Do You Think That The Mint Puts Out Too Many Commeratives

For me the mass marketing approach has turned me off the mint products I used to collect. For many years I looked forward to a proof-like set and a double dollar set. Then as things just became overwhelming, I didn't even have an interest in those. I've sold most and the rest will be gone soon.

This is one reason I only collect circulating issues. Gotta draw the line somewhere, and this is pretty broad as it is.

That's exactly right. It's deceiving ... many people actually believe that a coin with a 20 dollar value on it can actually be spent in a store or deposited in a bank (not that anyone would do this), but it's just more evidence that they aren't really coins.

They are pretty. No question. So, I'm really mean no disrespect to those that collect them. They're just not for me.

For as much as I've joked about that, I actually think that's a fun one! Imo, it's one of the more outlandish coins ever made, due to shape, subject matter, and use of color. It certainly must be the only commem where a milk bottle is so prominently displayed.

I guess I am one of the few that doesn't think so. lol I do think some are just plain ugly or stupid. but 90% I love and only wish I could buy. That is my only complaint. that there are so many I could never afford them all. Maybe they are just trying a something for everyones taste approach. I like the newness of checking out newer designs and techniques but I also love the older more classic coins too. I just love coins. lol

I have to be honest here and admit that I can't even pinpoint what examples came to mind when writing my post. I just know that every once in a while when I either check out the mint site, or see whats on display at the coin counter at the post office... sometimes the thought just crosses my mind that something is ridiculous or seems to be a commemorative of something that doesn't deserve commemorating. Sometimes they take the colored coins too far and they become clownish in coloring.
I think that although most of the quarter designs they have come out with are pretty nice, they are coming out too often to even be appreciated a lot of the time.(did we really need a quarter for every month of the year to commemorate the months of the year?) People don't even notice anymore. You get change from the store and most people dont even look or worse it does seem to be that for the collectors in canada you can't spend your change period because it's all collectible. lol

I do believe that war commemoratives are a fantastic idea as our war veterans greatly deserve our appreciation but sometimes wonder if maybe the cost of making and distributing those commemoratives might be better served going into veterans benefits instead of RCM pockets.

the christmas coins with santa or christmas trees seem silly to me although I have bought them as gifts and I'm sure some people like them.

and a few years back they were selling the breast cancer quarters encased in a little bubble inside a book mark. That struck me as odd since if you really wanted to collect and CARE for your coins the last thing you'd want to do is carry it around everywhere and handle it repeatedly whenever you get the urge to read.

Anyway, that's enough of my massive response. lol I love modern coinage ideas and feel that they do catch the eye of non collectors from time to time and draw them into a fantastic hobby so in the end I do still believe that having the ability to have something that would appeal to anyone who happened into their site is probably a good plan both in catching new collectors and for making money.

Down side? They charge wayyyyyy to much. The above mentioned bookmark with a QUARTER inside? $15.00!

here's a few that I can post that just arent necessary or attractive to me as a collector. others may disagree

http://www.mint.ca/store/coin/30-st...Id=cat200010

http://www.mint.ca/store/buy/unique...ns-cat210004

http://www.mint.ca/store/coin/25cen...Id=cat200032

The mint is about making money, but at what point do they destroy the coin collecting market? I collect circulating coins, and I am not really sure what are and what are not circulating coins now. Before you knew that anything under this denomniation was circulating, and anything over was not. Now who knows? There are dollar coins that may be circulating and maybe not. You have to decide whether to buy them to fill your collection or dismiss them because they are not what you want.
Elsewhere it is much easier, and a lot less demoralising. Though I got annoyed when the UK did not produce £1 coins for two years in a row for circulation, as there is a gap that has been filled with fake pound coins.
One series of quarters is fun, I was travelling through canada in 2001 and I got a few of the quarters on offer, and it was nice, but there being millions of different types is annoying.

Maybe it is a case though that if people boycott the stupid coins then the mint won't produce them. But then the coin collecters union is probably not going to go on strike over this.

Unfortunately, in the last 10 years or so the RCM has gone from a respected institution to a money making machine, pumping out anything and everything in the name of profit, which has deminished the numismatic hobby instead of aiding it. They are now more akin to the Franklin Mint than anything else ... it's almost difficult to remember that they actually produce our circulating coinage. When I was editor for the Atlantic Provinces Numismatic Association's newsletter I took some heat over criticising the RCM and its practices (from the RCM, not the collectors) and that was a little under 10 years ago.