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 Replies: 26 / Views: 2,333 |
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Pillar of the Community
Philippines
1156 Posts |
I do agree!  Quote:
The very foundation of this pastime is finding collectible coins from circulation The difficulty is that the circulation is over there, while I'm over here! |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3499 Posts |
DNA- you are so right that the joy of finding a coin in circulation cannot be achieved by merely buying. I think that it calls into question whether proofs in a collection are really "collected" since they were just bought by someone rather than found in circulation or found by change in a dealer's stock.
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Valued Member
United States
292 Posts |
Business strike Proof strike Personally, I know who I would like to hear stories from...
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Pillar of the Community
Spain
1361 Posts |
dreamstones, those pictures are as clear as it should be in explaining business strike and proof strike. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2541 Posts |
Of course, we can always go back to the question about whether or not today's money really has any money over the melt value of the metal in the coins and that the paper money is really worth nothing!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1840 Posts |
I think you can oversimplify things by stating a coin that was not intended for circulation is not really a coin at all. Coins, after all, are designed by artists and sculptors. They are as much a miniature piece of art as they are a means for commerce. How collectible would a Morgan dollar be if there was no Liberty head or eagle? A completely utilitarian coin would also be a very boring coin. In my mind a proof coin is the perfect representation of it's circulating counterpart. It shows how the coin should look when given the proper attention. The planchets are polished and rinsed to ensure optimum shine. The coins are struck more times than circulated versions and the dies are replaced more frequently to ensure a better strike. Small "errors" like die cracks, rim Cuds and misstrikes are rare. As far a large, Crown-sized commemoratives are concerned, I definitely can see your point. I've always felt that these coins carry on a tradition that dates back over 100 years in the US. As long as they commemorate something legitimate, I have no problem with them. What really bothers me is how countries like Liberia will put just about anything on a coin just to sell it. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
This is a really vague situation. The Mint makes numerous coins that are called coins and not only NOT FOR CIRCULATION, but if you did try to use one, you'ld either be laughed at or end up jail for trying to spend a counterfeit coin. Aren't commemorative coins really coins?
The 76 bicentennial Quarters were sort of a commemorative. Contrary to that is the $1 Silver Eagles which are called Silver Bullion, not coins. Proof coins are coins according to the Mint and so is the Uncirculated sets the Mint sells but you could find those Uncirc coins in change from the same Mint. Yet the Proofs are not supposed to be used. So what about coins such as the Private and Territorial Gold from the 1800 era?
The main thing is the coin Album and folder manufacturers. They insist on placing slots for Proofs in them. Therefor making it necessary to purchase a thing called a Proof coin to fill the empty slots. Does this make them really coins. Most Albums also contain a slot for a 1955 Double Die cent. That is just as weird since this is a coin but not a normal one. Same with the missing D in 1922 cent.
Really a tuff question but if you collect coins in an album, your stuck calling them coins.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
619 Posts |
Archraz, your PM (email) option isn't turned on. You might want to turn it on.
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Moderator
 Australia
16831 Posts |
I've been offline for a week, so I missed this debate.
NCLT are "coins", in the legal definition of the word, in the sense that they were authorized to be issued, struck, and the government accounted for the seigniorage of their issue. In that sense, proofs and circulation strikes share a common origin. Whether the resulting coins get issued for circulation or wind up for sale from the mint's marketing department does not alter their status as "coins". If we collectors wish to pay above face value for their coins, that's entirely up to us. If we collectors with one voice told the mints, "We're not paying that much for those coins anymore!", the collector coin market would evaporate... and they'd presumably stop making them.
I find it perfectly acceptable for a collector to say, "I choose not to collect anything not intended for circulation". I'm generally inclined that way myself. However, one who tries to limit their collection in such a way will eventually encounter very many "grey areas" in which the decision to include them in the collection or not is not simple and clear cut. So, in the end, all we can do is "collect what we like".
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Moderator
United States
188660 Posts |
Just my opinion, but if you can legally spend it (that is, it is legal tender) in the nation of origin (whether or not it would be financially wise to do so) then it is a coin. Whether you choose to collect it is entirely up to you!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2734 Posts |
This forum has the slogan "What's in your pocket?", which reminds us all that finding coins in circulation is the true essence of this hobby/pastime. Quote:
Archraz: "I think that it calls into question whether proofs in a collection are really "collected"... Not for the 14 'impaired' Proof coins that I found in circulation! I'm particularly proud of my barely-impaired PR-64 2003-S Clad Dime!  Brilliant Idea: Someone should start a large collection of 'impaired' Proof coins that were found in circulation. Bonus: this collection would by nature be 'budget-friendly', because recent Proofs below PR-60 are hard to value do to presumed low demand, so you might even be able to get some of them for face value! |
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Replies: 26 / Views: 2,333 |
First Page
Posted 08/15/2009 06:23 am
