Possible Silver Eagle Design Change?

I'm not for a change - the artwork on this coin is spectacular, timeless, and classy as it is.

I do like the variations-on-a-theme they're introducing though: reverse proof, enhanced, burnished, etc. Maybe do some edge incusing or introduce bimetallic to spice it up, but leave a gorgeous design unchanged, please.

At least for the 1-oz...maybe if people need a change, bring in design enhancements for a 5-oz ASE or other Ag denominations/sizes.

OR, continue the regulars, but do specials each year with endangered species or something. Or Star Wars ships/characters... Or...or... wait, that all sounds vaguely familiar. On second thought, just stick with what works. My wallet is stretched thin enough as it is. :)

Why is it that whenever coin redesign comes up, nearly everyone is taking one of two positions? It's either "never change anything ever" or "recycle some other gazillion year old design from some other gazillion year old coin". Why is no one interested in new designs? Personally, I would support annual change on one side or both, as long as it does not involve recycling.

Personally - I think they are trying enough new designs to last my lifetime - and most of the new designs are not that great. Some of the new quarters are very nice - many miss the mark completely. Some of the State Quarters were ok - most were ... lacking. The new penny has a shield on it - great. The new Nickel has a blown up face...awesome.

The point I am trying to make there - is the current designers we have at the mint wouldn't know a cool coin if they were given a 1916 Standing quarter to analyze... or a Walking Liberty half to use as an idea for a new design to vary off of... they just can't do it.

The only recent modern circulating coins I think are/were impressive were the 2009 penny series. The rest do very little to or for my imagination.

Doug58s,
I agree that many modern designs are pretty crappy, but I think that many are pretty good. Don't forget the commemorative program. The Washington half was awesome, so was the Washington $5. Ok that last one was recycled too, but at least it wasn't used on any other coin before. Dolly Madison, Bald Eagle (except for the half), Lincoln Bi-Centennial, and so on. Overall, I think the designs on modern commemoratives outshine classic commemoratives by orders of magnitude.

Not sure it is technically a redesign...but I would love to see 2oz, 5oz, and 10oz versions. Also...I really really really hope they do a high relief version

Shutter - the Washington half was 30 years ago. The Dolley Madison was designed by Tiffany. I mentioned I thought the Lincoln 2009 series was quite good - the Shield is not impressive at all. I read others think it is perfect, I am left asking why even bother. The 2008 Bald Eagle was quite good - I'll agree - but generally the recent mint offerings for the commemoratives appear to be computer aided simplistic designs. This years offerings - the Generals and the Girl Scouts aren't in my top 20 favorite commemoratives - probably not in the top 30.

Contrary to you - I think some of the classic commemoratives are way way better than most modern. Stone Mountain, the Pilgrim and even the Columbian Exposition show creative thought and end with well conceived coins and those are just some of the ones I can think of... most of the recent commemoratives while unique and somewhat interesting are not memorable.

"WRT Washington half being 30 years old. So?"

My point is that it isn't much support for the current mint designs/designers when you consider recent modern commemoratives. It was a great design - but the people who did it are still at the mint?

When looking at classic commemoratives you'd be remiss if you don't know or learn the history behind the creation of the specific coin. Most of them were politically driven or have very interesting paths from concept to creation. PT Barnum actually lived in Bridgeport and at the time was the most famous resident from there. (but that year of coins was not a great one).

I collect commemoratives and have nearly all the modern ones - and know very well what the artwork and design on most are, and would take most all classic designs first if offered the chance.

I would much rather see change come to the 67 year old Roosevelt dime.