"Alan Grace informs me that the deluxe edition of my Buffalo Nickel book has been delayed by his supplier of marbled paper. It's possible that the books won't be ready in time for those hoping to give them as holiday gifts, and for that I apologize. I will ship them as soon as they are received by me.

In the meantime, the regular edition is in stock and available from me at $30 plus $4.50 shipping. My mailing address is POB 288, Morris Plains, NJ 07950-0288. AOL has been giving me fits, so please address any email inquiries to

DLange@NGCcoin.com.

On another subject, I recently became engaged to Alba Acosta, with our wedding planned for August of next year (after the ANA Convention, of course). Though Alba has no interest whatsoever in things numismatic, she has already entered the realm of NBS trivia by being named in the dedication of my new book. Marriage brings with it instant fatherhood, as Alba has an eight-year-old daughter named Amanda.

As may be imagined, this new adventure has prompted a number of changes. My overgrown collection of coin boards, folders and albums is gradually finding its way to the basement until such time that we can upgrade our digs, and some of my less often used books may soon join them in the darkness. I suspended my collecting of "nice" coins over a year ago, though having so many old albums around has compelled me to begin filling them with coins purchased at or near their silver value. Thus, my old childhood sets, most of which were disposed of years ago, are gradually being replaced. Ironically, when one adjusts for inflation, silver coins are now worth less at their bullion value than they were when I was taking them from circulation at face value.

As they say in this part of the country, go figure!"