valued because 99%+ of the investing public are still not even considering owning any at all. A small percentage have heard about it but most of them have only done just that, .. and at the most, thought about it, and that's it. Gold is in the "limelight". Once 50-75% have actually bought some silver, then we may be nearing the end of this orderly rise. But that is several years away at least. And even when that time comes, the rise will only slow a bit. Never ceasing. $29 silver is a bargain. I feel as if it's almost being given away. Even $100 an ounce silver will not be near the peak. Trust me on this one. There are those today that will buy $29-$30 silver and will be able to retire on just that silver alone 30-40 years from now. $10,000 gold and at least $200 silver will be here before you know it and it will only be the norm, not the end. Think about it. The amount of money you see pictured below will be what is required to obtain a single ounce of this beautiful "white metal". ALL ABOARD.......
    Happy Collecting!
    WKF

  22. W.K.F.
    Not too many things for free out there, but this is one that is!
    Greetings Collectors,
    I've been selling some silver bars lately... unfortunately... But that's the reason I listed them. It's just always hard to part with something "tangible". I also have a few coins I am watching and kinda trying to build up the reserves before I start "pulling the trigger. Silver has been back and forth of late and any significant "pullbacks is a great buying opportunity. I have also been fine tuning a few sets with better quality pics and more detailed descriptions. The above and of course reading and studying anything numismatics has taken up the balance of my free time. My construction work has just about come to its regular seasonal halt as very few want their houses torn up during the holidays. So I am catching up on work around my own house which as the old saying is true with me. The "cobblers" children are the ones who need shoes.
    Having shared all of this "non coin" news with you all, I want to end with a really pretty neat offer from a large dealer in gold. Rosland Capitol has an offer which is right down all of our alleys, in that for simply calling them, they will send you, "free of charge", a 1940's era Mercury dime. I just called them a few minutes ago and have my little piece of silver on the way. A 90% silver dime has about $2 worth of silver at today's melt price. Some of you may have heard their commercials advertising this free offer. I've been hearing the ad for about a month now. All you have to do is give them your address and phone number and there is no sales pitch. I'm fairly certain that (the sales pitch) will come later via a phone call but when they do, I'm just gonna tell them I don't want to buy any gold, as I was just after the "free dime". This may sound kinda cruel but most of these that sell gold want more for their gold than we can buy it for elsewhere.
    So FYI if you want the free dime, give them a call at 1-800-752-1676. Their website link is RoslandCapital.com but I didn't see the free dime offer there when I looked a few minutes ago. It may be there and it may not. I think I'll go back to their site and just see if they are offering it (the free dime) there as well.
    I hope everyone had a wonderful safe Thanksgiving weekend and that all are in the process of getting ready for Christmas, which will be here before we know it. I leave you with a pic of another Mercury dime, which is a "higher quality" example than the one you will receive from Rosland. But the one that you will get will be a at a price that "can't be beat". Free silver is always a very good thing in my opinion.
    Silver to gold ratio presently is 50.250
    Happy Collecting!
    WKF
    P.S. They are keeping the "free dime" offer somewhat "under their hat" as the web site does not mention a thing about it. We all know they are just trying to get those of us that may want to buy some gold bullion, to get it from them. When I called them I fully expected a sales person to be on the line with a "pitch". But they actually got my address at the speed of light and then hung up, not even letting me get out a question I had about the spelling of their name so I could go to their web site. I had to call them back to get the spelling. I fully expected the opposite and was already prepared to say my piece about only wanting the dime. It was far easier than I thought it would be. "Free silver"... not bad at all...

