What is the difference? I am specifically referring to the 2011 sept 11th medal the mint is coming out with. From the sound of it, it seems like a bullion to me, why call it a medal?
Medals are produced to commemorate a person or an event. The 9/11 medal commemorates 9/11. Bullion coins are produced as a store of wealth.
Bullion is a generic term which usually refers to precious metals like gold and silver that is "uncoined" in masses such as bars or ingots. Over the years, the term has been used loosely to include medals and silver rounds (SAE's) made from precious metals, but technically the 9/11 commemorative is a medal. Medals are made to commemorate a person, place, thing or event. Chris
I thought technically a medal was simply a stamped piece of metal without a government stamp of value that would turn the piece from a medal to a coin. I didn't know it had to commemorate anything. I could be wrong though. Chris
I'd be more likely to buy the 911 Medal if it had silver weight/purity stamped somewhere on it. That's just me though
It will probably come with a COA which will provide that info. Remember, it's a medal that is commemorating a tragic event. If you had a medal made to commemorate the date your parents got married, would you want to see 1 OUNCE .9999 FINE SILVER on the obverse or reverse? Chris
I don't know of any commemoratives that do have the weight/purity on them, so I do appreciate the consistency there. I would hope a medal made to commemorate the marriage of my parents would be made of .9999 Gold. :smile Since I'm not totally cold-hearted, they could inscribe it on the edge. You do make a valid point about the "tasteful"ness of putting the weight & purity (and I may add dollar value) on this 911 commemorative, and I do appreciate you pointing that out.
The 911 medal might turn out to be a decent way to purchase silver if the mintage stays low. How popular do you think this product will be? Will they really sell all 2 million?
Those are token, exomania, in which the item is semi currency, not stamped by government but by another authority. Those are a hybrid. Generically, I go out and have a piece of metal struck, maybe striking some silver I have. If I say on the struck item its to celebrate my son's birthday, you consider it a medal? What if it has my son's picture? What if just a picture of my favorite coin? What if just my son's name? What if just my name? Which of these struck, non-coin, non-token items is a medal and which aren't? Your example was specifically taken from coin like objects. You are right those are tokens, but I still say any struck piece of metal that does not have any monetary value is a medal, regardless of whether it is celebrating something or not. Silver rounds are medals for example.
That's why I asked how many folks thought would be sold. I don't know how popular this might be. If they sell 1 million+ I'm not interested. If they sell 100 thousand I would consider it.
