Ridiculous U.S. Mint pricing

I just clicked on the ad here for the U.S. Mint. The mint is charging $160 for the three inch mint medals. Really? Dealers are happy to get $30 for these pieces in the secondary market. Perhaps if they could replicate the 19th century mahogany finish maybe. With the modern “yellow bronze”, sand blast finish, there is no way.

 

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I'm afraid that just doesn't sell in today's market.

But, yeah, they sure do seem to think the price doesn't matter for most of their buyers. How high will they need to go before people stop buying, thereby creating a low mintage, thereby creating a rarity that makes the price go back up?

 

The mint seems to find more and more ways to drive away collectors.

 

I think they found out

https://www.coinworld.com/news/us-coins/sales-fall-for-bronze-medals-after-2021-price-rise

Sales were 1/2 to 1/5th after the rise

 

They'd be justified in the $160 cost if in fact it was a polygamy finish.

 

Sorry should have been “mahogany finish.”

 

SL mint?

 

Does anyone remember when the Mint sold the 1-5/16" Presidential bronze medal set for $85.25 in 2005? That was 41 medals from Washington to Clinton for about $2.08 each.

 

I liked it better the first way.

 

At those prices I will never own the last 6 Presidential medals.

 

I havent followed the other medals but the coast guard and air force that have the same pricing have gone up in price in the after market. They adjusted the prices like a year ago which is more in line with what world mints charge for products

 

I remember buying over a hundred of the small ones from the mint at $1.85 each.
I built a nice collection of the three inch ones from ebay for $20 or so each.