I'm back.....if anyone cares.
Eric_Babula
Posts: 448 ✭✭✭✭
Hey everyone! It's been like 7 months since I've been on CU and CT. What have I missed??? LOL!
Had a busy year. Bought a truck. Father-In-Law passed away (my wife and I had to take care of all of the estate stuff (including selling his coin collection - that was one of my jobs, naturally) since she's the oldest and the others just "let" her do it). My daughter bought his condo, so we had to help with all of that (including hiring painter and carpet install). Had two bigger vacations: Croatia and Alaska. Bought a new Travel Trailer Camper. Still played volleyball (2 leagues in summer, 1 league in fall and 1 league right now). We're in process of booking two more vacations: Mexico (already booked) and Australia (about 1/2 way planned/booked). Planning on doing a lot of camping this year with our new camper. Unfortunately for me, my coin collection and my participation in coin forums has been put on pause and I suffered for it.
As for my collection - I'm finally getting back into dealing with the mess I call more of a hoard rather than a focused collection. I have hit it pretty hard in the past few weeks, and am working on a solid plan to reduce what I have and create a much more focused collection. I'm excited! I already sold a bunch of "junk" silver (when it was $88/oz), proof sets, IHCs, duplicates, etc. to a local dealer. Yes, I know I could have gotten probably 20% - 30% more if I would have sold to collectors (and, if I would have foreseen the jump to $115/oz!), but I didn't want to spend the time. And, since I was selling my FIL's coins, I sold mine at the same time and possibly got a slightly better price (since, combined, I had over $250 face of silver plus a lot of other stuff). I offloaded about 40% of my hoard. I still have probably another 40% to offload. The last 20% will remain in my collection.
So, what's my new focus, you ask? Well, it's not totally focused, but I'll have two Primary focuses and one Secondary.
1. Dansco 7070 Type Set - I started my Dansco 7070 Type Set years ago with the coins I had. Some of my coins look beautiful in the set, and some look just sad. My goal is to organize and work toward completing the album, and upgrading the sad ones as I go along. Right now, I'm thinking: Pre-1820 = G-4 to VG-8. Mid-19th Century = VF-20 to AU-58. 20th Century = EF-40 to MS-65. Of course, there will be exceptions, especially cost-prohibitive exceptions.
2. Morgan Dollars - My favorite US coin. I plan to study the raw Morgans that I have, attribute VAMs, and get some into TPG slabs. I will sell the ones I don't "need" in my collection and keep/add only coins that really keep my interest. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, right?
3. Secondary - I'll still have a small binder of coins that I still like. Some might be duplicates of what's in my Type Set. Some might be there just because I really like the way they look and don't want to get rid of them. Some might be Key/Semi-Key dates or tougher-to-get dates. I'll also have some Ancients (and/or Non-US coins) - just because I already have some, and I do like them.
I miss all of you (well, MOST of you! 
) and the great discussions here! I hope I can prioritize my time and stick around more consistently!
Rocking my "shiny-object-syndrome"!!!
Comments
Welcome Back !! Look forward to back-and-forth. I'll be posting my FUN 2026 review and experiences in a few days.
Welcome back.
Welcome back. The single most important thing that has happened is that i have started collecting Barber coins. i don't think anything else important has happened. James
Welcome back. I’ve had a new grandchild since then. So has @jedm …. I should probably let him tell ya.
. , but good news is always fun to share.
Sorry for your losses. I think many of us have stepped away from the hobby for weeks, months, or years …. Yet, it is a place where one can derive pleasure without much effort. And camaraderie with perfect strangers.
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
Will that be on the Precious Metals forum?
"She comes out of the sun in a silk dress,
running like a water color in the rain...."
Welcome back, sounds like good strategies for you sets.
Welcome back.
Welcome back! Yep... sometimes Life intervenes... hope all is well otherwise.
Successful BST transactions with: SilverEagles92; Ahrensdad; Smitty; GregHansen; Lablade; Mercury10c; copperflopper; whatsup; KISHU1; scrapman1077, crispy, canadanz, smallchange, robkool, Mission16, ranshdow, ibzman350, Fallguy, Collectorcoins, SurfinxHI, jwitten, Walkerguy21D, dsessom.
I hope you're enjoying the hobby as much as you are able. The real markets happen with historical coins on all levels, change is constant.
Welcome back. Enjoyed your detailed story and sorry for your loss.
Sure sounds like you've been busy.
Sorry to hear about your father-in-law.
Good luck with your collection !
Welcome "home". Forum can always use another one's perspective on all things coin related. Good luck going forward with your goals.
I care...but who are you again?
J/K
Welcome back
Welcome back! Definitely sounds like you've been busy. I think it's always good to re-evaluate your collection occasionally.
Just some guy who pops in and out, apparently. I do have a collection, but I don't have 5 and 6-digit singular coins, like some have, here. So, I'm just a nobody.
Rocking my "shiny-object-syndrome"!!!
Please know that I was making a lighthearted joke and appreciate you being here. I do remember you and I’m glad you are back. I myself have struggled through some tough times, but have always come back to the boards as there are many great people here from over the years.
Regardless of what your collection entails, it’s not about that. It’s about what you enjoy and how it makes you happy.
Some of my items in my collection that I like the most aren’t worth very much at all.
Peace ☮️
Welcome back!
I was in the same boat as you, taking a break and looking at my sad 7070. Well anyways I just popped out every coin I didn't like, the holes were a good motivator to get back into it.
Welcome back! Now show us some pics!!
I hope to stick around for a while, and not hop in and hop out for months at a time! Just have to make my coins a priority, and NOT let the Honey-Do list take over my life, much to the chagrin of my wife!
My problem is I see all of the awesome coins shown here, and I WANT that. What's the line: "I have champagne taste on a beer budget"? Yeah, that's me!
Rocking my "shiny-object-syndrome"!!!
"He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has" Epictetus.
Welcome back @Eric_Babula
Successful transactions with : MICHAELDIXON, Manorcourtman, Bochiman, bolivarshagnasty, AUandAG, onlyroosies, chumley, Weiss, jdimmick, BAJJERFAN, gene1978, TJM965, Smittys, GRANDAM, JTHawaii, mainejoe, softparade, derryb, Ricko
Bad transactions with : nobody to date
Human nature is inclined to contemplate the gap vs appreciating the gain!
"She comes out of the sun in a silk dress,
running like a water color in the rain...."
Welcome back!