The original plans
Today we'd actually go and meet a nice couple (at least I assume they are, lol) I've known since the old platform days. They are staying not far from us and this was the perfect opportunity to finally meet the real person behind the account. We were planning on going to a butterfly farm and meet somewhere not too far from all of us. So far so good, and everyone was looking forward to it.
Then the weather forecast in the region of the farm turned out to have lots of cloudy weather (and some rain) predicted since a few days. Now let me be clear, this is not like we are used to in Holland at all, when they predict rain here in Spain, it's often a false promise (as we like to call it jokingly when it's hot and dry for too long). I didn't immediately think the planned trip would be in danger.
Not feeling 100%
My daughter started to cough and had a constant runny nose some days before flying to Madrid but thankfully felt well on the actual day we left for Madrid. That was probably also partially thanks to staying at home that Sunday, and just relax all day rather than being on the road all day. But the two days of travel were hard on the body looking back as later that week she started to feel worse again.
So did my boyfriend, he already felt a bit unwell the day we came back home but it became a bit worse later this week making me doubt how the weekend plans would turn out. I informed the couple in question to make sure they could have a plan b and not be surprised if things would not work out, I mean, they are just here for a few more days.
Saturday things improved
And I had the idea we'd all end up meeting, even though the farm would probably be either closed or not the best trip to do because the lady told me that with a cloudy day, the butterflies are hiding. To make the most out of it, it's best to come on a sunny day. I didn't realise this and was happy she told me on Saturday as there is an entrance fee so that would be a bit of a waste if they are hiding and I could not take any pictures.
Last minute cancellation
Sadly, this morning my boyfriend woke up feeling like absolute crap and after a week with many work hours, we both knew he needed to rest today. It was clear we made the right choice as he fell asleep several times throughout the day without being able to fight for it. This week has taken a toll on all of us in a way.
Home all day
So instead of being out all day and meeting someone I've known online for a long time and his lovely girlfriend, we had a Sunday inside. I decided it was a good time to clear some of my folders, sort pictures, throw out videos I've already seen and bad quality pictures and such and then I landed on the topic silver again.
Silver with the face value of 40 euros
A few weeks ago, I checked the Spanish royal mint website and found a silver coin to celebrate the birthday of Her Royal Highness Princess of Asturias with a face value of 40 euros:
I thought ok, that could one day maybe be a collectors item? I checked the specs as well:
Then I noticed that the purity is 925 and nog 999, but I don't know if that's common because I remember seeing this on the Dutch Royal mint recently as well. I expected the silver coins to be 999 but they were 925 (or most of them).
I was in doubt if I should go for it or not because of the face value being 40 euros. Most of these coins have a lower face value. There was one other that has a 40 euro face value too, it's from 2022 and has a ship on it:
I have the feeling I've seen this image here before in the community but I don't know if it's the exact same thing or just some similar one. I bet 
I'm keeping an eye on them
Hoping they will be available for a few more weeks, I think I will buy one each because I think it's pretty cool to have a coin that has the exact same face value as the price, there's no extra VAT on top, just shipping fees, and these are very low.
Although I really love these 999 purity coins and bars a lot, I think mixing up the collecting with some coinage with a high face value, even though the purity is lower, is a good thing. On top of that, these may (or may not) end up as a collectors item, but I'm surely not counting on that because I have too little knowledge to have a good eye for that at this point.
Your thoughts?
I'm not asking for financial advice lol, because I already decided that if they are still available in a few weeks, that I will buy them, but I'm curious if you have many coins with a face value the same as the price you paid for it?
I have just one that comes close to the price I paid, which was my very first coin in Hungary, and had a face value of 10k Hungarian forints. At the time of buying the forint was worth a little more than today though.
I thought it was funny to find out (afterwards) that most coins prices don't come close to face value but are often 1 or 5 dollar for example, while this Hungarian one (with today's price) is 25 euros and the two I've shared above even 40 euros. The Hungarian one was of 999 pure silver though, so could become worth even more because it's also heavier.
So many things to consider
It's a fun way to learn things about silver collecting and stacking by just buying different items to check what I feel about them when they arrive. I've always been the type of person that has to do something to understand it better and to know if something is for me or not and I guess time will tell what I feel about these 925 silver coins as well.
I'm pretty sure that holding them will give less satisfaction because of the weight and maybe it will even feel a bit fake-ish, less artsy? On the other hand, I also like the silver jewellery with that purity so why not add a few of these coins, especially considering the fact that their face value is 40 euros.
A new week ahead
Enough for today, and even this week, I'm going to find my bed now and I noticed that my VP has to recover a bit so I may lower my voting percentage a little bit for a few days until I'm recovered. Wishing all of you a great week ahead, let's make it count!
All picture sources are to be found above, from the Spanish Royal Mint and Numista.