2009 Sets Are Going To Be Huge!

Five Territories plus Washington DC for six quarters total in 2009.

From H.R.2764:

(Sec. 622) Requires quarter dollar coins issued during FY2009 to have designs on the reverse side which are emblematic of: (1) the District of Columbia; (2) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; (3) Guam; (4) American Samoa; (5) the U.S. Virgin Islands; and (6) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

You know, it's reasons like this that I stopped reading comic books. When you had to buy 10 comics just to follow the storyline, I decided that I would do something else with my allowance...

I see a bad trend here! I agree wholeheartedly with Morgan. I was in the sportcards business and back in the early 80s there was only three baseball sets that you could buy. All three were no-frills. By the early 21st century there were something like 30 sets, and each of these sets had as many as 10 or 12 random "chase" sets to complete. The card companies saw a $$$ opportunity, and they went for it. At the same time, they alienated a lot of long-term collectors who just couldn't keep up with everything any more.

The difference here is there is only one manufacturer (The US Mint) but I think they might be starting to get the idea that any little thing they put out all of the long-time collectors of straight-from-the Mint product will just automatically get in line and buy it all. Soon many are going to get disgusted with what very well might be greed on the part of the government. I was reading recently in the big Breen book of how the Mint used to look down on collectors with disgust. I fear that now they might be trying to take advantage of many of us. I will say, though, most of the new product is gorgeous and well worth collecting!

After 2009, the cent's days may be numbered. The cost of making a cent has become greater than the face value of the coin. It costs about 1.25 cents to mint a Lincoln Cent today. If the cent is to remain a circulating coin, the Mint will need to look at other materials that can be used to lower the cost of minting. However, no matter what happens to the cent, it will remain a favorite of everyone for many years to come.

All 4 designs of the 2009 cents will be produced in the origional copper and the present coated zinc. I doubt all 8 will be included in the sets but if you count all mints there should be 20 different 2009 cents.

The US Mint needs to look at alternative metals for the cent. They could use what Canada uses for cents. With copper approaching $4/lb it would make sense to change composition.

Wow! After reading through the thread there is going to be even more than I thought. Is this the Mint's fault or Congress? Does the mint recommend to Congress what to do, or do they just blindly follow what Congress says? Anybody know how it works from the inside?

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Yeah, and they are doing 6 quarters next year! One for DC and 5 of the "major" territories. I'm not sure if they will continue into 2010 but I suppose that depends on how popular these are.

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Although additional legislation would be needed, I have learned to never underestimate the ignorance of our elected representatives. (re-read this thread if you have short-term memory!)

I cannot see how they could have coins for the other territories (a term I use loosley). The minor outlying islands have no permanent residents and you can bet the farm the Guantanamo Bay wont ever see the backside of the quarter!

If it were to happen, the door is wide open for the mint to issue the "Commemorative County Pennies[sic]."