Everyone seems all spun up over the ATB 5 Oz coins...like the Mint's never made 3" coins before. They've been pumping out the 3" Bronze medals for quite some time. These Bronze rounds (not real coins) are ridiculously priced by the Mint at $42/each, but they ARE hefty, high relief pucks that sport about 1/2 pound ($2.50 worth) of Copper! I wouldn't pay $42 for them, but I just bought five (5) of them on eBay for $17.50 each...(pictured). I really like their designs; you can see every bulging vein in John Adams forehead! (not pictured) The reverses are almost like the First Spouse Liberty Short-Series. The numismatic link to the designs aren't as apparant as those of the FS Liberty series, but I still see subtle hints. The reverse of the Herbert Hoover, for instance, shows a "Standing Liberty" (like the quarter) flanked between two fasces "Mercury dime". Both the Kennedy and Johnson reverses have a strong "Kennedy Half" influence with the Kennedy reverse having a bit of the "Roosevelt Dime Torch" look, as well. The Ike reverse has a "Walking Liberty" appearance and the Truman reverse looks like the $20 bill and the Obverse font has a somewhat fatter "Franklin Half" feel to it. I can't imagine these bronze (90% Copper, 10% Zinc) pucks selling very well from the Mint at the prices they charge, but they are really quite nice collectibles if you can get them at the right price on eBay. :thumb:
So what was the holdup on the AtB 5-ouncers, if the Mint already had a 3" press? I suspect that's a dumb question but there's no point in trying to conceal my ignorance.
The "Teddy" would look great!! I'm not sure if they have him, yet. They seem to jump around. I've been picking them up on eBay once in a while...for a while. I've got the Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Quincy Adams (I think), Lincoln...the five shown...both the Nixons (they do one for each term)...the Reagan, Bill-Jeff, and Bush-41. I wish I could find out which ones have been released so far and how many were made of each. Since they're not coins, I'm not sure we can get the Mint to give up that info. :just-sign: The think I like most about these medals (which I pointed out in the OP) the the very subtle numismatic connection in the designs. You have to be a coin collector to fully appreciate the designs.
