He makes some good points, several I hadn't thought of before. Security features would be great, and there's certainly room for greater detail throughout. I'm not sure what impact the one-dollar face value really has since the metal is worth far more than that.
I don't mind that the obverse is lifted from a classic design. So are most of the other bullion coins. But the reverse has always looked bland to me. The eagle should be larger and more dramatic, the lettering seems overly large and the stars just fill the empty space that shouldn't be there in the first place.
Disclaimer: I don't have any of these, mainly because of the design. I already have a Walking Liberty half, and the reverse is just blah. If I'm going to buy silver bullion, there are other options.
If you're stacking silver, price and liquidity are the only factors to consider. Any consideration beyond that puts you in the realm of closet NCLT collector. There are a number of sub-forums here for discussion of NCLT.
"Dipping" is not considered cleaning... -from PCGS website
I own exactly one ASE, and it has hairline scratches. I don't plan on adding any more unless I get into stacking and the price is right. There are many other bullion coins I prefer over the ASE. I am fine with the obverse being the same as a WLH, but the ASE reverse is sooooo lacking that I'd rather stack circulated Walkers.
Thanks for the video.
In Memory of Crazyb0 12-26-1951 to 7-27-2020 In Memory of Tootallious 3-31-1964 to 4-15-2020 In Memory of T-BOP 10-12-1949 to 1-19-2024
The lack of security features is interesting considering all the reports of counterfeits. Our closest neighbour, Canada, has security features on the maple leaf. However I'm not a fan of the radial lines. But the little maple leaf on the reverse with the the year inside is cool. The Walking Liberty design has been used for 31 years on the halves and 32 years on the ASE for a total of 63 years of this design. I guess it's the lack of originality that bothers me. I'd get ASE if the price was right. But right now the premium over spot is too high as compared to foreign bullion. How was the ASE design chosen and were there any release candidates of designs that were picked from?
I also own just one ASE, unless you're stacking there's really no reason to own more than one. Contrast that with the SML from Canada. Sure they issue the standard boring SML every year, but they also have series (Wildlife, Birds of Prey), privies, 1.25 and 1.5 oz'ers, etc. Probably too many varieties to be honest. I'm surprised the US Mint doesn't do something similar, issue series of bullion representing some American theme and struck on an ASE planchet.
Quote: If you're stacking silver, price and liquidity are the only factors to consider
I would add security to that list. It is an aspect of liquidity, when you want to sell, you don't want to have a portion of your stack rejected because it is either counterfeit or suspected counterfeit.
While I am not a great fan of the Canadian Maple radial lines, I think it is better than the ASE answer... which is nothing.
My bigger concern with the ASE is that it is trending into the NCLT arena. When you look at the large premiums that appear increasingly common and the growing trend of sending bullion to TPG's for grading, the ASE is becoming a collectible vs. a stackable.
I have a few ASEs but I stick with Maples for silver when I buy tubes & boxes due to smaller premiums and the clear focus as a bullion product.
Hybrid Bullion/NCLT offerings abound from many mints such as RCM, Royal Mint, Australian Mint etc., all of which offer annual editions etc. The closest the US Mint has is the 5oz ATB bullion issues.
Personally speaking, I don't like the idea of bullion being NCLT. The metal itself is worth a lot more than the stamped face value. I think if bullion rounds have a denomination then its a coin, if there is no denomination then its a round. I think bullion should have no denomination and be just be valued for its contents and not based on its mintage numbers. Weather its a NCLT coin or a round at the end of the day they are both just the same silver.
I personally have no ASE bullion. But, I do have a few proof ASEs and I think they are gorgeous coins. I don't have a problem with the reverse - classic Mercanti.
"Nummi rari mira sunt, si sumptus ferre potes." - Christophorus filius Scotiae
Quote: Everybody knows how I feel about that! haha
Yup, which is why you hope the Mint does not get any wild ideas.
I only have two ASEs. One uncirculated in the 7070 and the one proof that came in my Reagan C&C set. I would have been just fine with the one I had because I really wanted the C&C set to have a silver medal like the others.
Pro's and con's are there but in the end the American silver eagle is the silver dollar of my time. Morgans are from a prior time, peace are too limited, and the Eisenhower is a clad coin with some 40% silver mixed in. There are the proofs, reverse proofs, and various mint marked coins in addition to the generic bullion pieces. For a series collector there are many to accumulate and the rarities such as the 1995 w coin keep a complete set difficult to assemble. Yes sets can be boring to some but a few examples of this popular coin should be in everyone's American coin collection.
Quote: American silver eagle is the silver dollar of my time. Morgans are from a prior time, peace are too limited, and the Eisenhower is a clad coin with some 40% silver mixed in.
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Posted 09/27/2018 12:15 am
