| Author |
 Replies: 27 / Views: 1,882 |
|
Valued Member
United States
284 Posts |
On the one hand, I applaud the US Mint's effort to introduce new designs and concepts. Having the same obverse on the Lincoln Cent for 100 years is a bit long. It is refreshing to see something new. But on the other hand, releasing anywhere from two to five different versions of the same coin throughout the year seems like a bit much. Collecting becomes difficult. Now you are more in the acquiring mode. I understand that the US Mint wants to encourage collecting and they probably have succeeded to some degree. Minting is limited so the supply can be really small considering how many coins will simply wear away. Now we have something "rare". Maybe I am thinking too old school. I'd rather see one design at a time with a one to two years in between. Our US coinage should have been updated many time in between now and when they were initially introduced. I'm rather turned off by the thought of trying to "keep up" (so to speak) with all of these new designs. Presidential dollars? No thanks. State Quarters? I'm glad we're almost done. It becomes a mad rush or a frenzy of a sort to get it while you can. Sure, I understand that with 50 states to honor, we don't want to take 50+ years for 50 State Quarters. Same with the presidents. Seems like there could have been a whole different program put in place. Anyone with me here or do I have it all wrong? (P.S. I don't mean any offense to State Quarter or Presidential dollar collectors. If you like it then I say go for it. I just don't have the mental stamina to keep up.) -- Boris |
|
|
|
Valued Member
United States
122 Posts |
I agree, Christian Cyclist. It's too much. They really should do away with pennies altogether, but that's another story.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3499 Posts |
I totally agree! We just don't need more and more commemoratives. I was really hoping to see the Eagle return to the reverse of the quarter in 2009 (though maybe a redesigned version of the eagle that would remain as the reverse of the quarter for a number of years. The Presidential dollars just seem unnecessary since every president cannot be honoured due to the restrictions placed which state that the dollar cannot depict a living former president or the current president. Ultimately we just have to remember that the mint creates these commemorative coins in order to make money for the US government. Remember that gov is buried in debt and needs to have numismatists and hoarders collect State Quarters and dollars (as well a buy proof and mint sets) in order to slightly alleviate some of the problem. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1116 Posts |
i agree as well the 50 State Quarter program is what got me started collecting in 1999 but now I think all these other programs are just to much |
|
Valued Member
 United States
284 Posts |
Yeah, the rules on Presidential dollars are kind of goofy. I remember reading about them. Two presidents a year would have been a better way to go. Besides, we already got Mount Rushmore on the South Dakota quarter! That's pictures of 4 Presidents right there. -- Boris |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3294 Posts |
Well the mint makes millions upon millions of dollars for all the quarters that get horded, however, I see it more as a loan since most people probably arent going to save them for 100 years, and will eventually spend them.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
507 Posts |
The US Mint is only doing what Congress is requiring them to do.
So, you should really be asking "Is the US Congress going overboard?"
But I think we all know the answer to that...
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
1082 Posts |
Agreed, but I would love to see the rest of the Presidents updated as on the Jefferson nickel. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
671 Posts |
I'll bet any amount of money that there is not one single person on this forum that disagrees with you. You are absolutely correct, they have simply lost their minds.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3098 Posts |
Edited by wd1040
01/13/2009 9:25 pm
|
|
Valued Member
United States
284 Posts |
So if the US Mint does only what our legislature says it should do then who are the legislators we should be "thanking" for pushing this legislation through?
-- Boris
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
5601 Posts |
As usual, well said SIR...
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
5318 Posts |
Quote:
Maybe I am thinking too old school. That's not a bad thing, since our best coins designs contain references to the past. After all, most portraits on coins are based to some degree on Greco-Roman designs. Perhaps this is why I especially have a problem with the Presidential dollars and the 3/4 profile portrait: there is no past precedent--and perhaps for good reason since low relief tends to flatten the facial features. In a nutshell, I agree--I would much rather see a few well-excecuted coin designs than the endless parade of ugly State Quarters, dollars, etc. I sure hope I'm not disappointed by the new Lincoln cents. |
|
Valued Member
United States
284 Posts |
Why are US coins so focused on US Presidents? We had so many beautiful designs of Lady Liberty, other non-presidential figures, and other symbols of America. -- Boris |
|
Rest in Peace
United States
3039 Posts |
Don't forget, the U.S. Mint is the world's largest coin dealer. It's supply and demand. If people (too many uninformed) weren't buying, the Mint would stop making a lot of these non circulating commemorative shiny pieces of metal. How can they be called coins when they don't circulate and are just bullion items.
|
|
Valued Member
United States
193 Posts |
Congress sees the mint as a way to suck more money out of the public, more money = more power. Also the prestige of being able to have something for posterity, like Ted Kennedy getting a commemorative for his sister and when he kicks off we'll be able to buy a commemorative of him too. Then we'll have nearly half of Joe senior's brood on US coins. Change the design on dimes, 60 years is enough, quarters 70+ years, enough, halves 45 tears of JFK is 40 too much, please get rid of this. Use some of the classic designs, Walking Liberty looks quite good on Silver Eagles, how about Liberty Standing on the Half, or the Morgan dollar design somewhere? I'm stocking up on Barack Obama painted coins, them baby's gonna be worth a bunch o money |
| |
Replies: 27 / Views: 1,882 |
Posted 01/13/2009 4:12 pm
