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jackson64

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Journal Entries posted by jackson64

  1. jackson64
    and didn't buy any new coins !!
    I really love the direction that NGC is going--particularly in expanding their World Set Registry. For those who haven't noticed, NGC has been working hard at adding new sets to the registry and even taking suggestions in the Forums/Chat area to encourage people to make suggestions.
    Imagine my surprise today when I was browsing through the recesses of the back pages here and saw that they had a category for "France". Dare I hope that it coincidentally might be the set I spent 2 years building?...I clicked on the link and voila!!..It was !!
    They had added the 1899-1914 France 20FCS gold coin collection !! Commonly called the "roosters" because of the reverse design, I call them the Marianne's--my wife's name with same spelling. My wife is also adorned with long beautiful and naturally curly hair...so the decision to collect these was easy, plus--how could she ever complain about me building a coin set that is named after her and bears a resemblance to her loving profile?
    So I took the time to insert the coins into the set and transfer the pics from my signature set ( I'll take better pictures soon but I'll have to make a trip to my safe deposit box)...This is a great set to work on and I recommend it to anyone. Although I am currently ranked #1 as the only set added so far, I don't expect to remain there since higher grade coins than mine can be found. I just wanted to finish the set. Speaking of which, this set was the last one I HAVE completed..and that was quite some time ago.
    So if you are interested in building a gold set, or adding some more gold in your collection..this may be the set for you !! The coins can be found in lower BU for a little over their spot price, they are attractive and readily available ( except for the 1899-1901 coins which are scarce), and you can add "cheap" gold to your holdings and get some nice registry points also.
    I noticed after adding my set that my overall rank had jumped from 690 to 540 !!..now if they'll just assign point values to all of my sailing ship coins I might be in the top 100 !!..joke..
    Thank you NGC !!
    A quick mention..I did submit my grandad's Morgan for encapsulation..I did this because I want it preserved for my grandson and don't want to risk it getting damaged.
    I also have 2 other submissions (3 total) at NGC right now..more additions to my Bluenose Schooner Proof Dime Set ( Canadian proof dimes), my first entries for the $2 Polar Bear bi-metal coins..and a few for my ship themed sig set..
    So I've been busy...maybe I should have made a bunch of seperate entries into my journal and broken this up somewhat, but I wanted to get this all down while it is occuring..
    Here's a picture of the obverse of one of my "Marianne" gold 20FCS coins...

  2. jackson64

    Massive Coin Hoard

    By jackson64,

    not mine, but I get to catalog it..
    Yes it is true..I am lucky enough to be the first person to go through this stash/hoard in around 20 years. If I may, a little background first......
    One of my fishing buddies K*** is independently wealthy, I've never asked what he did for a living or where it came from, but he is nearing 50 and has been "retired" for as long as I've known him. One of our long-time friends is B**, an older gentleman who used to teach sailing classes and navigation using astrological charts ( a lost art with GPS). He is around 70 and retired to the Florida coast 5 years ago. B** does sail up to Maryland every spring however and spends his summers docked at K***'s boathouse and visiting friends and family. Unfortunately about 3 weeks ago B**'s brother died and he has been handling all the affairs since he is also sole beneficiary...and here's the part I'm sure everyone would like me to get to...his brother had a stash !!
    On a recent day catching some Rockfish ( striped bass to you non-Marylanders) and Mackerel, B** said "are you still doing the stuff with coins?" I told him yes, whenever I could..and he told me that when we got back to K***'s house that he had some coins he wanted me to look at that he had gotten from his brothers garage.
    I agreed, however I must admit that I've heard this enough to already envision a tin can or two of worn mercs,wheaties, mixed foreign coins and maybe a 1921 Morgan at best.
    When we went into K***'s basement (where much of the contents of B***'s late brothers house now resides)..there were 5 jumbo tool boxes with padlocks. I went to lift one to put it in the middle of the floor and nearly threw my back out !! After unlocking and opening just the first toolbox I think I stood there stunned, motionless and holding my breath for at least a minute...finally with an explosive gasp I just said WOW !! Thousands of coins of all sizes, denominations, mintpacks, flips, 2X2's, ..
    So we sat down and decided to talk first about what to do with them....
     
    This is running a bit long so I will update you on my progress in cataloging the hoard in a day or two and what B** decided to do with them...for now, to whet your appetite and show that I am not exaggerating...a picture..
    The first pic is just the top tray in one of the tool boxes, the second pic shows the stacks of tool boxes filled with to bursting, and the final/bottom pic is my feeble first attempt at just sorting the first few hundred BU Silver Dollars...
    PS: if anyone from NGC reads these, I hope you have bulk rates....

  3. jackson64

    In Defense of NGC

    By jackson64,

    A picture is worth 1000 words
    Let me say first of all that I have had my issues with NGC. In a hobby where a subjective opinion (eye appeal is 1/4th of grade consideration) can mean the difference in a one point grade change and hence THOUSANDS of dollars, it can be quite frustrating when my taste or what appeals to my eye seems to differ from the graders. My coin comes back MS66 worth $400 and it looks like an MS67 $4000 coin to me. After a day of shrugging off the disappointment, I just live with it. I still have a coin that reflects my tastes and I probably wasn't gonna sell it anyhow, so why get worked up?
    Bodybags...when I see my grades posted I'm always disappointed to get an ungraded coin sent back. The fact is, I paid for their professional opinion ( includes receiving & shipping clerks, warehouse people, coin handlers, computer personelle, secrataries and graders etc) if my coin does not meet the criteria for their quality standards, then it gets sent back with an explanation. I can honestly say that about 95-99% of the time they are right and saw something I missed. By the way, since I have bought a 20X loupe and bought a numismatic library to further educate myself on coins..I have had only 1 bodybag in the last 3 years !!
    Quality Control....we live in an imperfect world and once in a while the flaws come our way. I'm amazed that with a company that encapsulates 100's of thousands of coins annually that they are as efficient as they are. We also must keep in mind who is ultimately at fault. NGC does not own a plastics shoppe. A lacking bevel or mis-sized label is an error in the production and QC of their supplier. If they had to visually inspect every slab and insert that was sent to them, we'd be lucky to get our coins back in 6 months !!
    Professionalism...I have had 3 coins out of hundreds that had problems that were undoubtedly NGC's fault. One was a spelling error and the other 2 were foreign gold coins that had the wrong mintmark. I WENT TO THE PROPER FORUM..I called them and spoke with some thoroughly professional and apologetic individuals on the phone. The situation was rectified without costing me a penny..I simply mailed them back with a submission, they fixed the labels and re-holdered them without charge and mailed them back to me with my graded submission...
    I know that many who write in the journals are relatively new collectors and I really enjoy reading your posts. The enthusiasm and joy at your new acquisitions is contagious and keeps my own personal passion for the hobby alive. If I may be so bold, a few suggestions?
    an old, old saying in the hobby: Buy the book before you buy the coin. Measure the upside and downside of a coin before you submit...if a coin is likely to grade 68 or 69 and have a value of $25-30, why would you pay $15 to get it slabbed? You'd have to own it 20 years for that coin's value to jump to $45.
    Also, I highly recommend to everyone to go to the NGC Chat Boards and ask questions. There are dozens of lifetime collectors who are always willing to advise and teach..many Big Auction dealers, owners of legendary collections and even former graders....the value of the knowledge they share can literally be seen in your collections value and the money you save avoiding common mistakes...
    I hope nobody takes any offense from this, I enjoy all of you here in the community..I'd hate to see you get frustrated and give up on a hobby that you've enjoyed so much without first getting a different perspective....as always, Happy Hunting...

