The issue of emotional ownership of the set...

When I first started to try and build a certified set of silver eagles about a year ago, I noticed that there were several dealers that would sell the entire series as a set. This option was actually in some cases cheaper than buying the coins 1 by 1. At the time I could have not bought any of them, saved up the cash and bought them as a set. In the final analysis, it would have saved me about $200, but I'm glad I didn't do it.

It occured to me then, that buying the entire series as a set, just one purchase and "BAM! It's done," would have taken all of the fun out of it. 11 months later, when I finished the set, I realized what the real problem would have been. The set never would have been mine. I would have possessed it but it never would have belonged to me; it never would have been MY set. It would have just been one more thing that I bought from a store. As it was, I spent 11 months saving up the money here and there for the next coin in the series, hunting for the best deals, having the excitement of winning auctions where needed. Most importantly though, I had the pleasure of seeing the set go from just 1 or 2 coins to a set lacking only a few coins to a complete run.

I remember when I ordered the last 2 coins as a pair. These were the last 2 coins I needed to make the set complete from 1986 to the 2008W. I actually hesitated for days. After 11 months part of me didn't want it to end. Part of me didn't want to face a set with no more holes to hunt down. I thought that was so strange at the time.

I don't think I'll ever understand people who buy these entire collections of old coins for millions of dollars. You can possess coins in such a way, but I'm not sure the collection can ever really be yours after that, It'll still always be the product of someone else's blood, sweat and tears.