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 Replies: 46 / Views: 7,474 |
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Valued Member
United States
103 Posts |
Is anyone really collecting the Presidential dollars? It seems to be a half baked idea based off of the success of the 50 State Quarters program. No one here in my area collects them since they do not circulate in the Western U.S., so the majority of the general public is totally unaware that these coins exist, unlike the State Quarters. I've only gotten them from train station vending machines and at the change machine inside the gift shop at the Denver Mint. Don't these golden dollars resemble gaming tokens and chips than actual circulating coinage? They resemble the Shell gasoline tokens from the 70s. From a design standpoint, heads on a coin just isn't that revolutionary a concept in coinage design, and our early presidents aren't good candidates for such portrait coins, whereas the First Spouse counterparts are much more lively and dynamic subjects. It seems that the mint just decided how the Washington dollar was going to be portrayed and they have stubbornly stuck to that uniform look with each release leading to a major design failure of a modern U.S. Coinage series. A good example of this is the upcoming release of the Lincoln Presidential dollar, a seemingly sad and wan Lincoln that could not hold up a cup of water, much less the Union during a time of internal strife. Compare the golden Lincoln with the magnificent commemorative silver dollar of 2009, an elevated Lincoln presented in 3/4 profile appropriately somber yet majestic in the face of the country's greatest trial. It's easy to see why that dollar is so beloved today, since the design is well executed yet presents the humility of the person. Those qualities are conspicuously absent from the golden coin. Your thoughts on this series? Edited by zazenboy
07/25/2010 02:26 am
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Valued Member
United States
187 Posts |
I have been collecting the Presidential dollars. I think that they are interesting and I only get a few from the bank teller when they come out. They are not on the top of my list for collecting but I think, collect what you like and like what you collect. I do not believe that they will be valuable, but I do believe that they are an interesting modern coin. If you don't especially care for them don't collect them. Collect something that you like. |
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Valued Member
United States
161 Posts |
I appreciate your thoughts and definitely agree with you on a few points.
I'm collecting this series because it's one of the only series that has started within my lifetime (I'm 24), and I think because of this they will be easier and less expensive to collect. I like the idea of having all the presidents lined up in order in an album. I'm also collecting them "just because." I figure, why not?
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Valued Member
United States
116 Posts |
They are far from my favorite coins, but I do like them and I am collecting the Presidential coins. Except for pictures I have yet to see the First Spouse coins. My state was one of the states chosen for the promotional adverisement, however I don't ever see them in circulation and the banks do not have them. The banks in my area no longer order them from the Fed. -- asked if they would order them for me and was told that they were not real sure about special orders but if they did, we sure don't want them back. I just dropped it and didn't really try to get any ordered. Almost all the ones I have now I have purchased at the coin shows.
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Valued Member
United States
106 Posts |
I collect them. I agree with lizzyjo, these are one of the sets started in my lifetime (37) that I can tackle without spending tons of cash on. ASE Proofs come to mind when thinking of expensive, or any of the Gold offerings. I find them interesting too. I like the lifelike portraits. I also enjoy reading about each president. That is not to say these coins are beautiful works of art. From a metal composition standpoint I find them fugly. The edge lettering is terribly executed. One local bank I regularly buy coins from has had various rolls from both mints pretty regularly. The coins are usually in pretty bad shape so it can be tough to get a good example of each. Local coin shop charges 2$ per coin. Not too bad if I can't find one myself. I was at a Books-a-Million the other day and noticed they were selling 2 Presidential dollars in a holder and they were behind the counter. I asked what they were and the clerk referred to them as the "Golden Presidential dollars" and that they were really expensive and that's why they were behind the counter. I asked to see one of these majestic "golden" dollars. When I flipped it over I noticed they were $7.95. The clerk saw this and then became apoplectic  with excitement over the idea of getting real gold so cheap.... I didn't have the heart to burst his balloon. I did point out that if he wanted to know more about them he should check out a red-book. I too really like the Lincoln Commemorative but I cannot justify the secondary market price. If I had only started collecting last year, or when I was a kid! I bet that very thought runs through coin collectors heads all the time. Edited by itrooper
07/09/2010 09:23 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1213 Posts |
I'm collecting them for several reasons:
1. They don't cost more than face value to obtain.
2. It's easy to get a BU specimen.
3. I was searching the boxes for errors (more on that later) and decided I'd put away one of each.
I don't think they're ever going to be worth much and in general I don't think the designs are well done, but as was stated, it'll be nice to see all the presidents together. I do hope the mint decides to do SOMETHING other than dead presidents on the coins one of these days.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2448 Posts |
If you buy mint sets, you'll get at least eight (4 proof & 4 UNCs) every year anyway. I doubt it'll ever be a super collection but it'll make a great teaching tool for your kids and their kids. I know that they are not really circulated but I received one in change the other day.