  4. jackson64
    certainly a low-mintage
    One topic that I've talked about and thought about, more than a few times since I returned to this hobby roughly 10 years ago is rarity. I know that certain set scales exist ( sheldon scale for example) where the rarity of a coin is set by pure numbers of that date/type/variety believed to exist. And I'll stay off my soapbox about the term "rare" being used indiscriminately by about 2/3rds of ebay listings and hobby publication ads...
    My feeling has turned more toward rarity being a lot like value...it is more truly tied to demand.
    There are "condition rarities",-- denoting that a coin may be plentiful but hard to find in top condition.
    There are obviously "mintage rarities" where very few of a particular coin have even ever existed..
    I have come to believe however in "popularity rarity". This is the case of when a series or coin is so popular that even though there may be thousands of them out there--there is still actually such a demand as to make the coin rather elusive. This often seems to make the price seem a bit skewed ( especially when compared to truly low-mintage coins)..but this is where I believe that "popularity rarity" and demand driven value collide. Prices/values are a reflection of what collectors are willing to pay for a coin...if there are 20,000 of a coin minted--(far from a "mintage rarity")--however there are 50,000 avid collectors who feel their set would be incomplete without one?..TADA!! Popularity Rarity..and hence bigger asking prices when one becomes available..
    So here on the flip side...my newest addition to my High Seas Signature Set ( chapter 2)..a coin minted in Chile for Easter Island...the wonderful Chilean sailing ship Esmerelda graces one side and the famed statueheads of Easter Island on the other...total mintage...50 ( FIFTY!)...of course I jumped all over it..Five years from now they may all be sitting in collections around the world and I might never have another opportunity to own one...another side effect of popularity rarity= that worry you get that if you don't get it now, you may never get another chance !! Happy hunting my friends..

  5. jackson64
    and a few in sight...
    It's a rainy day here in Maryland..which means that my "summer hobbies" of sailing, fishing, and vegetable gardening are postponed for the day.
    So this is a perfect day to enjoy my collection. Often when I visit my coins it is simply to browse through the sets here at CS..however it sure is nice to pull out a few slab boxes and look at them in hand.
    I'm getting off track here..what I wanted to record in my journal is that I recently reached a milestone. My High Seas signature set recently surpassed 5,000 views !! This is a pretty amazing # to me because it is a true reflection of how many visits the set has had from other collectors ( the view count on my sets doesn't change when I look at them).
    I ran a contest when it reached 4,900 views on the Chat Boards here at NGC. The person who was the 5,000th viewer simply had to copy the webpage showing themself as the 5,000th viewer and I sent them a package of coins. Congrats to EZ-E who won the contest and got a 2009 SAE, a 1 ounce Cuba sailing ship coin and a handful of other coins with sailing ships...the contest was a token of my gratitude to all of you here in the community who have supported my odd little niche in the hobby with Nautically themed coins..and a special thanks to all who have sent me links and heads up when you've come across Sailing Ship coins or dealers who sell them ( a few of you have actually even bought the coins and sent them to me for free !!)
    It is generosity and kindnesses like these that keep me always willing to "pay it forward" to the next guy who needs some help or has a last slot/hole to fill in a set.
    Thanks again to all for making me feel part of this little community of individuals who share the love of numismatics.
    Here's a picture of a nice Australian sailing coin...sent to me by RareSov, all the way from Australia...he charged me only mint cost!!..he paid the slabbing and the cost of sending it insured overseas..gestures like this are very humbling...

  6. jackson64
    each coin is different
    I had read recently of someone who was not happy with a coin's "in hand" appearance as compared to auction photos. Personally I tend to give a bit of leeway as to whether the auction company intentionaly "doctors" photos to make a coin look better. On occasion I get a coin that has a spot or hairline that was not visible when photoed at a certain angle but shows up if the coin is tilted or turned when holding it.
    I also sometimes get a coin that thrills me to no end when I actually receive it..the auction photos didn't capture how stunning the eye-appeal was in hand ( I guess in those cases it would be the seller who was not happy).
    Which brings me to my latest joy and frustration. I recently got an upgrade for my Walker set..a very attractive 1941 ( a common date in high grade) that turned out to be fabulous when I got it in the mail. Another bonus, the coin was housed in an old NGC fatty holder..and the auction photo showed some light golden tone on the obverse near the head and around the reverse rim. When I got the coin I was excited to see that the "golden brown areas" were actually complex rainbow colors of red/fluorescent green/neon orange and gold... a major score !!
    I had bought the coin for its fabulous full strike and now had gotten an elusive well-toned Walker !! That was the joyful part....now for the frustration !!
    I wanted to take my own pictures and highlight the great strike and the colors. However when I turned the coin to accent the skirt lines and full thumb, the colors would darken...when I tilted the coin to show the rainbow the skirt lines look flat or the thumb disappears..I tried additional lighting...I tried taking them outdoors..I tried photos with halogen light and with a 150w grow light..and even tried a combo of lighting, tilting, angles and rotating the coin...utter frustration !!
    Anyhow, if I find a formula that works I may try it for all of my Walkers to make the set uniform...but then again each coin has different aspects I'd like to highlight so this may just be wishful thinking...
    Here's a picture of the coin that started this quest...too dark for a final inclusion but I really like the way this angle of light makes the suns rays and skirt lines pop out..the light and shadow play are kind of like actually facing the sun..

