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rons

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Journal Entries posted by rons

  1. rons
    I was teacher for 33 years so didn't have much money to spend on things. When we traveled we drove and camped. Two of my favorite "souvenirs" that were always affordable was pressed pennies or elongated pennies which cost 51 cents. Plus you got to turn the gears to squeeze the penny and imprint the option you liked best.  
    The other one  which is the subject of this entry was picking up the coasters from the many different microbreweries that we would stop at and have lunch or dinner.  Being in lock down mode for a week I started cleaning the shelves in the mancave/basement. I came across my collection of coasters and wound up taking a trip down memory lane.  I am still struggling to remember a couple of them but what fun anyway. In any case, I got to thinking that perhaps some fine folks here might also collect them and might want to swap doubles:)  I suspect that next week one day I will catalog all of them and then if there is any interest I can list them and see if we can work out a deal. I know the postage will be the most expensive thing but at least the coasters are free:)   What do you think?
  2. rons
    Today I made an offer for a coin on eBay. The dealer, a very very well known dealer, was asking $328.60.  I offered $285 figuring I could negotiate up to 290.  His counteroffer was 327.99.  The explanation was "my cost is 300...with fees I lose money "  I had to laugh and thought perhaps you all would get a chuckle as well. I don't believe he had $300 in the coin but what a ridiculous counteroffer. Why bother with "make an offer" if you are going to drop the price 61 cents. Anyway I still think it is funny and hope you do too:)
  3. rons

    What a cool place this is

    By rons,

    My first impressions of this web site
    I have been a member of this registry for about a week now. What fun it has been to enter my coins into various collections and compare my scores to more established collectors. As I typed in all the numbers, and some more than once , I realized how scattered my collecting had become. In retrospect, I seem to go on binges where I am pursuing a certain type of coin and then I cool off and chase after another. The process of choosing which registry fit the coins I have collected caused me to reflect and rethink what my priorities are. I haven't finalized my choices but I have begun to consider my purchases in a different light. It is no longer spur of the moment but a more thoughtful and calculated approach. I still enjoy looking at beautiful specimens but the temptation to buy has been reduced a bit.
    The registry has helped me to focus on completion of sets. I also look at upgrades and varieties in a different light. Prior to joining I was content to have an example of a coin and now I find myself wanting a better specimen. The excitement of adding a coin and moving up in the rankings is somewhat familiar. Familiar in the sense that as a kid I was always looking at my change and finding great coins. I found a 1914d in change when I was about 13 years old. I hardly slept that night and it pushed me to keep checking my change as well as my moms and my grandparents change. The same kind of excitement is now mine as I peruse the auctions and the magazines looking for upgrades and hole fillers. The only difference is that now I don't lose any sleep ^____^ How odd to be this excited at 57 years of age. This registry has made my collecting even more enjoyable than in the past. I think its terrific. How about you?
     
  4. rons
    I'm still lovin it but......
    I'm still lovin it but Wednesday night I was staying up much too late messin with my coins and trying to make some sense of the whole mess when, in a fit of extreme coordination, I turned and knocked my laptop off of the desk. 30 minutes later it stopped working, much to my dismay. Now, I must share the desktop with my wife who is employed and I am going through withdrawal
    I am utilizing the down time by organizing, cataloging, culling, and deciding what I am no longer iterested in but..... I want to get online, look at more collections, figure out how to put pictures in my sets. Oohhhhhhh the frustration.
    I had enjoyed going the trading slabs site and seeing if I had any takers on my offers but time is too limited for that luxury. I also had a mess of ebay auctions end and I must pack and ship and keep record of who has paid etc. But I still long to linger in this area and look at fine collections and beautiful pictures. Is there something seriously wrong with me? Or do I just have it bad??
    The Blakes
  5. rons

    a breather

    By rons,

    A time for reflection as my funds dry up
    It is the end of the month and my buying spree started early and as a result I have more time than money right now and have to sit on the sidelines while I recoup my expenses with some sales. I have taken the opportunity to explore the trading slabs web site and to look at my own collection. The trading slabs site hosted by Ron Day provides an opportunity to trade doubles or unwanted coins for the cost of postage. It involves a different thought process because money is secondary to the coins being swapped. Somehow it is easier to take a $10 hit on a trade than it is to pay an additional $10 for a coin. Pretty strange eh?
    In looking at my collection and reflecting on its breadth and lack of depth I recall my teaching days, the curriculum tried to cover everything and wound up covering nothing. The common metaphor was 10 miles wide and an inch deep. This insight has persuaded me to rethink my collection as it resembles that poor teaching model. My goals will now be to concentrate on completion of a set or two ?, and allow the others sets to ferment or become trade or sale items. The difficulty lies in choosing favorites among all of the collections. My first criteria for choice will have to be price. Secondly will be personal taste. I think my third criteria will be availability. I hope to study the market and look for the sets that are currently not "popular" and thus a better buy. As I struggle to focus and formulate a collecting plan I continue to marvel at how strong the market is right now. As I am retired, I wonder/worry about the coin market:
    #1 What happens if the market crashes
    #2 How low will it go
    #3 Will I be able to sell coins
    #4 How will it effect my life style
    #5 Will I have any money to scoop up the really good deals that will be available.
    #6 How do I prepare myself for a downturn?
    I welcome any advice or comments from collectors who have experienced this in the silver rush of the 80's or the coin bull of the 90's
    I don't want to sound pessimistic because I believe this bull will run for another 3-5 years, and that is blind faith, but I want to have some safeguards in place for when the inevitable occurs.
    I enjoy reading others journals and find many entertaining. I hope if you share some of my thoughts you will comment or write to me with strategies to address my concerns.
     
