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jackson64

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Journal Entries posted by jackson64

  1. jackson64

    12 MINUTES OF CHAOS

    By jackson64,

    record time for me to acquire a limited edition mint product
    As a sign of providence, I happened to have the rare day off of work on the same day as the anticipated Standing Liberty design Gold quarter ounce coin's release.
    I spent the prior hour before the 12:00 start time to review my US Mint account, make sure my billing card number was right and my current address/PO Box was also listed.
    After this, I simply found busy work around the house to kill the final 40 minutes or so until the frenzy started. I set the timer on my phone just in case...walked the dog, took out some chicken to thaw for dinner, picked a few ripe tomatoes, collected the eggs from the chickens and emptied the dishwasher......and still 18 minutes left !!
    Okay, so I logged in early and visited some of the mint's resource pages...products...news releases and events...finally, down to the final 2 to 3 minutes !!
    I clicked on the "What's New" link, opened the SLQ 1/4 oz AU page and waited for the "remind me" button to change to "place order" or Add To Cart.
    Twelve o'clock finally struck and my screen remained the same--I hit refresh and got the horror of "this page cannot be displayed". I re-logged into the website and after 5 tries I caught a volume gap and was directed to the Mint's Homepage. I opened the drop down and selected the Gold SLQ--the page opened on the first try !!--Now I'm cooking !!--NOT---
    I add the item to my cart and proceed to checkout--"This Page Cannot Be displayed" again...crud !!--I return to the prior page and the coin is still in my Cart--sweet !!
    Three more tries and the checkout page is in view! I won't drag the story through the next 7 or 8 mins of chaos--suffice it to say I had to enter my card number, match the "billing address" with the "shipping address" several times all typed out in the forms over and over and each time I got to "Place Order" the "This Page Can't Be Displayed" or some error I made in my hurried frustration prevented the final step--and when the page refreshed, all of my typed info had to be re-typed again !!
    Finally on the 7th or 8th "Place Order" click, my confirmation number was done and order confirmed-SUCCESS!
    Twelve minutes is not so much but with mega-dealers somehow scoring dozens of the "one per household" coins, I was sweating it there after a few minutes.
    I had to work on the date of the release of the Mercury Dime Commem gold coin and was unable to order one during my half hour lunch break from 12 to 12:30--eventually buying an SP69 pre-slabbed for quite a markup at $219.

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  2. jackson64
    It may be time to show some discipline and get things in order.
    I am not a procrastinator by nature. I am usually the polar opposite. In fact, if I am being honest in my self assessment, I am a bit compulsive with my desire for order in a universe ruled by the ceaseless tides of entropy.
    For example, if a bill arrives in the mail I will almost immediately pay it, write the date and amount on the invoice and then file it in the appropriate folder. I am never satisfied to rinse a plate and leave it in the sink when the dishwasher is but a few feet away. Of course I could never imagine folding all of my laundry and just piling it on top of the dresser like my kids most often did.
    My dad taught me a few invaluable lessons in the few years I had before he passed. One was that if you were going to do something, then do it right or to the best of your ability. Another was that if you start something, then you finish it. I guess this is where my need for orderliness comes from.
    I seem to have lost my way with my coin "collection." For the most part I buy either graded coins that fill registry slots, some sets from the mint when I need 2 or 3 for different sets ( or when it's more financially sound to buy a 6 coin silver set for a few bucks more than the single coin) or single coins for custom sets or to send in for grading.
    It is this last part that has gotten WAY behind. Either out of sight/ out of mind is in effect or I am a closet hoarder ( just with really small objects like coins so I can still walk through my house)- whichever it is, it is time for some discipline to be exercised.
    I keep buying more coins for sets, not getting them graded and then looking for more coins. Then the funds for all of the grading becomes too daunting so I procrastinate more...a bad cycle to be stuck in for and orderly collector.
    Just looking into 2 coin cases that I acquired to protect raw coins until grading, I was surprised myself to see that I had pretty much filled up all of the various drawers with mint sets, proof sets, silver issues, themed coins and on and on--I really had no idea of the amount.
    So as I share this photo with you-and it is just PART of the raw coins I have set aside to be encapsulated, it is not to show off in any way, but instead to confess openly of my "acquisition issues."
    After all, admitting you have a problem is the first step to recovery, right?
    PS: the first 15 have been decided--the final Bahamian 50c to complete that set, the final 4 Bahamian $2 coins with the flamingo at sunset, the Canada "alloy" silver coins from the 2014 and 2016 proof sets of 10c and $2 coins which will complete/update both of those 100% and the final 6 coins will be Bear themed coins for the granddaughter's bear coins collection. This is a step in the right direction to re-establishing order in my collecting I believe.
    PPS: thanks Dena