Another reason to collect (at least the first 3; Washington, Adams, and Jefferson) is that the plain edge errors are worth a few hundred to thousands of dollars. I'm not ashamed to tell us that I get 5 proof and UNC sets annual. The silver sets are overkill but that just more modern coins to sell to support my old coin habit.
One of these days, I'll have to search my rolls to see what I have. Lets see.... a plain edge MS65 GW - $250, JA - $1250, TJ -$3000....yup one of these days I have to break into those rolls. Hey I can dream can't I?
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Moderator
 United States
187446 Posts |
This series has been simultaneously annoying and intriguing me for the last few years.
My original concern was how I was going to house them. I build collections in Dansco albums; however, building a P&D (or P/D/S) set would mean not seeing the mint mark once the coin is in the album (not seeing the date is a non-issue, since the president and his term are listed on the face).
My next concern was how I was going to collect them. Getting the proofs was the easy part, but I collect circulation coins from circulation. There is not a lot of support for the dollar coins in my area, aside from the car wash. Even the post offices seem to have gone cashless.
Regardless, the few that I have found in circulation have not fared well.
My final decision, made recently, was to just buy a date album and continue to collect only the proofs. The proofs do look very nice, in my opinion.
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Valued Member
United States
70 Posts |
I am collecting them,but they are not first on my list. I get them at my Wells Fargo as they come out,but they are usually P mint marks. And I have to get the D mint marks at the monthly coin show. I'm looking forward to the Lincoln issue because I mainly collect Lincoln items.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
797 Posts |
I only grab them from my local bank. They are usually close to UNC because I try to get them when they first come out. I think they are ok, but not something I am too into.
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Moderator
United States
187446 Posts |
Quote:
I'm looking forward to the Lincoln issue because I mainly collect Lincoln items. Something that I have brought up before... If only they had started making the Presidential dollars in 2006. Then the Lincoln dollar would have been made last year and rightfully included in the Lincoln C&C set. Not that I have any complaints about the C&C set; I love mine!  But think about it.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2541 Posts |
I don't have any interest in them. I find the design uninspiring personally. I may grabe the Lincoln one, but other than that, coins with Chester A. Arthur on them don't really interest me!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6326 Posts |
Quote:If only they had started making the Presidential dollars in 2006. Then the Lincoln dollar would have been made last year and rightfully included in the Lincoln C&C set.  That would have been nice.... At this point, I'm putting together a "Date Set" Proof only Whitman album....I like it.....don't care about the value of them particularly. They're interesting. I also put together a couple date set folders for fun, and help a Nephew with his. I have considered doing a Satin P&D, and Proof album of these since I have all of them from broken Uncirculated Mint Sets anyway. What else am I supposed to do with all of these Satin finish Presidents right ? ....  I collect everything I can coin-wise......it's my nature.... .....and the Presidential dollars (or Native Dollars) are no exception. Edited by eaglefoot
07/09/2010 3:58 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11951 Posts |
I am collecting them.
Some rolls, some in 2X2's
My satin ones, from the mint sets I broke open, I put in a P & D Dansco
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Valued Member
United States
162 Posts |
I think that if they ever get rid of paper dollars the dollar coins are going to get a lot more interest from casual collectors. If so, prices on the earlier presidents should go up alot. Otherwise, I think they will just chug along at the current fairly low level of interest.
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Valued Member
United States
290 Posts |
I do not collect them, but the ones I have seen in the wild look tarnished. Is is really that easy to find BUs (I'm in the NY/NJ area, so I don't think it'll be hard to find a source).
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Replies: 46 / Views: 7,474 |
Posted 07/08/2010 10:53 pm