  7. jackson64
    coins are not easily liquid
    I am foremost a collector....
    Having said that, I also try and buy with a respect to the idea that coins, unlike my other major hobbies of fishing, boating and vegetable gardening, have a definite monetary return potential. Well I don't have to tell most of you that we as a country are going through some tough economic times.
    I have seen many mentions here in the journals and also on the chat boards of people who have hit rough times and have had to sell some or even most of their collections. I have been blessed because my wife and I are both in the medical field and are mostly recession proof in our jobs ( unless, of course the government takes that over and screws it up like they do everything else). I won't get started on that..but I did want to mention a major error in my thinking.
    I've always thought that my coins would be easy to liquidate...this may be true to a degree, but only if you are willing to lose a great deal of money. I have seen several collectors needing a quick cash infusion and losing their shirts on sales recently--especially on modern issues. What have I learned?
    I have learned that older coins retain value and slowly increase over time.
    I have learned that moderns, unless you are committed to getting a #1 ranked registry set, are best purchase in MS&PF 69.
    I have learned that to truly "profit" from coins you really need to hold them for at least 10 years and ideally 20+ years.
    I have learned that buying coins, then re-selling those to buy other coins and then changing your taste and selling those and starting a different set only profits the auction companies( who charge both to buy and sell), the post office and possibly grading services as some people crack out coins or re-submit for a shot at higher grades.
    I recently saw a board member mention he was selling a complete set of state quarters--silver and clad--in PF70UCAM for $21,000...that may be the "list value" for the entire set, however I did some research and hunting and found that I could assemble the entire proof 70 set, all 100 coins, for between $4,000-5,000 !!
    I recently tried to sell a few coins quickly ( doubles and random coins not in sets) because I wanted to put a downpayment and reserve a $2000 coin that I didn't have the full amount for at this time....the result? Nobody is really buying--even at half the list price !!
    So I've determined, that unless I want to practically give coins away, the best bet is to send my coins to a major auction house when I'm ready to sell some. It may take a lot longer to get the money in my account..but coins are not the potential source of "quick cash" that I thought they were ( if needed), especially when luxury items like a coin collection get pushed to the back-burner during recessive periods.
    Just some thoughts and I hope I didn't bum some of you readers out...on the bright side? I have been able to purchase some beautiful coins, like this Dolly Madison, already slabbed and graded, for less than the cost that the mint was selling them for raw...

  8. jackson64
    nothing like young numismatists and a big bag of treasure !!
    I recently had one of the most fun coin experiences that I've had in a while...and it was from giving and not adding to my collection.
    First of all, I must give credit where it is due.. a friend of mine from the NGC Chat Boards ( and also another coin website of friends) named "Antthe" has been buying large amounts of world coins "by the pound" and has been enjoying picking through them for interesting finds. I believe that his floor was probably gonna collapse from the weight so he graciously offered 5 pound bags to the first takers. I immediately thought of my 3 nephews and PM'd him. A week or 2 later and Antthe had sent me a 5 lb sack of neat foreign coins ( not only were they free but he paid shipping).
    Now I'm not a saint--of course I perused through them and even found a couple with sailing ships from Malta and Portugal. However the point was to keep the flame of interest in numismatics burning for my 3 nephews. ( ages 6, 9, and 11). So when I told my younger sister I was coming to visit one evening, she had a surprise for me..my favorite dish, lasagna ( she makes it like mom too !!) and my nephews got a surprise from Uncle Jackson..the big sack of foreign coins !! ( quick note: my brother-in-law works for Coca Cola and was a reservist who is currently driving transport vehicles in Iraq, any prayers for his safe return are appreciated)
    Okay, so back to the coins...I couldn't resist, I simply cleared a spot in the family room floor and proceeded to dump the whole bag !!. Clanging and jingling and a few wild rollers..the coins spilled out..and bedlam insued !! You'd have thought that a pinata had burst as 6 hands and 3 blonde heads go diving toward the pile. After I finished laughing, and suffering the half-hearted admonishments from my sister, I decided to seperate the combatants and proceed in a more orderly fashion.
    I found this part rather interesting and I'm sure that Freud, Jung or Erikson may have also...we arranged an order for "selecting" two coins and then around around they went...taking turns until the grand pile was reduced to 3 even piles--one in front of each of the boys. The youngest tended to choose the largest coins in the pile...the middle child ( who is artistic and deeply intelligent) actually looked at the designs and chose the "pictures" he liked..and the oldesr of the 3 went almost exclusively for older coins. It was enlightening..each had a little of the traits of their Uncle Jackson..
    I spent the rest of the evening helping them to learn how to find the coins in the Krause catalog..and also showing them where these countries were on a world map. I know that my sister and the boys really miss Keith ( my brother-in-law) but I think for a night they also really enjoyed having a man, Uncle Jackson, in the house...I left with a lighter step than I've had in a while...maybe I'll buy a sack of wheaties and each of them a penny album and I can do this again soon..and maybe I'll get lucky and my sister Kathleen will make lasagna again.......
    One of the coins from the hoard that I kept for myself..thank you again Ant, it all started with your kindness...

  9. jackson64

    Patience Pays Off

    By jackson64,

    a wonderful upgrade
    Unlike my Mercury dime short set which I considered done when all of the "slots" were filled with MS67 coins, my Walking Liberty Half Set may never get completed.
    I have been wating for a truly special 1941-S to fill the last blank slot, however this won't "finish" the set in my eyes. I'm not sure what criteria it would take for me to be perfectly contented with the set.
    I also had 2 MS64's still in the set...I've passed up several chances to upgrade because I've been waiting for just the right coin to use as upgrades..not just the slab grade, but also luster and strike quality in the Superb Gem range.
    Strike has become the prevailing focus for me with upper grade Walker's..and that's why I was thrilled to find this 1944.
    The 1944 is a surprisingly weaker struck date in the short set series...and although most Walker guides allude to the mushy obverse center, the reverse is usually very weak from breast feathers straight down the eagle's left leg.
    I don't mean to give a history of the series..just wanted to give an idea of the thinking, educating, and patience I used to find a simple 2 point upgrade..my new 1944 MS66-fully struck on both OBV and REV..
    >> on a personal note, my youngest daughter turned 18 today..the next few months should be very interesting...
    >> I also sent a small 7 coin submission of ship coins to NGC today, I guess I'll be doing the "check the grading progress" obsession thing now..