  3. jackson64
    finally filled a registry slot
    I just added a nice little 1893 Indian Cent to my 1890-1909 Indian Short Set. It's not exactly an eye popper but it is an attractive coin with an aged look, very clear of any ticks, nicks or dings, and retains quite a bit of underlying orangish/red luster for a "brown" designation.
    It may actually be close to an MS65 RB so I'm pleased to find it in the MS64BN that my set parameters entail ( surely a 65 for its freeness of hits alone.)
    I added a photo that I won't use in the set images but was instead experimenting with pictures of different light--this one being a photo taken with the coin on my windowsill. I like the clarity the unaltered sunlight provides for detail however it does tend to wash-out the richness of the aging, coppery tones.
    With the addition of this 1893, that leaves me with the 1890, 1892 and 1894 to finish this mini set. I'm resigned to just plodding along until I find each in an NGC slab and with the 64BN criteria.
    I think I'll post another journal in a day or two since it has been slow on the boards and journals. I will write a journal entry of my pre-submission selections. I'm only going to send the 15 coins that I can list on one submission form for now ( hint to NGC, if the forms had 25 slots per entry page/form, I'd be sending 25 coins instead.) I'm not sure which ones will get the nod for encapsulation, but I'm leaning toward finishing my Bahamian coin sets 100%. ( I've had the coins needed to fill the slots for quite a while but they keep getting pushed back.)
    Until next time, Happy Hunting and may the coins that grab your eye be in NGC slabs!

  4. jackson64

    A Lot Harder Now

    By jackson64,

    Filling holes in classic US sets is a tough registry task.
    I suspected that the change in policy by NGC to not allow PCGS coins would make registry participation harder. I primarily collect classic US coins and was just finishing up an SLQ one-per-date set and an 1890-1909 Indian Head Cent Set.
    With just a few holes left in each of these sets, it seemed relatively certain that I would fill these shortly and could start thinking about which series I'd like to pursue next. Most often I have to consider key dates, the grade range I will shoot for and whether I will collect an entire series or break it up as a "short set" ( like I have done with the 1900's Barber Halves, my Indian Head short set of 1890-1909, Walkers, 1930's Buffs and Mercs.)
    However now I have to also consider if the coins simply exist in NGC holders. As an example, my Standing Liberty Quarter one-per-date set has been named "The Almost Set" as I made the criteria for AU grade coins only. A quick perusal of auction histories and Ebay will show that 80% of SLQ's for the final 3 holes I need are in PCGS holders---and it may be just as high for Indian Head cents in the MS64/65 grades. I have looked at the few that have been available in NGC holders and they just didn't have the nice PQ look to them for the grade that I have been assembling ( although they appear to be technically graded accurately for the most part.)
    What is more frustrating is the fact that I have seen an acceptable PCGS slabbed coin that would fit. I even bought a nice 1919 SLQ that was too nice to pass up. This leaves me with the choice--move my sets out of the registry and into the wastelands of the seldom-viewed "Custom Sets" so that I can complete them with the best coins or play the long game and eventually find the final few pieces in the proper, acceptable plastic holder.
    It is what it is and I usually just remove the classic sets from the registry as I complete them anyhow ( except for one set which I leave that won a presentation award).
    As an off-topic aside, I renewed my membership in November at the Premium level to get the $150 credit for submissions. I have LOTS of coins that have been waiting to be slabbed for quite a while. In early February it dawned on me that I had not received my membership renewal pack in the mail. Now I know that we no longer get a free coin in an NGC slab, a nice NGC pin, notepad or pens and classy folders with glossy paged price list and submission forms anymore, but I thought we still got the envelope with a welcome letter and coupons. I called NGC and they said they don't send anything anymore, that when you join or renew that you just get a credit when your submission is sent--not even a thank you or welcome back anymore. I guess I'm getting to be a dinosaur and the impersonal businesses of the 21st century are the new norm.
    Here's my 1919-S SLQ AU55---thinking of starting a custom set called, "The Isle of Misfit Coins" for the nice PCGS coins I buy.....