  23. W.K.F.
    Now the "flash" has worn off...
    Greetings Collectors,
    I have been deep in study and thought for several weeks now. As I have been tweaking my various sets and re-doing a photo and/or a description here or there, I have been thinking heavily about how long it has been since I bought a "real slabbed coin" of any significance. I actually became quite sad at the realization that the many hundreds of dollars I have spent in the last three months has netted me practically nothing when it comes to filling slots in some of my favorite coin series. Sure I've been able to get some silver but there is nothing that takes the place of getting that coin that you have been waiting on for, in my case, is going on several years. I know that the reason is that I am too wrapped up in thinking about my retirement and what little bit of a "nest egg" I have accumulated.
    So I've made the decision to sell all of my "old pour" silver bars. This would free up cash that has appreciated tremendously over the two year period of most of the purchases. My problem is that while the task of listing each bar is time consuming enough, I run the risk that "silver prices" just may accelerate to the point, I'll be selling at below melt before I could revise several hundred listings. This has happened to me in the last three months when it comes to the jewelry items I listed on eBay back when gold had just pushed through $1000. I have tried to take the heaviest (gold content wise) and revise them 1st and then go on down the line, but items have been selling before I could get to revising them. I know that when I listed them the figure was one that if sold, I would be happy with the proceeds. But now it's really not sitting well with me when I sell an item and I've left 20-30% on the table. I revert back to an old saying from the movie "Wall Street" when Michael Douglas AKA Gordon Gecko told Charlie Sheen AKA Bud Fox that "nothing upsets me more than losses". So here I am trying to run a fledging construction company in a horrible economic environment, buying and selling gold and silver, and leaving piles of money on the table. And this hobby I love so much, is needing with one hand and wanting with the other, and I have not bought a single coin for what seems like years.
    But anyway I'm still going to keep plugging along and set some of these recent goals on the "back burner" and get back to what means the most to me outside of family & friends. The quest to having a roll of each Franklin half date and each silver Kennedy is going to be temporarily suspended. And I'm going to try to devote all available financial resources into the completion of my Franklin and Walker half sets. I want to finish my Walker short set in coins that are MS-66. I want to then finish my Walker "middle set" with coins that are left missing after moving the replaced upgrades from the short set to the middle set. The MS-64's and 65's that a MS-66 will replace will go a long way into filling a few holes in that middle set. That will leave just a few dates from the 30's I will have left to acquire. And last but surely not least, I have several holes in my Franklin half set #1 that need filling.
    It never ceases to amaze me how I can get on a tear with this that or the other, completely forsaking that which previously had my full attention. I have said in previous posts that I sometimes feel like a whore the way I jump around. It will be very hard to let go of all these little silver bars that I was once so excited about, but I guess that's just the way it goes. One can not collect everything, nor can one have one of a zillion different kinds of sets. I really admire those of you that are devoted to mostly one series whether it be "early mint state copper" or modern state quarters. I do believe that those of you that do, are the "true collectors". Hats off to all of you.
    The silver to gold ratio stands at 50.029
    Happy Collecting!
    WKF
    P.S. This is one coin slot that I won't have to look for an upgrade. A very scarce example of the "lowest mintage" Franklin half dollar. There are only two on the planet graded higher. And my pockets are way too shallow to even consider trying to procure one of those. With this one, I'm one of 32 at NGC that has an example graded this high. In retrospect, maybe I'm pretty lucky after all...

  24. W.K.F.
    It never ceases to amaze me the way the "heart of this hobby" continues to beat...
    Greetings Collectors,
    I seem to have been stuck at just shy of 200,000 points for what seems like eons. I have been looking for pieces to add to my various sets and continue to watch all of my favorite sellers and auction venues but nothing has jumped out at me. I see prices for "ALL" quality pieces continuing to rise, and records seem to be forever breaking "old ones". For what I need, & with the grades I'm willing to accept, along with what I can afford, my choices are few.
    There are exciting happenings in just about every series of coin. Heritage will be auctioning an 1854-O $20 gold Liberty that for years has been sitting in a family's safety deposit box. There are no pieces in mint state of this rare New Orleans date and this AU-58 may be the nicest of "ALL" known examples. I'm certain it will break all previous records once the "hammer falls". And the family had no clue as to what they had.
    Just yesterday I received my latest issue of Coin World and read where a new "Vam" had been attributed to a 1878 "7-Tail feather" Morgan dollar. This coin was struck from a previously unreported B-1 reverse die and actually was the 1st newly reported die variation for the 1878 in 45 years. For those of you with 1878 Morgans with the 7 tail feathers, you may want to look more closely at your example to see if you are one of the lucky few. Two more examples have been found since this was 1st reported on Oct 26th. An "uncertified" extremely fine example & one graded MS-63 DMP. There are others out there. I hope one of you have one. This new variety has been named "Vam-85"
    Canadian coin collectors have news about a newly discovered "finish" on a 10 cent "mule which is "news worthy". There is brand new news about the 1955 "double die" Lincoln cent about a brand new discovered die stage. Currency collectors are talking about a "hoard" of "pre revolutionary" colonial notes that were donated lately to the "Colonial Williamsburg Foundation". Not only is this the only known hoard of this type of currency, but the some 6,600 notes were all donated by an "anonymous donor". And then there is the fight between the "Langbord family" and the federal government, which has taken a turn in the family's favor and is inching closer to trial. For those of you that don't know, this family found #10 1933 $20 gold Saint Gaudens gold pieces in a family safe deposit box and when they presented them to the U.S. mint for authentication back in 2003, the government confiscated (stole them) them and the family has been fighting for the last 7 years to get them back. The only single example of this date sold for over 7 and a half million in a auction back in July of 2002. Needless to say if I were them, I would want my 10 twenty dollar gold pieces back yesterday.
    Silver continues its climb along with gold but those ratios on silver continue to fall and are now down to 49.492 ounces of silver to one ounce of gold. I know I sound like a "broken record" when I say how huge this is for those of us that own silver coins. We have a very bright shiny future with this "white metal".
    With nothing really new to report in the way of coin aquisitions except my continued buying of SMS/proof examples of the 40% Kennedy halves by the roll. I now have 4 rolls from each date from 1965 through 1969. And yesterday I won 20 examples (all 20 are still in their mint cellophane) of the coveted 1970-D 40% Kennedy which saw only 2.1 million minted. I am very excited about this latest grab.
    I leave you with some examples of what I believe to be "authentic" fractional gold from the California "gold rush days". At least I'm hoping they are authentic. These were stuck off in the back of one of my boxes and I remembered getting them from my step dad. These were some of the many items left over when he sold his two pawn shops back in the mid 80's. I may send one off to NGC when I re-up my C.S. membership and have the 5-coin submission coupon. This would be a nice coup if all six turned out to be "real".
    I hope everyone is getting ready for the awards coming up and trust that your work on any set you have a shot at an award in, is coming along well. I have only one set that has an "outside" very remote chance, and it sure won't be for being the "top rated" set. I have worked long & hard on the photos and descriptions for my Franklin set #1 but they're so many sets that blow my 36th ranked set away, I'm not holding out much hope there. The major plus between this year and last, is that along with several more acquisitions, my NGC coins outnumber the PCGS examples, 2 to 1. But I wish the best of luck to all of the rest of you as all of you have some really nice coins from half cents right up to the $20 gold. So many of you deserve awards, but there's only so many awards to go around.
    Happy Collecting!
    WKF