  10. jackson64
    time for something new
    It took almost 3 weeks to arrive but I finally got my 1943 Mercury Dime in the mail today. It seems almost anti-climatic.
    Usually I get 3 seperate thrills from a new acquisition...the first comes at the moment of winning the auction or finding the coin that fits the criteria for my set. The second (smaller) thrill comes when I enter the coin into that blank registry slot, or upgrade the slot. I enjoy watching the points and/or ranking increase. The third thrill is when I physically have the coin in hand. It is then that I get to study it, rotate it under different lighting to enjoy flowlines or toning--followed by taking my own pictures, cropping and sizing it for the registry gallery.
    The final coin of a set, for me, has a mixed feeling. I still get the enjoyment of the 3 primary steps in ownership..but now there is also a strange melancholy/sadness. Kind of like when you hear a song that you loved 20 years ago that makes you smile, brings back some great memories but also makes you feel strangely sad.
    Maybe this comes from the fact that I have been looking at several auctions weekly for just the right coins for the set for over a year...and now that is over. I will no longer be clicking on "Mercury Dimes" to see if any MS67's of the dates that will fill my empty slots are available...it's kinda like saying goodbye...
    I know, I know, I could continue by building the "expanded short set" from 1934 to 1945, but I doubt that I would be able to buy/find/afford all of the dates in MS67 ( and that was the criteria I set for this collection). So my Mercury Short Set is done..it made the Top-25 but will inevitably slip off of the front page someday.
    Now comes the tough decision and excitement of what to collect next !! I am really enjoying collecting these short sets..I'm looking at either a Standing Liberty Quarter-"one per date" set or a Buffalo Nickel Short Set 1934-1938 ( leaning towards the Buffs). If I do go with the buffs, I think I'll give myself a 2 grade range this time ( MS66 & 67's?)..this way the tougher dates and overdates will not be too expensive and the coin quality will still be very high..
    In the meantime, I have been goofing around with a set called "Deep Blue Seas"..a signature set dedicated to marine creatures on coins ( I have gotten creative with the gallery..it may be fun for you to have a look--and please message me what you think-good or bad)..and of course........
    There will always be High Seas. I just bought 6 new additions which need encapsulating/grading by NGC....
    One of those I just found, a nice coin from Argentina with a beautiful Frigate..
    OOPS: PS: I almost forgot to add, I hope that none of you who messaged me get upset...the 1943 Copper Penny was an April Fools Day prank...just a little fun, but how cool would it be to find a super-rare penny in a coin tray at a convenience store...happy hunting e1

  11. jackson64

    A Strange Find

    By jackson64,

    got what I deserved
    I have a funny story to relate of something that happened to me recently.
    I am a full fledged coin nut..I always check my change and recently I checked some change that wasn't even mine. I was at a convenience store, and you know those little plastic trays or cups at the check out counter? You may have seen one with a little sign..." Take a Penny or Leave a Penny". I assume they are there in case you purchase something whose total comes to $1.01 or $1.02....or conversely, if my total is 99c then I'll just leave a penny there for the next guy.
    It's a simple convenience thing, primarily to speed up the line I assume. Well, for a numismaniac for me it is a potential search.
    The other day at our local Quik-E Mart I spied a penny in the tray--facedown--with very nice wheat lines staring up at me. With all of the smoothness I could muster, after I received my change from my purchase, I promptly ( and I like to think very deftly and casually) dropped a penny in the mini-tray and scooped up the wheatie and pocketed it. When I got to the car I looked at it--nope, no early date, not an "S" mint coin...so I stuck it in my pocket and drove home.
    However, something kept gnawing at me...then it hit me !! Cosmic justice had been served !! I was trying to be slick and get myself a free wheatie for a cheapo zinc penny in exchange..and the joke was on me. My wheatie was fake !!
    I got home and double-checked the date, sure enough..it said 1943-D..however it was a copper coin !! I had finally realized/remembered that in 1943 that pennies were made of steel. Oh well, I got a chuckle out of it..and I'm saving the fake as a souvenir to remember this funny episode....
    Otherwise, I also finally bought my final Mercury dime for my set..although it's not here yet. I'll write a little about that once it arrives about how anti-climactic that turned out to be...for now,
    Happy hunting everyone..and don't take any wooden nickels or fake wheaties..

  12. jackson64

    Pulled the Trigger

    By jackson64,

    actually I "clicked the mouse"
    Some of my favorite journal entries are those of my fellow collectors that let me into their heads a bit. I really enjoy LowBudget's journals because I get to see how a fellow collector like him methodically hunts his "prey".
    An in depth education and knowledge comes first, followed by many hours studying coins on-line, at auction in hand, auction histories..varieties..it is just fun to see how others collect.
    However there are a myriad of "right" ways to hunt and buy. I also love the entries of fellow collectors who struggle to stay "focused" with their primary target coins...ever struggling to hold back when a chance for an attractive impulse buy arises.....I guess I enjoy these insights into the hunting and buying strategies and styles of my fellow collectors because I share a little in common with each of you.
    Today I finally pulled the trigger on a bigger purchase ( for me it was bigger). So far this year I had been buying a lot of $25-50 coins with a few $100 buys mixed in. Here's the quick story..........
    About 6 weeks ago I spied a very attractive coin that thoroughly fit my taste in Walking Liberty Halves. The coin would be a very nice upgrade in both quality and numbered grade on the slab. However, enticed that I was, I just could not convince myself to pay that much at the time. With the seller's images imprinted in my mind however, I checked the auction later to see what it sold for..It Hadn't Sold !!..and it was re-listed back in the "inventory." I visited it often but just couldn't commit.. About 3 weeks ago, it was again put on the auction block, at a lower starting/opening bid !!...this time passing it up was far harder mentally, but easier in another way..I just didn't have the funds to spend on the purchase. ...but my obsession continued.
    While browsing some of the auction sites and on-line inventories last weekend..there was the coin again in inventory , only this time the price was down even more! That was it! the seller, probably completely oblivious of my obsession, had continued to sweeten the offer. I made up my mind that if it were still there this Friday (payday) I was gonna jump all over it. Well I checked today and ....not only was it still there but there was a "make an offer" link also !! For the heck of it I made an offer at $200 under the list...I got back a counter-offer that was $100 under list...and the rest is history.
    After 6 full weeks of watching this coin, scanning the pictures over and over, checking to see the affect it would have on my points and ranking within the series..etc etc..I finally "pulled the trigger"---or more appropriately, I "clicked the mouse"......This type of approach may not be for everyone--sometimes this patient approach costs me some nice coins...but once in a while it pays off...
    Here's the reverse of one of my newest Walker Purchase...notice the fantastic strike ( for Walker collectors, you know what I'm talking about) on the Eagle's leg feathers and breast !!...1944-D MS67 PCGS- CAC sticker

  13. jackson64

    Triplets !!