  6. rons

    I did it again

    By rons,

    I ran out of money before I ran out of coins:(
    I believe I see a pattern developing now. I am buying coins faster than I can sell them so I must cease and desist from buying again. In spite of several coins calling to me I must stop and regroup again. My sets are steadily improving while my bank account says OUCH!!! It looks like a couple of weeks on the sidelines while I sell excess and pay off the credit card again. I am sure to visit my friendly coin dealer for some wheeling and dealing but I must sell especially the coins that have been upgraded. I have heard from several visitors to my journal and it seems that mine isn't a unique situation. Misery does love company but try explaining it to the wife ;-)
    I have really enjoyed looking at the fabulous pictures and descriptions in many of the registry sets here. What a treat to be able to look at coins that I will probably never own. Thanks to all of you that have pictures displayed with your sets. I intend to do that with mine shortly. Now that I have made that public I have more pressure to follow through:) Keep sharing your experiences and insights as I continue to learn and grow.
  7. rons
    What a community we have here. It seems like our family has become somewhat dysfunctional of late
    Family members asking questions and getting shot down. Family members judging other journal entries without a license. If questions are not asked and answered rumors will rule. If folks don't feel comfortable asking questions then making up answers will have to suffice.
    I too have a sketchy journal from SE Asia, thank you for serving my brother silver dollar, and after 35 years I still go back and reread and reinterpret things I observed then but in a different light. I believe it is called experience but I do it in the privacy of my own home. It takes a rare bird to place their reputation on the line by asking what they feel is a legitimate question. Many of us may feel we know the answer but an equal number may applaud the question and wonder why they didn't ask it. And some of us may not have a clue as to what the question is all about. In any case, we are all at different experience levels with different backgrounds and different expertise, so why not support and desseminate information and questions instead of taking shots or judging the character or motivation or lack of knowledge of another family member? This is a site to share knowledge and experiences not a site to post a question or perception and assume you have a target on your back. I have received many terrific emails based on my limited journal entries earlier this year. Without exception they were supportive and offered references or experiences and willingly shared their knowledge in a most kindly manner.
    Having said all of that I would like to see a cease fire called and get back to what is important to all of us here. That is finding out about coins, history, grading, and other myteries of the numismatic world.
    Here is my peace offering a 25 pound sterling silver coin commemorating 100 years of self sufficiency on the Falkland Islands. 20,000 proof coins were struck and they have a mass of 150 grammes and 65 mmin diameter. The other side is a picture of the Queen of course.
    DSC03472.J
  8. rons

    WOW

    By rons,

    Thank you jgrinz
    Thanks for bringing my coin to life. The coin bears a pretty good resemblance to the actual boat. I had no idea of the background and now you have shown me the real deal. It just makes coins memoralize historical events that otherwise would be lost forever. Thank you again
  9. rons

    For all of the boat lovers

    By rons,

    Another boat coin for the sailors
    I got such a great response to the last photo that I thought I would add another ship to the archives This coin is from the Singapore Mint and was minted for Western Samoa. .999 fine silver 5 troy ounces with a mintage of 25,000. Whattya think?
    DSC03492.J
  10. rons

    Reverse proof silver eagles

    By rons,

    I just got my 20th anniversary set
    I just got my 20th anniversary set and the coin is very nice. Just like the San Francisco coins tho all three eagles were jostled out of their slots in the box. However, this time, they remained in their plastic cases so no damage done. Is it coincidence or arrogance that the mint uses the same box that they charge $110 for in the 2 piece gold and silver eagle set? I am attaching a picture of the reverse proof for those wanting a peek at it while waiting for their own to arrive. Enjoy
    DSC03539.J
  11. rons

    re: re: proof 70

    By rons,

    Thats why all my coins go to mmcgc
    I see said the blind man and thats why all my coins go to mmcgc.
    We get coins back all the time that are mysteriously marked down for reasons we can't see with a 10Xloupe so if you want a proof 70 send it to mmcgc aka munkeyman coin grading company. On the form you will indicate the grade you want by submitting the price required for the grade Best of luck The picture is of my mmcgc ms66 peace dollar
    DSC03576.J
  12. rons
    Obscured?? Why bother?
    I can understand obscured sets for purposes of security but.....
    obscuring the sets is a choice by the owners of the sets. If they choose to obscure their sets then they should not be able to compete in the awards. I truly enjoy looking at the sets that are ahead of me in the various categories and obscured sets deny me that pleasure. IF you choose to obscure your set, for whatever reason, you should be choosing to eliminate yourself from the annual awards for best sets. My collection is no great shakes in comparison to many of the tremendous sets that are registered here. I choose to share mine with the members and either create a goal or perhaps an inquiry about a missing coin. As my photography skills increase I will add more pictures to my stes as well. I enjoy loking at pictures of ms 68's and 69's and trying to hone my grading skills by looking at my own coins and seeing what differences there might be.
  13. rons

    going down?

    By rons,

    help me I'm shrinking !!!!!!
    I like to log on the boards once a day just to check in and check out the chat boards for items of interest. There is always a good discussion going on there. 99% of the time it is quite civil and I appreciate that. My concern is that every day I check in my point totals are dropping. I have plummeted several thousand points in the last 5 days or so, even after adding a couple of coins. I enjoy the commemoratives both old and new but apparently there is some point adjustments being made on the moderns that have me saying YIKES!!!!!!! When will it end? I realize adjustments are part of the game but boy have they hit me in the points department. Anyone else feeling my pain?
  14. rons

    Hats off to Penny Man

    By rons,

    Penny Man takes the award
    Penny Man took the award for best 1944 mint set this year. I had the honor of that award last year but Penny Man added diligently to his collection throughout this year and as a result passed me by. Congratulations Penny Man and if your set has given you as much pleasure in building as mine has then the award is secondary. However, I am looking to pass you up for 2008 so be forewarned