Gold or sunshine? uhhh?

The weather forecast for Iola, Wis., today is for a high of 80 degrees. This is yet another day in more than a week’s worth of summerlike weather.

I don’t know about you, but after being cooped up during the winter, I find it harder and harder to think numismatic thoughts when the sunshine beckons. I want to play hooky.

Gold or sunshine?

Silver or sunshine?

Coins or sunshine?

For me this outbreak of spring fever is temporary, but for many collectors, there is a noticeable downshift in their hobby activities when the weather warms up and alternative outdoor activities beckon, especially if there is nothing to hold their attention on numismatics.

Seasonal patterns tend to get overruled when exciting things are happening, such as last summer’s torrid run for the price of gold, taking it during July and August to nearly $1,900 per ounce from a $1,500 starting point.

You can be darn sure that such a run in the price of gold today would help me resist the appeal of goofing off outside. But such is not the case.

Coin dealers are focused on preparing for the Baltimore show later this week.

If we had a 2012 version of the sale of the 25th anniversary silver American Eagle set, that would bring collectors back indoors pronto.

In the meantime, over the weekend I was out and about and I started to take on some outside chores, but I have to say that the packed parking lot at an outdoor plant nursery business seemed to be a case of jumping the gun.

If we have no more snow this season in Central Wisconsin I would be surprised and if we don’t have some additional hard freezes between now and May I will be utterly astonished.

What such an occurrence would do to my ability to concentrate on numismatics I cannot say.