  5. jackson64
    To increase the scope and variety of the themed set.
    I have decided one of my new parameters for my 2017 collecting. The Bear-coin themed Custom Set has been a lot of fun and there are still quite a few available to add to set the set that I have seen on World Coin sellers websites and ebay- but unless I want another 100 variations of pandas or polar bears ( or decide to add the koalas as bears) there is not a lot of variety. One thing I enjoy is finding the coins from diverse nations so that adds a little bit of thrill when I can find a cool example from Kazakhstan, Armenia or Turkey for example.
    Otherwise, I feel the interest in this set waning. Even if it will be a set that will eventually be left to my granddaughter--the cost of the coins from these nations across the world and slabbing fees make it often impractical to buy, ship multiple times and slab a $50 value coin.
    The 2017 expansion of adding Lions and Tigers will assist me in finding many pre-slabbed coins, as well as a lot of variety.
    The tiger themed coins range from many Southeast Asian coins, special "endangered species" coins and of course about 5 countries that produce the Lunar Coins.
    Lion themed coins could easily be a several hundred coin set by itself. African coins, Canadian mountain lions and of course lots of older coins with the heraldic lion appear on coins for centuries and across the globe.
    So as the new collecting year arrives, for now my goals will be simple--acquire the annual 2017 issue of the 2 or 3 modern coin series I collect, find my final 3 or 4 Indian cents, 3 SLQ's and mostly I will be developing the bear-themed set into something more creative and energetic--better descriptions, factoids and tidbits for each coin.
    Here are a few of my early pick-ups which will be added to the set ( I particularly like the 2 oz British Crown with the heraldic lion which is pretty cheap right now with bullion down.)
    Happy hunting everyone and Merry Christmas to all.

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  6. jackson64
    As my membership renewal approaches, my personal end of the coin year organizing begins.
    November and December have been my "end of the coin year" time period for more than a decade. The registry deadlines, my membership renewal and my purchasing hiatus through the holidays all occur at roughly this same time.
    I have many things I have done, a few I hope to finish in the next 5 weeks and piles of Short Term Goals which have become Long Term.
    My submission procrastination has left me with about 80 coins that are ready for grading and encapsulation. The problem with this is that as my raw coin pile grows, there is an inverse relationship with my available funds to pay for submissions. Now to grade them all would be a healthy chunk of cash--but at the same time I have been trying to finish a few last slots in near-completed sets.
    I am happy to report that I DID complete one simple set I started this year. I added the 1973-S silver IKE dollar in PF69DCAM this week and now have finished the entire Ike proof set in Proof 69. I am up to date on all of the Sacagawea Dollars thru 2016 in PF69 and also have completed the mini set of PF69 SBA's.
    I have about 40 Bear themed coins to add to my granddaughter's collection but they are all still in mint packaging or flips. I have now gotten the 3 gold 100th anniversary coins and need to decide how I will get them slabbed or left in mint packaging.
    My submission list also includes ALL of the remaining slot fillers for my Bahamas silver 50c, $1 and $2 coins --coins that I've had in my velvet-lined, coin cabinet drawers for 6+ months.
    I also have 14 dates of my Jersey 1/12th shilling series of large brass/copper coins ready for slabbing ( I started with all of the 1800's dates and early 1900's for now.)
    So as the coin year ends, I seem to have created more projects and goals than I have resolved or accomplished respectively.
    I have set for myself the single goal above others, before the end of 2016 and changes occur in the registry, to complete my SLQ one-per-date-set in AU grades.
    I landed 3 nice AU's at the recent Stack's sale, which leaves me with 3 final coins to finish---if I don't get sidetracked by a new series, a must-have hole filler or some other coin distractions.
    1917 T2 AU55, 1918 AU58 and 1925 AU58---perfect grades and look to compliment the existing coins in my set.

