Welllll....... I am rather middle of the road about it. I keep some bullion but I view my bullion in a different light than my coins. I will say this though... If the anti-counterfeiting measures do curb the counterfeit market then I am extremely happy about the change. I just don't know if the average person that buys a bullion coin for their kids graduation or whatnot will be tuned in well enough to know what those measures are.
one positive answer and 3 negatives, seems legit. haahha. Doesn't matter to me either way, it's a silver bullion coin. they could put a turkey on it for all I care. Eagles are popular for what they represent, not that it's any better or worse than another countries bullion coin, or because people necessarily were in love with the old design. My opinion I wouldn't have gone with the eagle to begin with and picked not a "north american animal" but a strictly American animal for the coin, I'd of went with an american alligator, American paddlefish, red wolf, florida panther, gila monster, something like that, the Bald Eagle is seen plenty in Canada and is more of a North America animal. I think they could of done something paralleling the Pandas or the Queens Beasts or something like that.
Not sure how the charges are supposed to be anti-counterfeit. China will have them duplicated in a few months. You are right Randy. Most of those buyer can't tell you about any differences. I showed a Chinese copy, a bad one at that, to a friend that buys his grandchildren silver coins for birthdays and he couldn't tell if it was real or not. I gave him a 'real' one and asked him to compare them and he still had trouble. The only thing he saw was that the date on the fake was a bit smaller. Those are the buyers that end up buying the fakes and will never know (or care) that they were "taken."
@Collecting Nut I do agree with you. I used what little eBucks I had to purchase those 2 my net was $21.37 ea.
Considering design aesthetic I am not impressed. I feel the reverse has a lot of field that could have been used in some other measure. Yes, I know I am not a designer or artist, but I still feel something better could have been placed instead of a tired, overused symbolic eagle. Now, let me get my poncho on for preparation of the tomatoes about to be thrown my way.
At the very least the design does not over power the coin as a whole. I am left wondering why the .999 was not included in the fineness of the silver.
I need a couple, but thought they were priced too high right now. I have grandchild #14 due in November and always include one. And, I have all of the old design. I want one of the new and then I am done with them.
You might not be done with them as soon as you think. The American Coinage Redesign Act passed during the last administration could make possible for many changes, including this.
I like the reverse. I am probably one of the few, but I like the change in texture of the eagle. Consider me a fan.
The poll question asked about the gold eagle, and everyone is commenting on the silver eagle. I think the change in the reverse of the gold is an improvement, but only a slight improvement and one I could get tired of quickly. As such I'm rather indifferent. I think the change in the reverse of the silver eagle is a marked improvement. I never cared for the rev of the old ASE. I will hav to agree with Dimeguy though that that pose for the eagle has been overused. Basically it's the rev of the Ike dollar with a bigger branch and someone stole the moon. I've also seen a very similar pose on many silver rounds and other private pieces.
Perhaps the Mint go backwards in time and examine some of the iconic designs that only made it to the pattern stage. There's plenty to choose from.
