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 Replies: 10 / Views: 2,469 |
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
 United States
12261 Posts |
Note: This post may bother/upset some, but that is not at all my intention. I'm just posting my thoughts after seeing this coin in hand.I've followed the mostly positive comments about the new Glass Bee coin here on CCF and admit to having been a bit intrigued. When the Lady Bug coin came out last year, I dismissed it as a novelty piece and considered it to be quite a stretch to call it a "coin." I had the same thoughts the first time I heard about the Glass Bee piece (here on CCF) and once again decided not to purchase it. But the continued "frenzy" surrounding it made me want to at least see it first hand to see for myself what all the buzz was about. [Pun intended.] So, when I went to the RCM website to order my gold $10 War of 1812 Bicentennial coin when the new coins reached general release, I noticed that the Glass Bee was surprisingly listed as "Available." This caught me off guard as I thought it was already sold out. As I was unlikely to see an actual coin down here in the southern US at any of the local coin shows, I decided to add one to my cart and check it out personally. The coin arrived on Friday and I have to say that the coin does nothing for me. Maybe I'm too much of a traditional collector to get excited/interested in these types of "coins." I do collect some RCM non-circulating legal tender (NCLT) pieces, but admittedly wonder if I'm really buying medals that happen to have a denomination stamped on them rather than actual coins. I think that's why I limit my NCLT purchases to true commemorative pieces (mostly silver dollars) with a historical story to tell vs. all of the various thematic issues put out by the RCM. In the case of the Bumble Bee, it just doesn't seem like a coin to me. I can't create the mental picture of ever using this piece to make a purchase -- how would I explain the piece of ornamental glass glued to it? I'm not writing this to criticize those collectors who enjoy adding these pieces to their collections -- we all have to collect what we enjoy, and I encourage everyone to do so. I'm just thinking out loud about how much what is considered to be a "coin" has changed since I started collecting. As coins become even less of a part of our daily purchases, I wonder what persona NCLT "coins" will take on in the future when even the slimmest connection to circulating coins is no longer necessary. Just my thoughts... Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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Valued Member
Canada
153 Posts |
&*^ just want to make money, it doesn't care about what coins should be.
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Rest in Peace
Canada
1360 Posts |
I'm just impressed you have your's in hand. I ordered mine (m/c member) back in April, and have yet to receive it. However, I too agree with your remarks of is this a coin? My opinion? Not really. It's more a piece of 'art' and is truly in the eye of the beholder. I (will) have both, and believe them to make an interesting conversation piece in my display. (I also agree with Toronoto1 - yet another payday for the Royal Canadian Mint, to sell silver at 3 or more times the spot price just by adding what is essentially a worthless 'bee shaped' glass bead - then to be way over charged for the 2ndary market scalpers) |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1354 Posts |
Commems
It's to bad you didn't enjoy the coin. At least you had the opportunity to purchase it at original price and not an inflated price to be able to decide what your thoughts were on it. And if you decide you don't want to keep it in your collection you can get your money back out of it. A win win for you.
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Valued Member
Canada
396 Posts |
I think the concept of a coin has always been evolving. If we looked at some ancient coins, they're in every imaginable odd shapes. Also, what about the weight? How heavy does it have to be before we stop calling it a coin? We have no problem calling a 5kg piece of metal a coin.
I personally prefer NCLTs. I think I would get really bored really soon looking at a box full of coins with nothing but caribous, ducks, and beavers on it. Mints from around the world probably understand the appeals of innovations.
Different strokes for different folks. My 2 cents.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1502 Posts |
different strokes indeed.
I'm of the camp that prefers "traditional" coins as well. There is something about the classic design that is much more appealing to me than what is being sold as modern innovations. What I mean by classic design is the art of using very few finishing effects to transform a largely 2-dimensional surface and have it express a world of imagery and history. Pasting on crystals, glass, and glitter, or even colourizing, using ultra high reliefs, and expanding the size of the coin without adding to the detail and art, really all take away from the original artistry that was the meticulous design of a coin.
All that said, I took the glow-in-the-dark dino coin into the closet with the lights out as soon as I unpacked it, all excited like a 10-year-old boy. And, the glass lady bug's got my lady all excited about coin collecting (we're not exactly loosing money either by putting the extra glass bee coins up for auction), so, can't complain.
Edited by poboxw
06/03/2012 6:54 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
590 Posts |
I guess a film critic could make the same argument. Is an animated movie for children really a movie worth of being called art. Does it follow the traditional formula of a movie. Should movies really be captured on film not digitally. Same argument for music, is hip hop and gangster rap really music. Same argument for coins, can a coin with mass market appeal be taken seriously as a coin. I could also argue that the recent crop of one kilogram coins do not fall into the category of coins; they are bullion. Can't put it in your pocket, not a coin.
I guess my point is to each his own. If you don't like it don't buy it and do not get caught up in the stupidification of America. I feel the recent Dino coin and bug coins were created for stupid people who don't fully understand the intricacies of collecting coins but enjoy shinny objects.
That being said I like the Dino coin, don't like the bee and love to watch me some classic three stooges. I don't know what that makes me.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2408 Posts |
Quote:
I personally prefer NCLTs. I think I would get really bored really soon looking at a box full of coins with nothing but caribous, ducks, and beavers on it That's why we created this section on CCF. For people like you and others who enjoy this aspect of collecting. I agree 100% with you. |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1581 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1189 Posts |
I did mention this 3D butterfly on 1 of my post.
Very impressive.
By the way. Does anyone know how they truck the bee on the coin?
Is it some kind of super super glude?
Can the bee be remove seperatly from the coin?
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
567 Posts |
Not quite on topic but look at the surprise I noticed this morning.
Aster with Venetian Glass Bumble Bee - Status: Shipped
Whoohoo! :)
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Replies: 10 / Views: 2,469 |
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Posted 06/03/2012 1:11 pm