    By jackson64,

    octomom better look out......
    I haven't written a journal entry in about 6 weeks so this is overdue--and no, octomom has nothing to fear from me. In fact, my "triplets" consist of my recently added 1942-P Mercury dime that is a well matched coin for my 1942-D and 1942-S. For those who may have read my journal entry from a few months ago titled "twins"..I have been looking for a 1942 to match these other 2 coins with their handsome rim toning.(you really need to take a closer look at this coin in the gallery for the set to get an appreciation for it)
    I know it probably seems strange to some, however I actually passed up an opportunity to buy a nicely discounted 1942 FB which is worth more than 4 times as many points !!...since my goal for the set was not to build a top ranking set but just an MS67 set with well matched coins..it was worth waiting for this little gem.
    My enjoyment of and passion for the hobby has been as satisfying as ever....although I have not been adding as many new coins to my collection, I have been enjoying numismatics in other ways; reading journals and forums, email correspondence, working on better photo taking, I read David Lange's books on Mercury Dimes and Buffalo nickels and also read the "Collecting and Investing Strategies For Walking Liberty Halves". Of course I also have been enjoying the hunt !!
    My slowing of additions is not so much that I have been hit by the "economic crisis"..it is more a case of cautiously getting my "house in order." I've been paying off the last of my debts, stocked up on 6+ months of non-perishable food items, stuffing a few extra dollars in the mattress.. not because I'm forseeing any kind of collapse or chaos, I just feel that as a husband and father that I should be better prepared for any eventuality.
    All right, enough of that talk..my head already hurts from hearing all of the doom and gloom and my hobbies are an escape...( can't wait for spring and starting my vegetable garden)
    Anyhow, I'm down to needing just one last mercury to finish my set..one last Walker to finish that set..I've added 6 new Canadian proof dimes to my current registry set, and I started my Canadian $2 bi-metallic proof set with 4 purchases ( only 2 slabbed so far. So looking back on my 2009 goals--I'm well on my way and still focused and not straying from course.
    The Whitman coin expo is coming to Baltimore Convention Center in a few weeks and I have a few hundred put away to spend there. I won't have enough to buy the Walker I need, and highly doubt that I'll find any additions for my Canadian sets..but I might find that last Mercury dime I need in an NGC slab...also I'll kill a lot of time at the World Coin dealers looking through junk bins and cases for sailing ship themed coins..that set will never be finished and always provides plenty of options for new additions..
    So that's what I've been up to and the direction I'm going...here are pictures of the "Triplets"..1942, 42-D FB and 42-S in order...I'm thinking about a multi-holder for them...happy hunting

  14. jackson64
    my monthly coin budget lasted 3 days
    Before it sounds like I'm complaining, first let me say that I am grateful that I can afford myself a small monthly "coin allowance". I must say however that it sure goes awfully fast !!
    I have put away a little extra the past few months, partially as common sense during these economic times, and partially for a higher dollar purchase.
    I know that it's a bit early for a "Year End Review" but I had 3 primary coin goals this year. These goals aren't quite -Destroying the competition-- just simple attainable goals while keeping this hobby in its proper perspective.
    Goal #1--adding an additional 50 sailing ship themed coins to my High Seas signature set. With my current submission mailed today I will achieve this goal. Unfortunately I can't add them to my existing set because of slot limitations but they'll feel more like part of the collection once they are slabbed and graded.
    Goal #2-- I often profess that I don't have a great concern for points or set rankings, yet each year since I've joined CS/NGC I've had at least 1 new #1 set. Call it tradition--I've mailed away 12 coins as part of my current submission that will easily jump me to #1 in one of my smaller sets.
    Goal #3-- another modest goal but maybe the start of a 10 year odyssey to something greater. I wanted to crack the top 25 (first page) of the Walker Set. I have finished paying for, and expect in the mail any day, my 1946-D MS67 Walking Liberty Half Dollar. I didn't get the final coin to finish the set--but this nice upgrade will propel me over a tight log-jam of sets that are very close in points. Who knows, if I could just upgrade/add one or two MS67's a year to this set I may someday reach the top ten in what is one of the more popular series and designs in coinage...maybe I should make a 5 year goal also...
    So, that is how I spent my monthly coin budget in 3 days. One 25 coin submission and 1 key purchase. With the holidays just around the corner, this may very well end up being my "year in Review".....as always happy hunting e1

  15. jackson64

    Coins Are The Cure

    By jackson64,

    who needs a pill !!
    I'm not a big believer in all the syndromes that are constantly being invented to sell drugs to us. "Twitchy Eyelids?"...."this could be a symptom of a syndrome that some independent laboratory has determined may kill you if left untreated !!" Fortunately for us, they usually have discovered the pill or treatment to cure it before the syndrome was identified.
    As cynical as I may sound about other peoples restless legs and irritable bowels...I actually do have one of these "syndromes." I forget what it's called but I always feel a bit melancholy in the winter. Some may be able to relate--it's dark when you leave for work, it's dark when you get off...and usually grey and damp or clear and frigid during the 6 hours of daylight. My skin gets dry and itchy (probably a seperate syndrome-" Winter Skin Syndrome"), I tend to nap a lot when I'm at home and I'd rather be home than wrapping on 4 or 5 layers of clothes to go outside.
    So January and February have become my most active coin months. Nothing cures "Winter Melancholy Syndrome" like the purchase of a nice coin from Barbados, Jamaica or the Bahamas !! Or better yet- another coin with a sailing ship !! Seriously though, I was looking through my Krause Catalog of World Coins today while simultaneously scoping out some coins on ebay and another idea for a cool set came to me...I think I may build a date set of either Barbados $1, $2 or $10 coins or maybe Bahamas 50c, $1 or $2. The designs of all of these are beautiful, they are surprisingly available considering some of the mintages are less than 1,000...and best of all they are affordable.
    So, I have found the cure for the winter blues...coins from tropical islands--the next best thing to being there !! So as I sit here with virgin rum-runner in hand, my mind and eyes are focused on images of flamingos and marlins, conch shells and mahi mahi, sunrises on the beach and coral reefs....

