Don't know if this has been discussed yet but I'am already getting excited about the new park quarters comming out early next year, wow. I understand 5 new quarters a year for 11 yrs. , do you think the U. S. Mint has found a gold mine in the quarter market ?:loud::secret::hug:
I think for educational purposes, the National Parks Quarters Program will be a hit. I just hope that coin collectors don't become discouraged or overwealmed by the amount of quarter varieties available since 1999. Philly and Denver in unc and satin, Proof and silver proof, and six different reverses in 2009 alone. I may just buy the silver proof set and the mint set to keep it simple!!!
If you want a series to be truly educational it has to come out fairly quickly. Taking ten years to learn all the fifty states is silly. We learned them, and their capitals in just a couple months when I was in the third grade, and we didn't have any quarters to help us (except for maybe some paid as bribes by parents to get little johnny to learn them.) The President dollars were touted as a way to teach about the Presidents! Except that a student starting school in 2007 will be able to VOTE for the President and be out of school before the last one comes out. This would be like trying to teach a child to read by introducing him to another letter of the alphabet each month. By the end of the third grade he'll have all of them! (And considering the education guidelines call for having all student able to read by the end of the third grade I'm really afraid that's what they have planned.)
You do have a valid point, but having sixty plus designs coming out in one calendar year from three different mints in three different finishes in two different alloys would be quite a challenge form the mint as well as collectors. I guess we'll save the educational oportunities for future generations!
I was already burned out toward the end of the state quarters program, I think this is just a bit too much. They need to just create a nice liberty desing like they used to do and stick with that for 20 or so years.
Frankly, I think the series is helping to generate a new generation of collectors. I work in a school and many of the youngsters eagerly show me their latest additions for their Quarter sets.
I've got too agree with pennywise, I also agree that a whole new generation of collectors are developing an interest in coin collecting, which includes the children out there. I understand that the State quatrers was & is the most collected new coins ever minted , or close to it.
