New Mint User Survey

I just finished taking a survey that is supposedly being done by a marketing (?) company and it took about 5 minutes and was really a potential inlook at some potential changes that could be coming from the mint in the line of a new product and possible revamping of an existing product.

First: They wanted to check my bona fides in light of how much I how long I have been a client, what I've purchased in the past, and what I potentially will be purchasing in the future. Plus they were interested of course in demagraphics

Second: They seem to be planning on a special for the 100yr anniversary of the Buffalo gold coin. (I didn't know that they were were coining buffalo gold coins for 100 yrs but rather the anniversary of the basic overall design.) And they were asking about price and quoted a figure of $2,000 per coin (rather high but who knows if the price of gold would support it when the anniversay rolls around). Further, they were questioning about mintage quantity (20k, 25k, 30k, open fulfillment for a limited period, or fulfillment for the year).

Third: They asked about revamping the coin in its entirity away from the present version to a possible gold version of the current Native American dollar coin along with annually changing motiff's also as is the Native American dollar coin (not crazy about that - enough with the honoring of the native americans). They also wanted to know if there was a favorite recommended sculptor or to leave it up to committee with changing both the obverse and reverse sides. They also questioned about changing the coin to previous classic coins (can't they come up with a new concept without bringing back the classic coins or honoring the native americans. How about honoring the Chicago Style hot dog or just different dog breeds for the lack of a better idea.

Fourth: The questioned about issuing fractional gold coins for the Gold Buffalo (or replacement coin) in both proof and circulated coins.

Oh yes Fifth: With the revamp of the Gold buffalo they wanted to know about have a buffalo privy mark (similiar to what is on the Plantinum coins) in an effort to retain the supposed feel of the present gold buffalo. I couldn't tell if they were planning on doing away with the mintmark and going to the privy mark only or having both.

I don't think they themselves had a direction for their intentions but I think that based upon the questioning we could get an designed elephant by committee. But the purpose of a customer survey is to get a feel for what clients think about a given limited subject. But I really do think that bringing back classic coin designs or going to a native american theme have all been tried and we really need something new. Like what they have been doing with the quarters or heading in a whole new idea.

Finally, I really think that it is time for the mint to step up and tell us what direction they would like to go. They should show some leadership and vision. I know asking the government to have leaderhip and vision is both quaint and dangerous because then we just may get an elephant designed by committee.

I'd like to hear what other forum members have for thoughts on what I have presented hear. I would imagine that other forum members could have been contacted to take this survey, because I don't think that I am an embodiment of collector opinion and vision.