US Mint 50 State Quarters two roll set (DE) from HSN I called the Mint on these and they say that it is NOT their product, and it's not available on their website. It doesn't appear to be licensed through H.E. Harris either, who has a contract with the Mint on some product. It's not on their site anyway. Any ideas? They are creeping up on eBay too.
My guess is that it is legal. The ad states "custom packaging licensed by the U.S. Mint". Licensed means that the US Mint gave permission (for a fee) to another company to produce things with the mints logo, trademarks, images, etc. The other company makes, markets, and sells the products, not the mint. Therefor, the mint is correct when they say "its not ours" but that doesn't mean "its not licensed by us". It doesn't surprise me that Harris has some products, and someone else has others. In many licensing agreements the contract specifies what types of products you are allowed to produce. These designations get VERY specific. One company might be licensed to make trifold coin books (like Harris), another company might get the liscense to produce a map that you stick quarters in, another company might get the license to produce quarter albums. I work for a very large company that produces things licensed by other companies (Disney, Nickelodean, etc). We actually had a contract with the US mint to produce things under the logo of the 50 State Quarters. Our product was made by us, but had the US mint logo on it somewhere. Among other things, we had a license to produce 10" dolls (because you know how many coin collectors also collect dolls) for the 50 state quarter program. We were licensed to produce "pendents" but not "jewelry". Any violations of licensing agreements usually result in swift legal action. I can't imagine that HSN would mess around with that, especially when they have such a highly visible venue.
to the best of my knowledge, the original wrappings were that red, white and blue. The orange and black you see now didn't come out till the beginning of the second year...
I doubt that the rolls are even licensed by the Mint. "What could be more authentic than a collection of state quarters in custom packaging licensed by the U.S. Mint?" This is a question and not nessisarily the products description.
Easy enough to ask them :whistle: If they are not - the mint will come down on those folks like a ton of bricks :hammer:
I would think this ad would be raising a few eyebrows from the Federal Trade Commission for deceptive advertising.