  16. jackson64

    My Priceless Coin

    By jackson64,

    family heirlooms...
    Last night I was trying to catch up on reading all of the new year's journal entries. This helps to keep me involved in the hobby even when my funds don't allow me to be in "purchasing mode." One series of journals was discussing the NGC submission coupon and the struggle of deciding on which coins to submit.
    I had almost forgotten that I still have my 5 free submission voucher, so I immediately pulled out my raw coins and found myself in the same conundrum. I finally settled on 3 possible submissions:
    1) Make the most of the voucher value and send 5 older coins...or..
    2) Send in 5 coins that will fill slots in my sets....or
    3) send in 5 coins that I really like but their value is less than the cost of slabbing, since the grading is "free" this could be my chance to have them encapsulated without feeling like I'm being a bonehead..
    Then it occured to me, there is another coin that I have always wanted to have preserved/encapsulated. A few years ago, before I got involved with the registry and had my youthful passion for coins reignited, my mother gave me a few things that had belonged to my dad. He passed 11 years ago at the age of 59 and was buried on his 60th birthday and my mom had been going through some of his old stuff to give to us kids. She offered me his triangular folded flag from his funeral-now mounted in a nice case with his medals pinned to it, but I told her to hold onto it. She also gave me a thick book of our family tree dating back to the early 1700's when my ancestors first immigrated to America...and among other smaller things she gave me an old silver dollar that my dad had in his wallet. I remember that he had shown it to me before and told me it was from his dad ( my grandpa).
    The dollar is a common date- a 1921 Morgan- but its value can't be measured in terms of dollars. It is a link to the past, held in the living and calloused hands of my grandfather and my father and now by me. The coin is not very worn, however it has taken on a red and brown tone-probably from the stain in the wallet ( with my luck it will get body-bagged as artificially toned)...the issue is that I like holding it in my hands, feeling its weight and the ridges on the rim...but I'd also like to get it safe in a holder with a label that says "grandpa's dollar" or something
    So now I also am stuck with the submission conundrum..if anyone wants to send me a message with their thoughts I'd appreciate it..but I'm thinking that I may go with the 5 cheapie coins that I really like but have low values otherwise they may just sit in my "future slabbing" drawer forever.
    Here's a picture of Grandpa and dad's 1921 Morgan... sitting on the cover of the book (tome) of the Jackson family tree...and yes, Andrew actually was a relative of mine (although I'm not a direct descendant because he had no kids)..

  17. jackson64

    My Goals For 2009

    By jackson64,

    should be an interesting year
    I always enjoy setting my yearly goals and writing them into a journal entry. It is especially interesting to look back in November and December and see how many I have attained and how my goals may have changed or morphed.
    So here they are, in no particular order of importance:
    1. For 2 years I have made it a goal to finish my Walker Short Set--hopefully this year I'll find that 1941-S in MS66 with a nice strike at a time when I also have the discretionary income available.
    2. I have 4 last Mercury dimes to find and purchase to finish that short set. I will keep the criteria of MS67 minimum, so the final 4 will probably be a 1941, 1942 and 1943 in MS67 and a 1943-D in 67FB....just nice coins at reasonable prices and it will feel great to actually finish a set (something I haven't done since I finished my 16 coin France gold 1899-1914 20 FCS collection over 2 years ago.)
    3. I'd like to finish my only Modern Set..the set of Canadian dimes 1981-present. This is a fun set with several commemorative designs, the changing queen's bust as she's aged, and of course the Bluenose Schooner on the reverse..
    4. Since I've been buying the Canadian proof sets for the dimes, I have become increasingly impressed with the design of their $2 Bi-metallic Polar bear coin. I will set as a goal to start this collection and fill at least 5 slots by year end.
    So that's it: 1 Walker half to finish that set; 4 mercury dimes to finish that set; and about 12 more Canadian dime proofs to complete that set and cement my #1 spot in that category.
    You may have noticed that for the first time in years I have no goals for my sailing ship coins...truth is I'm disappointed and don't know what else I could do to improve the set. I had harboured a hope that it may be worthy of some kind of Signature Set award (maybe even best overall !!) I think I have spent too much time on researching, photoing, adding creative adaptations etc etc in hopes of an award for my efforts, pride of ownership will have to be my consolation.
     
    Having said that, I will continue to buid the set..I just won't invest so much of my creativity and time into it....I also think I'll reduce my journaling to about once a month (I believe I must be getting stale to many of you--you're probably tired of me writing over and over)..
    Oh, and one more goal..I really really really want a 2009 St Gaudens High relief !! I saw one at the World's Fair of Money last July in Baltimore and the pamphlet/brochure has been on my desk for 6 months !!
    My newest find...a wonderful Latvian sailing ship coin-I had been close to purchasing it at BIN for $125 for several months, but again patience paid off..found it for $38 at another site !!

  18. jackson64

    Twins !!!

    By jackson64,

    almost did a double-take
    I'm pretty excited at the moment..I just won an ebay auction I had been watching for 10 days. When this coin first appeared I put in a small, cursory bid so that it would be on my Bidding list. It just ended and I won by my exact high bid..by 51 cents above the second place bidder !!
    It's a nice 1942-S Mercury dime..graded as an MS67, it will make a wonderful addition to my merc short set. I have to admit to being tempted to stray from my original goal. That goal was to build a nice, inexpensive set with all coins having eye-appeal and grading as MS67. The temptation is that sometimes an MS66FB coin is worth more points (sometimes 2 or 3 times the point value). So far I have resisted the temptation to fill the holes in my set with the higher point coin...and now with just 4 last coins to acquire I should make it.
    My last 2 additions...the 1944 and 1942-S are worth quite a few points less in the MS67 without full bands than coins graded lower at 66 but having FB distinction. However it was never my intent to try and compete with the big boys near the top, and an all MS67 set will still make the first page (top 25) of the listings.
    Which brings me to my latest acquisition--the 1942-S I just won. The coin is remarkably similar in appearance to my 1942-D. Since I haven't yet filled the hole/slot for the 1942, how cool would it be to find a 1942 Philly mint coin that matched too--triplets !!
    Anyhow...here's a picture of the "Twins"...NGC 1942-D MS67FB and 1942-S MS67...

  19. jackson64

    Good News !!!