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  7. jackson64
    Even with a lessening mintage, the availability of the gold 100th anniversary issues is plentiful.
    After having to use the secondary market to acquire the Mercury Dime edition of the 100th anniversary gold commem coins from the US mint, I battled on the first day of issue for the Standing Liberty Quarter ( 1/4 oz gold) coin. It turns out that there was no need for the frustration of a jammed up ordering system to acquire the SLQ edition- there are still some left in stock at the mint website. The Mint is actually even selling the SLQ for $25 less now than the original issue price. Oh well.
    To be honest, although a Walking Liberty Half collector, I wasn't sure I was going to buy one. I have just grown to view the coin as "correct" in its customary silver. The coin just looks a little like a caricature of its 70+ year old progenitors.
    So I get 2 adds for them in my email today--one from Si...towne selling original, ungraded WL gold coins at $1179...and the second from govmint ( which I confuse with the US Mint at times- at least until I see the webpage), which was selling at "just" $975.
    I opened a separate window and went to the US mint site--and they have plenty still in stock of the limited 70,000. The US mint cost is $865 and after a few moments to think it over I finally went ahead and got one.
    I purchased it more for the "completion" aspect of it than any desire for this single coin. Having the 2 prior issues still in original packaging, I'm considering getting all 3 into a multi-coin holder and displaying it in my home office outside-affiliatelinksnotallowed
    I don't know--I might get all 3 housed in the black retro holders--the gold looks good with the black background.
    Either way, even if left in their mint boxes, at least I followed my collector instinct and completed the set.

  8. jackson64
    There may be weeks or months between a suitable hole filler- and other times your hunting yields several at a time.
    Part of the fun and challenge of collecting a series in which you limit yourself to a grade window or appearance type ( toning, color, whiteness, frost, cameo etc) is that one must often hunt for weeks just to find a single filler for a slot in a set. I will often come across coins I could "settle" for--a grade above or below my parameter or a certain rub, carbon spot, dark/blackish tone, heavy die polish lines--whatever triggers my "anti" eye-appeal reflex.
    So weeks or even months may pass without any additions and then there are the bountiful times. I might catch an auction house selling a consignment with a seller/collector who shared my tastes. Then the struggle is, " should I buy or bid on all of the one's I need that are available, or should I just get 1 or 2 and continue with the ritual of the hunt?"
    Well I have hit the slot-filling-jackpot in the past few weeks. A recent/current on-line auction has 5 separate coins for one of my sets. I decided to take a sort of "middle ground.' I bid strong bids on 2 of the items and the other 3 I placed the current High Bid but would be surprised if they held up until auction end.
    Also, I recently added another MS64 BN to my Indian Cent short set-the first since August. Well it turns out that just 2 days after I wrote my most recent journal about the purchase, I found another for the set--none since Aug and then 2 in 3 days. Sometimes when we hunt, it pays off in bunches.
    1897 Indian Head Cent BN

  9. jackson64
    Design, Toning, Patina and RD vs BN
    We are all unique in our tastes. We may share a common taste for many of the same things-such as coins/medals in general-but what we find appealing is divergent.
    I could write a book on all of the different ways that numismatists collect-series, by date, by color, type, one of each, by mint, by medal, theme, country etc etc etc...but we all have our style and preferences.
    I have assembled sets by theme which have hundreds of coins--and other times I collect a series by "short set" because I don't want to invest the money, time and effort into assembling every issue and mintmark of the same design.
    My most recent short sets were of the 1900's Barber Halves in VF/XF and then the Buffalo nickels 1934-1938 in MS66 and above.
    Having finished those sets, removed from the registry and set aside, I now have begun 2 more. The SLQ One-Per-Date set is a registry category but I added my own parameters again in that they all must be AU grade.
    The other set I am building was an Indian Head Cent Short Set. I initially set it for just the 1900's coins but have since decided to extend it from 1890 thru 1909 as I am enjoying the collecting of the varied looks of the coin and the parameters I set to increase the challenge is still somewhat easy in our internet age. All coins must be MS64 and all must be "BROWN."
    Why brown? The truth is, I am just weird and the appearance of bright red/orange copper is less attractive to my eye than the deep chocolates, purples, wood grained look and/or depth of design that an aged looking copper coin has.
    On the plus side is that the browns most often cost about 1/3rd of the price of a RED, but often I end up with a coin with "exceptional eye appeal" and end up forking out more for my coins than your plain brown examples.
    So if I can find a coin in the look I prefer and at a lower cost, for me that is a win/win and if my collecting choices don't jibe with someone else's --then good, less competition for the coin's I'm hunting.
    The latest addition--an 1891 MS64 BN....Happy Hunting everyone

