This is an absurd claim by 2 NY politicians...

http://www.silvercoinstoday.com/us-mint-issues-consumer-alert-on-911-commemorative-dollar/103713/
Again NY politicians are after the National Collector Mint whom we all know sells, medals, Liberian Coins, etc...some made of pure precious metal...others plated. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I personally like the option to buy medals, non-circulating commem coins, and others from any and all sources..if I like the look and strike quality.
But to spread all over the news that these are Fake 9-11 Commems is absurd. Anyone can commemorate anything as long as the theme is not licensed and the ad does not lie. Just because a product is not issued by US Mint does not make it fake. If I only bought the items issues by the US Mint and nothing else, that would make fora super boring collection. Plus they are only $24.95. The minting cost with the addition of the flip-up assembly is not cheap. These are made in Germany for NC Mint. Maybe you don't like these pieces...that is fine but "fake and bogus" applies to something that is being misrepresented to induce fraud. The advertising says its a medal.

 

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Well concerning this issue, you have to be careful since a lot of commemorative items have been sold with the proceeds going to the victims and to help rebuild. A private entity jumping in like this is a little....rude I guess. Its somewhat akin to someone selling a commemorative of muscular dystrophy, with no money going to the charity.

Just my view.

 

I think that's overstating the case a bit. The U.S. Secret Service Uniformed Division Benefit Fund, who purportedly received a license fee, is a non-profit organization which does provide benefits to government employees and their families. Among other things, they run the Gift Shop at the White House:
http://www.whitehousegiftshop.com/html/history.html

As with any non-profit, I recommend doing your homework before giving even an indirect contribution. Here's a link to that organization's Form 990 for 2009:
http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2009/526/071/2009-526071835-0612fa97-9O.pdf

Personally? I'll take a pass, thanks.

 

These "commemorative" coins are pure schlock, in my opinion. They aren't raising funds for a cause, and they contain a deceptively low amount of silver. Any coin that's sold over infomercials is pretty suspect to me, and I don't find the design on these attractive.

 

The price reflects the fact that it is a basemetal plated piece. Nothing wrong with plating. If you order the item, there is a deluxe pure silver version as an option. I am not saying the design is great at all...just that silver plated $19 medals are nothing sneaky or horrible.

 

From what I understand the silver plating is claimed to have come from a vault in one of the towers but that has not been authenticated. If it were to be true then for me its like a chunk of the berlin wall, some might want it, just not me.

 

"Official First Responders 10th Anniversary
World Trade Center Commemorative
Clad in .999 pure silver actually recovered from Ground Zero ​

The great Navy ship USS New York was built using 7.5 tons of steel salvaged from the World Trade Center. Now, it appears on our exclusively authorized 10th Anniversary September 11th commemorative, featuring separate sculptures of the USS New York and the World Trade Center Towers inset with jeweler precision on its obverse. Both the Twin Towers and the USS New York actually rise up to transform this historic 3-piece commemorative into a magnificent standing sculpture of the World Trade Center with the USS New York sailing past! The commemorative base is clad in 14 mg of pure 24 Karat gold. Then the USS New York and the Twin Towers are clad in 14 mg of .999 pure silver, priceless silver recovered from Ground Zero. Double dated 2001-2011, the reverse features 10 stars struck in frosted relief, one for each year since that fateful day, along with the official insignia of the First Responders Alliance. Comes complete with an individually numbered certificate of authenticity confirming its 24 karat gold and recovery silver content. Privately minted - never released for circulation and available only to collectors. Pay homage to America's heroes and remember the day that changed America forever ...order today! "

I could see where folks might confuse this with something that actually is sold with the intent of raising money for a cause, but their online web site never makes any such claim. As a matter if fact, the only thing in question is the origination of the silver used to plate the two stand up portions of the piece. New York, understandably, is particularly sensitive to anything with regard to the Trade Centers and 9/11 and is taking issue with the product which is ok by me.

Folks had to expect this offering as well as 20 and 25 year commems because if there's a way to turn a buck, someone's going to figure out how to do it.

