I agree actually. I think the mint should intentioanlly make little "variations" at times. I think near perfect coins all of the time is way too boring. Imagine the sales the mint would have if it leaked out there was a chance of rare variations in your order? Yes, it would be a balancing act between making enough to keep collectors interested, and making too many to make them boring, but I agree "somewhat intentional" variations would help the mints bottom line, and bring a little more excitement in their offerings. Imagine if they added "2x4" (like the old days), intentionally on 5% of new commems and mixed them in so everyone had an even chance of receiving one? Or make 5% of proof ASE's have a different reverse.
Ever changing themes and designs are for tokens and rounds, currency should have a sense of permanence and familiarity. I must admit that I do collect state and parks quarters, but there seems to be some type of cheapening effect. Am I old, cynical or just a bit snobbish? Is there a 12 step program for me? I did buy into all those anniversary sets so maybe there’s hope for me yet…………..
I would like to see the classic Walker remain on the obverse and perhaps have something like this on the reverse -
Calling the bald eagle a bird of "bad moral character" because it often took from other creatures what they have rightfully caught, Benjamin Franklin preferred to have the turkey as the national bird of the U. S. In his memory, here is my proposal for the new reverse of the ASE
treehugger- In Barney Frank's town, turkeys are VERY unpopular lately. You do know they're vicious animals, right? http://bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/0...-euthanized/FEqE12gl4q0Xsth4zzwSMP/story.html
Oh my goodness, they euthanized the turkey after breaking a wing during it's capture? I'm sure PETA will be all over this and the animal control persons will be under an intense investigation. They'll probably have to go thru hours of animal sensitivity training and strong reprimands. The horror....
Sounds more like Thanksgiving dinner to me. Is Euthanizing the same as giving to a redneck like me for supper?
Exactly. Keep it the same because the recognizability is one of the best things it has going. I do like the eagle design though. If Perth can make roos and kooks and koalas etc.; I don't understand why the US mint can't put out a few other series that change yearly in addition to the eagles.
maybe after the 30th year a new coin would be a good thing. they would need to start working on it soon just because the Govt is behind it.
One can never predict how the public will responde to changes or even a complete design change to something as popular as the ASE. I know alot of people buy them purely for bullion and could care less about the design, but also alot of people buy them because they're beautiful coins. I'de really like to see a design change, as someone on this thread suggested the Mint could release a version with the traditional obverse and slight changes to the reverse from year to year or even different reverses every year. The large problem that I feel the mint hasn't addressed or perhaps doesn't realize it has is that the designs they're are releasing are not very inspiring. They tried new designs like the nickels, pennies and quarters but they jut seem to fall short.
I don't think they should mess around with the bullion version in order to satisfy collectors. They offer collectible versions (proofs burnished, reverse proofs) for collectors and they could put a different reverse on those if they like.
Your KILLING me man. How about this? Leave the obverse alone, but rotate through different reverse throughout the year, ala state quarters? Make some variations people can collect if they wish, honor maybe great inventors, great doctors, great scientists, great artists, in US history. People could still just buy the ASE for bullion, but it truly would lend diversisty to the offerings, while keeping the same obverse for those who don't like change. I bet you incrementally the mint would sell more of these. Continue the normal ASE distribution, but also sell sets of ASE's each year direct from the mint. It would spruce up the proof offerings as well.
That would be getting into some serious money for many collectors that might not be able to afford to continue.
I don't think they would want to put out too many variations in the same year for collectors - do what they do for the platinum series - change up the reverse every year. That way you can get in the changes, but you don't get the overkill.
Not disagreeing with your suggestions Rick or Rassi. But if only one per year its not any different than date collectors really. It wouldn't have to be five, maybe 2 or three reverses per year. I know it would multiply types, but I think would be fun especially for bullion prices. I really do understand cost concerns, but cost concerns are more a function of the PM market than the prmiums on these coins. At some point in PM pricing some will be hurt regardless of whether the mint makes a change like this or not, even one ASE per year if silver is $100 will be too much for some.
Actually a lot of people that buy them purely for bullion do care about the design--they care that the design stays the same. Would it would be cheaper to just stack random silver rounds? Of course it would. One of the reasons people are willing to pay that extra premium for a silver eagle is that it is so recognizable. They pay the premium because they know that when the time comes to sell; virtually everyone they might sell to is going to recognize an ASE for what it is and not question the legitimacy of it being 1 ozt of pure silver. This might not be the case when they try to sell Joe Bob Random's silver round. Again I have no problem with the mint coming out with another series or two that that change every year for some variety for the collector. But I think this should be in addition to continuing on with the ASE unchanged. Just my opinion and worth exactly what you paid for it