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  10. jackson64
    Fastest delivery I've ever received of a new mint release.
    I thought it was only proper to mention that my gold edition of the 2016 Standing Liberty 100th Anniversary Coin ( not a token) arrived today.
    Less than 1 week after placing the order the coin was at the post office today waiting for me. I'm glad that many of you understood my last journal which was part self-deprecating humor ( attempted at least), partly a play by play of the process I went through when ordering on the first day of release, and partly a sharing of the minor frustration I have with dealing with modern technologies.
    I am thrilled with the release of this coin. I've always loved all of the "renaissance" coins of the early 20th century- with St Gauden's artistry on the $10 and $20 gold series as my personal favorites.
    Although I have all 6 of the 1917 SLQ's in MS and the 1917 T1 in 67FH, I still can see what a true, fully struck SLQ would look like now.
    I believe that after the Walking Liberty is released that I'll have all 3 of these 100th anniversary coins placed in a multi-slab. Happy hunting everyone--collect what you love and respect what other's enjoy without disparagement.

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  11. jackson64
    And it actually has a bear on each side
    This coin costs more than I wanted to spend on this "fun" set. However I wanted more than just a bunch of modern commems or panda series coins so I'm going to have to spend a few bucks for some of these more exotic and classic issues to add variety to the set.
    An 1885 5 franc coin from Denmark--a design celebrating the annual Bern shooting Fest ( of note is that the word Bern can be roughly translated as bear--hence the bear depictions on these coins of Bern)
    Nice detail for the issue and if it actually slabs as an AU then I would have gotten a great deal since existing XF/AU grade coins sell for about 4x what I risked on this one. Even if it details grade I'll be very happy with it as part of my budding set--so really a win or big win scenario.

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  12. jackson64

    The REAL Value

    By jackson64,

    A coin is ultimately worth what someone will pay for it
    Okay, so it appears that the FIFTH time is the charm. As some may recall from an earlier journal I wrote, I have been bidding weekly on the 2016 Canada S$2 bimetallic Polar Bear proof issue ( say that in one breath.) Technically it is the 99.9% silver proof issue from the fine silver set and the inner ring is gilt with 24k gold--hence, what one must go through to collect Canadian coins/series.
    So this is the fifth time that this coin has appeared, slabbed by NGC in PF69UCAM by this seller. Each time I have entered the same bid-slightly above $40 which I consider fair considering the pricey cost of the whole proof set, the grading fees etc.
    If you'll recall, I lost the prior 4 auctions of this item to other bidders on ebay-all of whom had disproportionate numbers of bids on this singular sellers items, LARGE numbers of bid retractions and hundreds of items bid upon per month.
    So I finally win the auction at $42 and some change, but what SHOULD I have won the coin for? **** As a disclaimer, I do realize that the value, by understood economics, is the $42 as someone ( myself) was willing to pay that amount***
    But what could I expect to receive for it if I were to turn around and list it myself on ebay?
    I had placed a bid early in the auction of $42 and "let it ride". The first big jump was from $5 to $25 after a few days--this was by a**v feedback 731 with 69 items bid on the past 30 days and 100% with this seller ( it doesn't take a genius to see what's going on here.)
    As the final day neared before auction end there were 3 more accounts that chimed in...l**8 with 69 bids and 89% with this seller in 30 days.....O**N with 2784 total bids on 1600 items at 58% and 9 retractions and finally the last 2 bids to push the final price up another $8 was W**A with 73 feedback total but over 100 items bid on just this month at 78% activity with this lone seller.
    Ultimately I am torn on this issue. Through perseverance and discipline not to raise my bid and to place the same bid weekly, I was able to acquire the coin I wanted at a price I was willing to pay--but on the flip side I feel a bit cheated. Haven't I been schill bid for an extra $17 above what the last real bidder had bid?
    This is the world of ebay when you bid on coins from the large sellers with 5 digit feedback/sales numbers--they most likely have employees or fellow sellers who network this 40% increase into sales--and every now and then they will get a "live one" who will chase their bids well above a coin's value in the heat of the moment.
    Be wise, be patient and know your max bid at all times.....happy hunting all. 2016 Canada Silver Twonie PF69UCAM