 

I do not doubt their claim that the precious metal came from the towers. One silver eagle easily obtained from the stash of the WTC...would supply enough silver to blend with other silver and plate countless medals. To me that is not a deal breaker. I go for quality of design and minting. If I like it I will get it, regardless who sells it. I just dont like the government issuing all these warnings...even bannind sales of legit product only because a select few of the ignorant masses thinkt that because they see the word "gold" and see something "round in shape" they are buying into some wealth generating investment.

 

mkwelbornjr,

You would make a pretty good spokesman for these trinkets. Are you currently affiliated with the company that sells them?

 

Not at all. My main exonumia interest is with Franklin Mint medals. But the other pieces are interesting. I just dont like the press downing everything based on how good of an investment it is. Collect something because you enjoy having and looking at it and want to keep it till the day you die. Buy what you like.

 

Some of the concerns are:

• Some buyers may think they are buying genuine US commemorative coins from the US Mint when they order from 'National Collector Mint'
• The trinket is marked 'ONE DOLLAR' which may lead some to believe they are purchacing a genuine US commemorative coin
• Less-sophisticated buyers may think they are getting a significant amount of gold and silver when in reality the trinkets contain an insignificant amount of precious metal
• At $29.95 the trinkets are grossly overpriced

 

I think you have to read between the lines on Nadlers and Schumers opposition to this particular product. Just a little background: I retired from the NY City fire dept a few months before 9/11, of the 340 firefighters killed I worked with around 50 of them over the years and personally knew about 1/3rd of them. I watched the towers burn from my deck. Jerry and Chuck are both New Yorkers (listen to them talk) and I assume this "coin" issue is extremely personal to them, making money off this tragedy is reprehensible. I will not allow myself to live in the past and have no animosity towards this company but I can understand how some would consider this blood money. Enough said, as Jimmy Buffett said, "breath in, breath out, move on"

 

Yes perhaps. But if someone buys into something not knowing all facts then they deserve no protection from anyone. It takes two seconds to use Google? or look at the gold weight and get the value from the newspaper..if you are that concerned with gold value of a plated product. Lots of household items are plated with gold. Anyone who wants to buy a coin but does not know what an official US dollar coin is has to be a total idiot.

 

The media profits off tragedy on a daily basis as do the advertiser in the news papers and during the news hours. So that would pretty much condemn everything. The US gov will be selling a 9/11 medal..yes with some proceeds supporting a cause...but the rest of the issue is subsidized by tax payers.

 

I'm in total agreement with you dear fellow. I do the same thing myself, without regard to what others think, however, as Hobo states:

These are the main sticking points with these issues. So many people get roped in with the "spiel" that they neglect to realize these are coins minted at a private mint and that they are not legal tender issued by the US Mint.

 

Would you would support eliminating the Consumer Product Protection Commission?

My 85-year-old neighbor (a widow with no family) was ripped off by a New York City boilerroom operation that sold her several coins as "great investments". She paid them over $32,000 (money she could not afford to lose) for coins that I (and a local dealer) valued at no more than $8,000. I suppose she (and others like her) deserve no protection. Too bad for her. She should have Googled the coins to determine whether she was too much. I doubt she has ever heard of Google. She does not have a computer and would have no idea how to research anything if you handed her one.

 

Well that is an extreme situation of fraud. But the product at hand is only $25..has a 60 DAY RETURN policy...and all facts in the ad. No reason for any reasonable person to be confused...but if they are just return for a refund...end of story. I dont think the CPPC is after NC Mint anyway.

 

Absolutely! And that includes your grandparents and all of the other senior citizens who may or may not be suffering from dementia, Alzheimer's or who-knows-what-other mind-debilitating disease commonly associated with old age. Why should we care at all about these "fools" if they buy into a scheme like this?

The Franklin Mint isn't any better. They prey on the elderly and the uneducated to fall for their overpriced products.

By the way, my 2005-S KS Silver Proof 25c was made from WTC silver. I'm selling it for $10,000 and I will donate half of the proceeds to the WTC Memorial Fund.

Chris

 

The Franklin Mint has made outstanding products that many enjoy. Dont criticize them just becuase you dont collect. Franklin Mint coins and medals (the ones they made) are superior to anything made by any other mint out there...both public or private. Historically their porcelain and bronze can have the same said as well.

 

Who is the issuing authority for the "dollar"? Usually, that's the point where these private mints run into legal issues.