| Author |
 Replies: 36 / Views: 3,737 |
|
Valued Member
United States
380 Posts |
I'm not sure how you all feel about this, or if it has been discussed before, but looking at today's coinage, I find classic coins so much more beautiful. Look at the Barber coins, Liberty nickel or even the Morgan dollar... go back a little further to large cents or even the Flying Eagle cent... I would rather be finding these in circulation... sigh No disrespect for anyone at all, and to each his (or her) own, just my Two Cents. I saw a man drop a dime the other day, he looked at it, sort of shrugged his shoulders and kept on walking. It wasn't worth his 10 cents to bend over and pick it up. Obviously a dime now and a dime back in the 1800s are worth two different values, simply for inflation reasons, but I think back then he would have picked up his dime. Without getting onto the topic of inflation then vs now, which do you prefer? Classic vs Modern and why? |
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1064 Posts |
Classic, no question; they have character, and designs that seem to have been created by artists with a passion for what they did, like Saint Gaudens, Weinman, etc... I'm sure that's why they used those same designs for modern bullion coins. I guess the reason they really call them 'classics'.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1388 Posts |
Classic, although I enjoy collecting some Moderns(mainly because of budget), the classics have a style which has not been duplicated... The artists were free of many constraints back then and took the designs to new places. Today, there are so many laws and constrictions that it surely drives artists mad, although the new ATB Quarters seem to look promising... |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1547 Posts |
It's like everything else. They don't make them these days like they used to.  |
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
14454 Posts |
I think anything is better than the dead presidents we have on Modern coinage. I love seeing the different designs of lady Liberty that the artist depicted on all the classic coins though
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
592 Posts |
Quote:
They don't make them these days like they used to In the building trades the other half of this is "and it's a godarn good thing we don't!" |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3345 Posts |
Classic definitely. But it may be because we get tired of seeing the same old design every day that we prefer classic coins. I like the Seated Liberty halves. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1547 Posts |
Quote:
In the building trades the other half of this is "and it's a godarn good thing we don't!"
From the standpoint of technology, I'd agree. From the standpoint of quality and craftsmanship, not necessarily. Case in point. Today, the typical exteriors of the houses are wood and (if you're lucky) a little brick veneer to show off to the street side. Yesterday, they were solid brick and stone masonry. Today, the interiors are of tinker toy quality, compared to those of yesterday. Advances in technology, notwithstanding, the quality and craftsmanship was far superior, years ago. |
|
Moderator
 United States
16679 Posts |
I don't care for modern coins at all. Classic all the way. I have always loved old large copper, especially Colonials and Large Cents. More recently, I have started a Barber dime Dansco. I am really loving this coin. Much does depend on one's particular budget or financial situation. The same could be said though of high grade modern coins. swcoin.ecrater.com
|
|
Valued Member
United States
376 Posts |
Classic all day long! They have beauty and the historical aspect going for them.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1213 Posts |
As Bryan said: Quote:
I think anything is better than the dead presidents we have on Modern coinage. Classic designs are far better than the crappy designs we've got now. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2204 Posts |
Classic designs are by definition more imaginative, because the differing images of Liberty are metaphors for an idea. Metaphors are much more interesting to our minds and souls because they challenge our imagination. Presidential portraits are of real people, which do little to stimulate the imagination.
A great writer (I forget which one) once said, "Anybody who cannot think in metaphor should not be turned loose into the world." Perfect case in point.
Of course, I don't know that I would have wanted to be around during the Barber years--can you imagine your dime, quarter, and half all having the exact same design?
|
|
Moderator
United States
16679 Posts |
Wouldn't it be nice if the Federal Government went back to some Classic designs instead of the Monopoly money we have now?
swcoin.ecrater.com
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1704 Posts |
This country will never have anything like the designs of old, both coin and currency. There just are not any artists with the skill of designing coins and currency to the degree of the likes of St. Gaudins, Weinman, and the rest. To render a design for use on a coin is a very difficult thing to do to get it "right" with the proper relief and overall balance. One glance at our present coins one can see how plain and simple they are. Current coin metal composition is major factor in the designs that will hold up in the course of coin production unlike the much softer silver once used. ANA LM-3175 |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
594 Posts |
The Classic designs by far in my opinion are way superior. The engravers actually had talent.
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
Classic coins for me? Yes!
Ancient Greek.
|
| |
Replies: 36 / Views: 3,737 |
Posted 04/19/2011 6:24 pm