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  13. jackson64

    To He Who Waits

    By jackson64,

    Good things will come.......
    One thing that does not come naturally to me is patience. Coin collecting over the years has demanded that I learn patience however, for my own peace of mind as well as my check book.
    With the growth of the internet influence on our hobby in the past few decades, it has become ever more tempting to just fill all of the "holes" in one's collection with the readily available selections on the dozens of websites and auctions. It requires a lot of self control for me to abstain from this and stick to my collecting principles.
    One area that I have gotten good at is with modern issues. With a few exceptions, most issues will drop in price over the course of the year as demand for the items drop and dealer inventories need to be cleared out and renewed.
    Since I am not trying to compete for any registry goals/awards with new issues, I have learned to bide my time. My latest acquisition is a prime example.
    When the 4-coin silver 50th Anniversary Kennedy coins came out I found them very attractive and desired to own a graded set. To cut to the chase, I just received this 4 coin set all graded 69 ( SP,RP,EF,UC) and I paid with shipping $86.96. I believe that the coins were over $100+ with shipping direct and ungraded from the mint. I didn't save a bundle however that is not my point.
    Since I wanted to eventually acquire a set to enjoy, own and pass on to posterity it only made sense for me to simply wait for the price drop. On the other hand, certain issues I do call directly from the mint on the release dates--the gold 100 year anniversary coins of 2016, the Ultra High Relief Gaudens, etc as these coins are in such limited mintage in contrast to demand that the price will likely grow instead of drop.
    So here they are, and every bit worth the wait. On a personal note, I really like the enhanced finish coin from this set the most. Such a beautiful, clean looking coin with frosty and reflective finish.

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  14. jackson64
    Unchecked shill bidding but the occasional bargain.
    I still shop on ebay for coins. I rarely buy a raw coin unless it is in mint packaging and I don't buy from overseas. I also don't chase my bids.
    When I first started using ebay it was more honest and more auction oriented as opposed to the massive ebay stores and BIN items. So in the beginning it would be worth it to low ball bid something to have it on your watchlist and then try and snipe it with a late bid--it was part of the game and added a fun challenge.
    Now there is no point. There is either massive collusion going on among the very big dealers/stores or these large Ebat dealers are running a half dozen or more accounts and bidding up their items.
    There is no doubt of this. Even with eBay's attempts to block bidders ID's and history ( which gives appearance of complicity) a person can still check the limited information that is still available and be sure of what's going on.
    Just this past week or 2 I have tried to buy a $2 Canadian 2016 coin for my set-already slabbed by NGC. All 3 coins that have appeared are by the same seller--each coin has had repeated bids ( 5 or 6 each per auction) by the same 2 or 3 bidders and the same bidder won both of the first 2 auctions.
    Now granted, this is not enough to confirm the under-handed shenanigans, however there is more. The winning bidder, when clicked on his bidding history, has bid on over 300 bids this month with 97% of them for the same seller's items---dead giveaway. If this were not enough proof, the history also shows 39...yes 39 bid retractions in the last 30 days. Apparently, he bids up his own items and then retracts the highest bid if the value is enough. If it is not enough, then the item is just re-listed mysteriously ( and the seller is only charged the small FVF.)
    Generally if you go through all of the auctions in the seller's ebay store, you'll notice dozens of bids from the same 10 to 12 accounts. Unfortunately, this seller is more of the norm among the larger ebay stores and not a dishonest exception. I would be stunned if TPTB at ebay are not fully aware but don't want to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.......
    On the bright side, there are still thousands of coin auctions per week that are legit. Collectors liquidating, old family heirlooms, mint products at decent prices or old inventory from honest, larger ebay dealers still provide plenty of great coins at fair market prices.
    One thing I love are the ebay bucks and the ebay "bonus buck days" of 5 to 10%. I usually even wait for these bonus days to buy that set or annual addition for a series to get that extra 10% off.
    My latest edition--2016 Canada S$10 "Reflections of Wildlife" Grizzly Bear--and didn't cost a thing as my savings of ebay bucks covered the coin 100%.
    So I guess the lesson is still buyer beware--but no sense in abandoning a useful resource because of some bad apples...as always, happy hunting everyone.

