I was under the impression this was going to be a bullion coin not a "collector" coin. As a collector piece I have fewer objections to it.
It is for this year, but time restrictions and I assume uncertainty has limited the mintage for this year.
It is a bullion coin. However, They got a late start and are only making a single production run for 2017. If they continue, later years will be mint to demand assuming there is demand. The 2017 platinum eagle has only had a single 20,000 coin run and that was in January... The proof version of the palladium eagle will come in 2018.
Oh yes, completely on the cost, but I'm referring to the late start on Year 1 holding down the mintage possibilities. Then for various random reasons, years ending in "6" ended up tending to also be semi-key years, too.
A bullion coin with a mintage of 15K could easily be purchased by a single authorized distributor who would then control the distribution. Do they plan on rationing these to the distributors?
They'd have to, unless it's all a sham. I used to be in the photo business, and when Canon or Nikon or Leica introduced a new camera or lens that was going to be in tight supply, they established an "allocation" based on historical sales of each dealer. If they don't do something like this, the whole program's a stinking scam.
I'm willing to bet that sourcing palladium blanks is more difficult than silver. This was one of the reported issues with launching the Palladium Eagle in previous years. The time required between knowing you need more and having product ready to ship would likely push the next possible production run into 2018. The mint will probably shut down all bullion production by the end of November anyways, assuming they are still making 2017 bullion coins. That's only two months which is not a lot of time to secure enough blanks for another run. They would likely rather work towards stocking enough for next year's proof and bullion production. The Palladium Eagles will be on allocation to start.
I think one of their requirements is that they distributors have to distribute them so even if one got them all they would have to share and aren't allowed to try and create a monopoly with them. I think you're right though that they probably just let them all put and order in then it was fair game for who got the rest type thing
I might just get the 2017 Palladium one, but in a nice special label NGC holder. Not an overpriced one from the mint.
Well since it is a bullion coin, you can't buy it from the mint. You'll have to buy it from a distributor or on the secondary market after it passes through two or three hands each adding a markuo.
Correct! I am seeing no notice of a "numismatic" version. Remember, the Mint has three divisions - circulating, bullion, and numismatic. So far, only the bullion program is handing palladium. I expect that may change, but probably not until next year. BTW, palladium's specific gravity is a bit higher than silver's, but far less than gold or platinum. I'd suspect a 40mm diameter a little thick, or a 39mm considerably thick.
I've only bought one recent (i.e. newer than 1942) US Mint issue since the 1980's. That was a 2017 MS70 ASE just to show non-collectors what a 70 looks like. And, wowee, it was a First Strike too! I was tempted to buy the recent Pd coin just to have one of that element, but decided it was too much total and too much over melt. I'm guessing it will be a successful program for the mint in that they will make money on it. Cal
Can’t they come up with any new designs? I mean REALLY is the art being submitted for new designs so bad that they have to recycle a so-so design from days gone by? This coin is the flagship of American bullion coins AND we couldn’t come up with something original? I vote no interest if they don’t care I DONT CARE either.
To answer your question from the perspective of my two eyeballs: 1. They have come up with new designs — which are embarrassments to US coinage. 2. The art being selected for new coins IS that bad and worse. 3. As a result, recycled designs from the past are actually refreshing. I’m not sure if it’s a case of the Mint not caring or just not knowing any better. But they certainly have lost me.