    By jackson64,

    heard from a missing friend
    Well it has been a tough year in many ways for some in our little community. Economics has been tough on many-- Several have had to pause in their collecting while others have had to sell part or all of their collections to pay for more pressing issues. Some of us have had medical issues and some have had to deal with the hardest things one could face--death of loved ones.
    I did get good news from 2 people, I know that a couple of the people that I send messages to on occasion have asked about them so......
    Michael Cooper, having already been hit with one tough blow, had a very serious emergency surgery. As expected from Michael, he is quickly on his feet and his spirits are very high.
    Clay, who we haven't heard from since July when he announced that he was going for a heart surgery...is struggling with some continuing medical issues but is still active building his impressively massive set. He may not be keeping us abreast of his latest acquisitions in his journals but he is as an enthusiastic collector as ever.
    So I got these bits of good news recently and thought I'd share...
    On a personal note, I have officially started "High Seas chapter 2"..the continuation of my sailing ship themed set....the original set recently became only the 5th set out of over 1,100 signature sets to have over 4,000 people take time to look at it.
    At the risk of running long, a quick story......
    I got an email a few weeks ago from an ebay seller who also has an on-line coin store. He was running a special sale on a coin from China. I usually just glance and delete but this caught my eye..the pictures looked familiar. As I continued to read, it turns out the advertisement not only was using pictures from my "China Empress Ship" coin, but the description was verbatim from my set also...I sent them a little email mentioning that I was flattered and wouldn't mind a little kick-back from them for making their job so easy by writing their ads for them..Needless to say, I have yet to receive a response...
    Anyhow, I hope everyone has a wonderful 2009..Happy Hunting.......
    A wonderful coin from Iceland..the reverse has a fishing ship but I just love this obverse..

  20. jackson64
    please...no coins
    I love the holidays...I love giving gifts and yes, I love getting them also...I love Christmas eve candlelight services, I love spiral sliced honey-baked ham, I love another excuse to fill the candy trays with chocolates, I love when friends come over with plates of baked goodies, I like decorating my mantle and front window..and even putting a single string of lights outside along the gutters. Our house is always open to un announced friends dropping by and my two teenaged daughters usually have a few of their giggling friends over-especially during the holidays. ( some even call my wife Mom)
    One thing I always tell those who would buy me a gift is, "please, no coins". The reason is simple, although their heart is true, there knowledge of our hobby is lacking. I've gotten too many whizzed/cleaned/overpriced coins in the past and it makes me a little upset to think that some shady person used the giver's desire to give me a loving gift as an opportunity to unload some damaged junk-coins at inflated prices.
    Okay, enough of the soapbox... what I have learned to do is ask for supplies and books..!!!
    There are some wonderful books I'd like to read, specialty books on series, minting processes, Renaissance of American Coinage series, VAM and variety books..reference books, cherry-pickers guides, new Redbooks, The Newest addition of Catalog of World Coins...just tons of potential additions to my coin library.
    Supplies are always needed and useful...I need flips and capsules for submissions...I'd like to try some scratch remover for my slabs, maybe a type-coin capital plastic holder..a nice Dansco or Whitman album for Barber Halves...etc, etc..
    The point is, I can make quite a Christmas wish list of numismatic items without listing any coins on it... I truly hope that each of you get what you wish for and that the coming year is a great and healthy one for e1..Merry Christmas to all and a Happy and Healthy New Year...
    This is the book at the top of my list...I hope Santa put me on the "nice" side of his list and brings it for me...

  21. jackson64

    A Busy Coin Day

    By jackson64,

    21 "new" coins
    It has been a busy day with my collection...I love it !! I got back my NGC submission today and now it's time for the other parts of the hobby I enjoy.
    It is definitely about the coins, however I really get a lot of enjoyment out of taking the pictures for the sets & listings...also I really enjoy learning new stuff, so researching info for the desciption is a lot of relaxed enjoyment also.
    For pictures, I still have my Sony Mavica 10x zoom. This camera is so out of date, but it's easy and takes nice pictures. I simply slide in a floppy disk (told you it was old)...take the pics and then download the pictures into my computer ( I had to buy a seperate Floppy drive that plugs into a port because my new computer doesn't have the archaic technology of a floppy disk drive)...anyhow, then it's just a matter of cropping the pics to the uniform size I use for all of my sets, a little tweaking of the light and sharpness, and they are ready for the registry gallery.
    The description hunt is not as smooth, mainly because I get distracted. With my Signature Set of sailing themed coins there are several choices for the description. So as I look up and find info about either the country of the coin, the explorer on the coin or the actual ship on the coin...I get wrapped up in reading and learning. Many of the tales of the lives of the explorers/discoverers are fascinating..as are the cultures and nautical histories of some of the obscure countries they come from ( today's group includes coins from Nicaragua, the Turks and Caicos, Togo, Bulgaria and Caymans--told you, obscure !!).....I know many of you would rather schedule a dentist appointment than do this, but for me it is another aspect of my collecting.....
    So, as the December financial crunch hits me...I still have at least a month's worth of hobby enjoyment ahead of me...even if I can't actively add any new coins..I will still be "working" on my sets...
    One last thing...since I reached the maximum number of coins allowed in a Signature Set with the High Seas set, I'm taking the advice of some friends from here in our community and just starting "High Seas Chapter 2"...and the first 12 coins are already here and waiting to be the first additions, but I think I'll take my time and enjoy finding out more about them, where they are from and what they represent..
    here's a picture of the 12 new ones...( I also got 9 Canadian proof dimes back also for another set)

