God, I hope not. I suppose it's only the next logical step, though. If you think about it, US doesn't do holograms, bimetallic, weird metal, colorized, inclusions, or any of the crazy crap other mints do. Technologically, we're kind of way behind the times.... whether you consider that good or bad. I'd just like some well rendered, well executed, artistic strikes of something inspiring with a subject matter that doesn't make me want to puke. I don't care what bells and whistles you put in it (I guess domed coins might be the last crazy thing we've done?) It's been a while....
As we were saying........... https://www.cointalk.com/threads/2020-commemorative-basketball-coin-s.342940/#post-3613811
My guess would be the Mint thinks some color — and the possible themes suited for color — would attract younger folks to the fray. Other than historic Playboy centerfolds, my interest probably would be zilch.
Actually it's good incentive for me to return to classic coins. I started out as a dime guy - Mercury's first, then Roosey's, then Barbers ... started on Seated Liberty's... somewhere along the line I got fascinated by modern silver commem's ... maybe this is a good time to return to my roots. I've got two incomplete type sets (19th and 20th century) and a horribly empty Seated Liberty Dime Dansco.
Ah, yeah man! A Walker and an SLQ dressed in a Betsy Ross flag. Brilliant and beautiful! Let's do it bois! And maybe we can retcon Franklin into draping a Gadsen flag across his shoulders. Think of how the yellows would pop on a colorized coin. Yeah man, lets do it!
Well, that really wasn't where I was going, but if there's a market, I suppose, yeah, no... I'm going back to the real coins, not colorized facsimiles....
I predict that the first one will be a tribute to Gay Pride. And, I pose that the reason behind this is to find a way to promote Gay Pride. You can't do it without color.