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  15. jackson64
    Fellow collector's looking out for each other
    A nice side effect of being in this registry community is getting to know each other's sets and interests. I have given a head's-up to a friend or 2 here when I've seen a nice coin that I knew they collected by theme, type or specifically were hunting for.
    The forums and journals are nice ways to share interests and the beauty of it is when the sharing comes full circle. You share with others your enjoyment of your niche interest in the hobby and in turn someone may share a nice "coin lead" with you when they see something.
    My latest slabbed addition to the bear themed set was a heads up from BRG-he of the amazing horse themed coin set. This was an extra nice tip in that the coin is already graded and encapsulated by NGC so that I can add it to the set without the issues of "is the added cost of grading combined with the coin purchase price too much more than the value and worth it for the collection?" A singular price--and that at a discount after I made a respectful offer near the asking price- netted me my Ursus Arctos-the great brown bear of the Black Sea region and eastern Turkey.
    Thanks again, and to all of my other fellow collector's who've given me these great leads in the past also, my warmest appreciation. Happy Hunting-------
    PS: as an added benefit, the coin is coincidentally very similar to the coins which inspired the set. The Canadian $2 Polar bear coins are also of the same diameter with bi-metallic rings of gold colored metal inside and a white metal outer ring..

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  16. jackson64
    If you like the design, there is some way to collect it.
    Collectors have a somewhat different mindset from the non-collector. It may appear a small thing but I believe it is almost a fundamental or foundational component of one's personality. The simple definition is usually of the variety, " a collector feels a need or compulsion to place things in order" I believe this often transcends into their non-collecting endeavors also.
    As opposed to the hoarder or accumulator, collectors usually have defined criteria--often self imposing certain limits, restrictions or parameters to make the collecting more challenging as well as to create the order we so love.
    In coin collecting I often cannot collect all of the designs I love or in the pristine grades that best demonstrate the artistic designs of the series. Key dates in a series often are a factor for me, or large jumps in prices for certain dates in higher grades.
    This need for consistency within each set has led me to be a collector of short sets, date sets and complete sets but in lesser grades for uniformity.
    I collect the Walker short set in MS66/67 but a complete walker set in those grades is not realistic for me. I finished a Buffalo nickel short set in 66/67 but some of the early date keys are pricey in those grades.
    My 2 recent sets I've begun and have listed on the registry as I complete them are a MS63/^$ brown Indian cent set and a one-per-date Standing Liberty Quarter series in AU. So far I've filled most of the slots with coins in the $80 to $150 range and can probably finish the SLQ's with coins in this price range and some patience in the hunt. The Indian Cents set will probably be considered "done" by me when I complete the 1880 thru 1909 years.
    I'm glad that in our hobby we can find niches to enjoy the coins we love without the daunting task of "getting them all", having a "top registry set" or trying to find a way to fit the latest purchase in the coin budget.
    A simple but pretty SLQ addition to my set--an AU55 1927. The AU is the lowest grade I could accept with my taste in coins for this series as I feel that the detail and attractiveness is lost quickly as this coin wears...just my personal taste, happy hunting everyone

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  17. jackson64

    Golden Grizzly

    By jackson64,

    this little coin may turn into a collection of the whole series.
    I added my first gold coin to my granddaughter's bear-themed coin set. It is quite attractive in design and surprisingly well detailed for a 1/10th oz coin.
    When looking through the other coins of the O Canada wildlife series coins, I really was taken with the other coins in the set- cougar, bison, bald eagle, wolf, beaver etc. I think the small coins wouldn't be too much of a stretch in budget to assemble, even though the smaller a gold coin gets the larger the percentage of cost over its gold value.
    Here she is--my golden grizzly and it looks like time for another submission for a dozen or so new bear coins.