  22. jackson64
    but I'm getting old and my memory is not what it was
    An exciting day in the hobby for me. The grades of my coins submission were posted and they are on their way home !! It always feels like they are brand new purchases to me when they arrive back. They never quite feel like part of my set/collection when they are still raw and sitting in my coin cabinet drawer--waiting for encapsulation. Not that I'm knocking raw coin collectors, I am usually always casually working on some album/series of raw coins.
    Back to the topic, my grades were posted and I was very pleased ( one minor attribution issue but it will be no big deal to have fixed)...almost a clean sweep of Pf69 Ultra Cameos ( which on world coin submissions is a feat--not everyone takes care like the US Mint)..however one big surprise..a PF70UCAM !! I must say I went over the top this time trying to get one because these coins were actually for a set with registry points ....I had a bunch of Canadian proof sets, and instead of removing the dimes and sending them in, I removed the other 6 coins and sent the whole mint case with the dimes in. Before you think I'm nuts or getting eccentric...I had a streak of almost 100 proof coins I had submitted, STILL in the original unopened capsules or boxes..and none got 70's..( some even got as low as 67???)
    I think I had posted before my frustration at having never received one...no matter what lengths I tried. Well the truth is that I forgot. The first World Coin I ever added to my High Seas set was the coin that made me decide to expand past just US coins with ships and collect any sailing ship coin. It was the Macau silver/gold coin and when I submitted it I got a PF70UCAM--and it has always been one of my favorites.
    Anyhow, I got a perfect 70 on one of my Canadian proof dimes. This series started in 1981 and in its 21 year history, NGC has only graded 14 perfect dimes TOTAL. To put that in perspective, the total # of coins graded is very small compared to US modern grading...however it is still a very small percentage.
    I'm also excited about the year end registry awards. I really hope I win something this year. I hope that my High Seas signature set could still be considered for one of the awards...when it was honored several years ago it was still a fledgling set...it had around 40 coins, no order, typos and misspellings and some fuzzy photos...now with 150 coins ( and more on the way)..it seems like a different collection....I'd love to see my numismatic friends here add journal entries about their hopes for year end awards....( don't be shy, we'd all like one, it's human to want some recognition)
    Special mention of thanks to audrop--it worked very well adding certification numbers posted in the "Order Status" area..thanks a ton..
    For a picture?...one of my favorite series of sailing ship coins comes from a tiny LandLocked country...Andorra, I had 2 of these in my set and finally found the third, which is graded and on the way home...each one has a wonderfully rendered, uniquely artistic design,...I love the little chubby cheeked cherub w/ wings blowing--representing the wind in the sails...

  23. jackson64

    Waited Too Long

    By jackson64,

    coins will be late for the registry deadline
    Well it seems as if my impatience has turned to resignation. I finally got around to making a submission to NGC on Nov. 6th...and my coins were received on the 10th....The current turnaround for World Coins in my tier is listed at 10 days so I figured I'd have plenty of time to get them back, take photos and add them to my listings before the Dec. 10th, year-end cut off. Well Monday will be December 1st and my coins are still stuck at "Scheduled For Grading"...at this point I am resigned to the fact that there is no way that they can graded, encapsulated, mailed via registered mail and arrive to me before the 10th.
    Really there is no big deal or hurry, the only hitch is that 9 of the coins were for a set that would have pushed me up to the #1 ranking...oh well, stuff happens and in the grand scheme of things it is not a big deal--no ribbon icons for me this year.
    On the bright side, I think I've found a new interest for collecting. I'm not sure I need a new interest with 1 Walker and 5 Mercurys still to buy to complete those sets (not to mention looking for upgrades)...however it is always fun building a new set.
    The series I'm infatuated with is the $2 Canadian coins (called twonies). The design with the polar bears is very attractive......they are bi-metallic....there are special issues that are more elusive (adding the challenge of the hunt)...for instance, the 2000 proof comes in 3 varieties--a base metal coin(cuni & gilt), an issue made from silver and gold plated center and a silver with a solid gold center ( a bit pricey and small mintage of only 5,000). There are also a few commems in the series and dual dated 10th anniversary coin in reverse proof ( with reverse metal also/ gold outer ring and silver inner ring)
    Anyhow, I'm sure that it's obvious that I've been doing more than just passively thinking about collecting these.....
    Here's a picture of the coin that got me hooked on these $2 coins...not yet slabbed, my 2008 gold edition from the limited edition proof set ( it had the silver/gold Champlain and sailing ship coin in it)

  24. jackson64

    The Waiting is Tough

    By jackson64,

    never been known for my patience
    I'm going away for a 4/3 day weekend today. For me this always involves more than just packing clothes. I always have a few slabs and raw coins lying around that haven't made it to the bank box yet. This means I must come up with a very clever "stashing place" or take time to pack them up and head to the bank.
    This break from the grind comes at a great time. I usually undergo a bit of a bluesy feeling this time of year....grey and cold, no sailing, no fishing, no gardening...this also is when I become more involved with my coin collecting again.
    The year-end registry awards are approaching so I've been taking some time upgrading pictures, writing descriptions, filling a few holes/slots....generally sprucing up my sets. I've also been anxiously awaiting the return of my submission.
    It has been a while between submissions for me and I had forgotten how obsessed I get. I checked daily when I mailed my 21 coins to see if they arrived safely----then checking to see if they were scheduled to be graded----and on and on. Today makes exactly 10 days but only 8 business days since they were received, yet with my issues of impatience I want them back yesterday !! I also know that registered mail takes longer so it may be a week or two to get them once they've shipped.....
    Well I just thought I'd share a bit of my mild insanity, I'm sure there might be a couple of you out there who can relate to this anxiousness. We're probably the same kids who were nuts the week before Christmas, seeing the presents under the tree and crossing off days on the calendar--counting down until we could rip those packages open.............except in this case the package is a brown rectangular box with USPS registered mail on it...
    a nice little dime I've picked up...fits both the sailing themed set and my slowly building Canadian dime set

  25. jackson64
    found some new sets listed
    I try not to post more than once a week at most but a few things have happened that I wanted to journal about.
    The first thing I wanted to mention is that NGC has added some new listings for the Modern Canadian series. The reason this got me excited was that one of the series is the $20 Tall Ships series. I've mentioned a few times of how only about 25% of my collection is actually worth any registry points because of the obscure ( and even no longer existing) countries that many of my coins in my signature set come from.
    Well this new NGC set happens to be for a series that I already have every coin, already slabbed and photoed. I was so excited to see it listed that I immediately filled all of the slots and now am #1 !! ( actually I'm more like the only one so far)... I just thought this was fun and felt like sharing the excitement.
    Secondly, I remembered to renew my NGC/Collectors' Society membership. This is also good because I "got in under the wire" before the fees increase. Before anyone thinks I'm going to complain about the new fee structure--I'm not. Nobody likes to pay more for the same thing but I understand that it's business and NGC's perfectly within their right to do this. If I didn't like it I could exercise my right to find alternative ways to collect (going back to albums, buying only pre-slabbed coins, joining a competitor...etc) So next year I will do the same thing I do every year, assess whether what they are offering is worth the cost to me--it really is that simple.
    Which brings me to something else I wanted to say. Great post neverman !! it is very refreshing to hear some heartfelt gratitude --having traveled and served in India and Guatamala doing work, I can say that most of us Americans have no idea how fortunate we are and how much we have to be grateful for.
     
    a coin from the Tall Ships series.. very cool coins with some holograms that really work well for the theme of this set..