  25. W.K.F.

    WOULD YOU EVER DO THIS??

    By W.K.F.,

    I can't fathom a reason...
    Greetings Collectors,
    I had to email my buddy again just to get it "one more time" right from the "horses mouth". I asked him did he really bust up 100 "Special Mint Sets" to make up these five rolls? He said again, "He did". I would never call someone a liar pertaining to something like this but, for the life of me, I just can't see "destroying" that many sets to obtain the Kennedy halves just to put them into rolls. I've seen hundreds of these 40% silver halves just lately, and literally thousands of them over the last 20 years and there is definitely a different look between one and the other. All of these look just like a "non-cameo" proof.
    I envision the multitude of broken plastic cases, not to mention, where did all the other coins go? This is a question worth asking. Anyway, I've looked at most of the coins and none appear damaged. In fact they are as close to perfect as a coin can get, looking at them with the naked eye. There is always a risk one runs when breaking any coin out of a plastic holder. This guy said he has busted up thousands of these SMS sets to get at the silver halves. Knowing this, what I want, is a roll of the 1970-D Kennedy halves, which is the only Kennedy that "had to be obtained" from busting into the 1970 mint set. My friend says he has several rolls of this date, but is hesitant to "come off" of any, just because of the coins scarcity. I'm really gonna have to do something in order to obtain one of those rolls because it's a must if I am to have a roll of each 40% silver date & mint there is.
    Since I have never been a collector of the Kennedy half, early on I thought that the only rolls I would need in the 40% series, was the 1965-1969 date run. And of course the '70-D as well. I have studied further and found that there are a multitude of dates that make up all of the silver Kennedy halves. This whole thing started when I finally completed my silver eagles in "roll form". Earlier this year I started to acquire a roll of each date & mint for the Franklin halves as well. Now the Franklin's alone, will indeed be a very tough goal to complete. I stand currently at 12 rolls of the 35 dates/mints that I need for completion. I fear that this may be a goal that for anytime in the foreseeable future, is one that I won't be able to finish. This daunting task was what made me decide to try a roll of each on the silver Kennedy's because it appeared "do-able". I think besides the 1965-1970, the only other 40% Kennedy half is the Bicentennial. Is this true? Or are there others? I know (I think) that starting in 1992 silver proof Kennedy halves are all 90% silver?? Now with all the 40% silver coins along with the 90% 1964 & 1964-D, I am only looking at the "S" mint silver Kennedy's from 1992 -onward? Am I correct?
    Wow what a task this has ended up being. A very fun & rewarding task, but a very expensive and much more detailed task that I had at first thought. Oh well, goals are just that, "Goals". I will do my best to "chip away" at it/them and hopefully one day I will be able to say, "mission accomplished"! Boy oh boy, this is one "great hobby". I leave you with a pic of the most beautiful shiny 40% Kennedy halves I own. All 100 of these are superb specimens. In retrospect, I wonder just how many "intact" special mint sets there are, left in "captivity"???
    Happy Collecting!
    WKF
    Silver to gold ratio is at 52.614