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  18. jackson64

    Still Sailing Along

    By jackson64,

    Haven't posted a new "sailing ship" coin for a while.
    It's been several years since I wrote about or posted any photos of my sailing ship coins purchases. I still add to the collection although it has also been years since I stopped maintain my "High Seas" ship coin collection in the Signature series.
    In fact, it is hard to believe that the High Seas set is appx 10 years old since it won "Most Creative Signature Set"--it has even been a few years since they changed the names to Custom Sets. Okay, I'm starting to feel old now so I'll change the flow of this post.
    Although I have not updated or added my new "ship coin" purchases to my signature set ( and even removed a few from the listing of the set-like most of the gold and US commem coins) I still buy coins with the theme I so love. Most often I leave them in their OGP/cases or buy a few pre-slabbed.
    I have been getting many coins slabbed, but primarily they are my granddaughter's "Bear Coin" themed set, the final holes in my Bahamian and Canadian sets and a few classic barbers and SLQ's.
    So although my posts have become infrequent, I still enjoy browsing fellow collector's journals, sets and still am on the hunt for the newest series that catches my whim.
    A 1/2 oz gold Bermuda Triangle "triangular" coin with the Deliverance-a ship who met its end in the infamous, mysterious area.

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  19. jackson64
    I'll remember losing this one for a while.....
    Over the years there have been about a half dozen times that I let a coin slip away that I really regret. One that always comes to mind is a 1934-D Walker that had a really full strike for the date. It had a complete separation of face/hair/hat as compared to the usual weakness and flatness in that area. On top of it, it also had a nice satiny luster and soft minty tone--still wish I had gone ahead and bid over book on that one. You see, the cost of the coin would have been long absorbed by now and the coin would still be in my set to enjoy as often as I wanted.
    There was also an SLQ with such breathtaking toning and patina--although I don't collect the series I instantly was enamored. I bid quite healthy for this one. Although I did lose with my bid, that loss was not as bitter for 3 reasons. First, I don't collect the SLQ series and it would have been a type coin. Second is that I actually gave my best offer/bid and the coin was simply beyond my budget. Third was that my losing bid ended up being several increments away from winning so there was less sting as opposed to getting sniped with a last minute bid. I actually still have the picture of that SLQ in my coin photo file saved.
    This latest loss will sting for quite a while for many reasons. First--it was the 1947-D Walker that I have been trying to upgrade to MS67 for a few years. It would be the final upgrade for my short set and I would be technically done with numerical upgrades ( there is always a chance for an eye-popping coin to replace an existing coin in my sets.) It also was at a reasonable price to start. The coin also had the look that I love.
    I bid a healthy opening bid and it covered the reserve--I checked throughout the week 2 or 3 times and no other bids were placed...on the final day, I visited the website and bumped my bid $300 above my current high bid "for insurance." It appears that with less than 1 hour left someone outbid me, I did not find this out until after the auction closed...my prize was not to be.
    Anyhow, I may not have "just missed" by one increment--it is possible that the other bidder may have been willing to go much higher for the coin and I couldn't afford the bidding war as my bid was pretty much max of what I can afford for any coin.
    Here's the obverse picture of "the one that got away."..... I will keep hunting but for now, this one stings....
    This recent loss

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  20. jackson64

    An Overlooked Coin

    By jackson64,

    A nice heads up from a fellow member
    I have always enjoyed the hunt for a coin. Whether it is a high grade coin, a low mintage issue or just some variety for a themed set, the hunt ( and find, of course)has always been a large part of the enjoyment in the hobby for me.
    I have had a recent find for a long sought issue for my mercury dime set--I'm in the process of offer/counteroffer right now but if all goes well I'll have located an affordable example of one of my top 5 wantlist coins.
    Also I continue searching obscure mints, odd websites and niche sellers for additions to my bear themed set. Lo and behold, there were several under my nose!
    Thanks to VUMC for the heads up on classic US commems. There are some with smaller/partial bear depictions and some with prominent displayed beasts.
    My purchase this weekend--a 1925-S California 50c Commemorative half-- ( in a PCGS rattler.)
    Happy Hunting everyone...and thanks to my fellow collectors who are always so quick with some directions and leads....

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