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 Replies: 9 / Views: 1,585 |
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Valued Member
United States
460 Posts |
Poll Question
I have always collected classic American coins. Then I read a book by the esteemed Q. David Bowers expressing excitement over the Statehood Quarter series. I then bought a complete set (both mints, clad and silver proofs) of Statehood Quarters. I liked some a lot, disliked a few, and found the rest at varying degrees between the two. Overall, I liked the Statehood Quarters. I thought it was really great that all the quarters were different as opposed to classic coins where the most important differences are usually limited to date and mint mark. So I continued by collecting the America the Beautiful silver proofs. The ATB Quarters just blow me away. Thematically, they are virtually all single subject compositions, as opposed to many of the Statehood Quarters which give prominence to state maps and often consist of unrelated collages which appear cluttered and non-cohesive. The engraving on the ATB Quarters is the most detailed I have seen on a coin, and includes elements that can only be discovered by study under magnification. Other more noticeable details include things like ripples of water around the forelegs of a moose standing partially in a stream. From my comments, I obviously like the ATB Quarters better. But declining mintages suggest declining collector interest, and possible collector fatigue at collecting a complete set of 112 circulating commemoratives without considering mint marks and two types of proofs. What do you think?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3402 Posts |
I enjoy collecting them from circulation...the oldest I still need to find is a 2005 WV-D...need eight (8) more D's to finish the state set (I'm on the east coast)...four (4) of them are the low mint territories. I get a good feeling opening up my simple Whitman folder and looking at all of them...I wish they would continue with the state bird, or fossil, or mineral or whatever.
KK
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2023 Posts |
While the artistry on the ATB Quarters is superior, there is far too much repetition among the designs. At first glance, Everglades and Bombay Hook are virtually identical, as are Glacier/Olympic/Denali. Too many birds, buildings, and mountains. State Quarters are hit and miss with the designs but almost all are clear and distinguishable, and all of them say something about the state. More than a few are educational -- at least, I learned something from them. They are what got me started collecting again. I don't think the ATB Quarters are inherently interesting enough to have had that kind of effect on as many people as the State Quarters did, but those were already in circulation when ATB started. |
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Valued Member
Canada
496 Posts |
I like them both equally.They're a nice change from the usual US quarters.Makes for a real challenge to collect them all from circulation here in Canada.I'm missing a goodly number and will probably never get decent looking ones or complete the set.
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
12477 Posts |
The only type of the two I am currently collecting are the States silver proofs, but I actually prefer the ATB Quarters. I believe the artistry of the ATB coins is generally superior and trying to represent many qualities of an entire state on one reverse is a bit much, so many of the States quarters look cluttered, oversimplified or just arbitrary and disjointed. I am also a big fan of national/state parks and historic/natural landmarks.  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
Edited by spru
10/28/2018 10:13 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United Kingdom
17894 Posts |
Quote: I believe the artistry of the ATB coins is generally superior  |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
999 Posts |
There are examples of both that I like. Overall the ATB may be a little more visually appealing, but I can understand the comment about repetition. I also find it very educational. I am using a Gardmaster album for each set. |
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Moderator
United States
187702 Posts |
I voted Both Equally because it was an option. However, had that not been I would have chose ATB because of the uniform layout of the reverse lettering and more focused themes (even if there are way too many birds). |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
I stopped collecting Quarters when they started the State ones.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3843 Posts |
I don't actively collect modern coinage but I must admit I really enjoy the ATB Quarters. I have a hoard that I've picked out of circulation. |
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Replies: 9 / Views: 1,585 |
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Posted 10/28/2018 4:13 pm
