I Wish We Could Go Back To This...

That was the problem back when the State Quarter series began. In 1999 in order to remember a new cent design coming into circulation you had to be about 50 years old. For a new Nickel design you had to be 70 years old. A Dime, 63 years old. Quarter, 77 years old (Even for the bicentennials you had to be 33 years old) A half dollar was 45 years old. And for a dollar coin you could be a youngster at only 30 years old. (These all assume a child has to be about 10 years old before they really pay attention and remember the designs on the coins in circulation. They many know about coins, their value and how to spend them, but they don't really pay attention to the designs.)

So a large number of the people in the country had never seen a "new" design introduced. that made the state quartters a novelty and they were gathered and hoarded resulting in huge seigniorage profits. This lead to the idea of multiple designs for the dollar and then the ATB program. Unfortunately by about the mid point of the State Quarter after 20 new designs, it was no longer a novelty and people lost interest. Washington hasn't realized that yet and still sees multiple designs as a way to large seigniorage profits.

I have been a collector since the 50`s with my paper route and I managed to put together complete sets of several nice coins. But then you only had a few varieties not dozens.

Roll hunting was great. I completed a nice set of Washington quarters with 32D & S. Complete Buffalos, Roosevelt and most all Mercury dimes, Jefferson nickels, Most of the Lincolns 1909-1958,
Most of the Walking Liberty half and Standing Liberty quarters, and IHC I still have the 1st 1959 Lincoln Memorial I got. I didn't buy many except from Littleton coins with adds on match books. And sent to coin dealers that sent me a paper with prices US and Canadian both

Today you need 20 to 30 albums to do a common set. and the mint produces billions. and they look nice

There aren't many inexpensive hobbies out there, and numismatics certainly isn't one of them...

CrazyfortheATB and others,

I still like the designs on State Quarters and ATBs. I have saved most issues in circulation now and the special editions of Lincoln Cent and the special Jefferson Buffalos and Kennedys etc. Few rolls of SBA, Sac, Ikes, and Pres dollars. I would like the silver editions but they wanted a lot over value. Especially being retired with limited income and my wife has been sick and takes Xolar shots every 2 weeks at $11500 each and high cost meds. So most of our money goes to Medical insurance that would be my fun money. So I am stuck with what I can find CRH or trading to other collectors. My best is a 70-S LMC small date or a silver coin at face. Its harder to find the key coins now days.

I also collect Canadian and older foreign coins

I still have my other hobby is 1964 Buick Wildcat Convertible I take to shows etc

I still get the silver proof set, basic half,dime, nickle, cent. The quarters are fine and I'll take the brass dollars but that's it.

I would really love to know what is in store for those dollar coins that are sitting in government vaults? It seems so senseless minting coins that aren't going to be used. Maybe they should be shipped out to the US territories for use there.

Yes, but I think this is a little different.