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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Paddy54, post: 8173382, member: 19250&quot;]I haven&#039;t made a purchased from the U.S. mint in years!&nbsp; One of the main reasons is my belief that they do more damage to the hobby of numastics.&nbsp; Those of you whom are not 60 + years of age may not know how the US mint tried its best after 1964 to discourage coin collecting.&nbsp; Up to 1964 you had mint sets as well proof....come 1965,66, &amp;, 67 you had the special mint sets all with no mint marks. The half dollars now @40% silver instead the 90% as in the past.</p><p>I can remember my dad telling me his reading,and seeing the government wanting to get more coins into the system . They some how had the idea that coin collecting was causing the hoarding of coins.</p><p><br /></p><p>At present I see the mint trying again to control the collecting market. Unfortunately what I see is the mint operating procedures causing problems for the evey day collector. </p><p>The mint limited production of certain items, how they are offered to the public, and the way they have used the West Point Mint Mark as a hook to entice one to purchase , but then let down as the every day collector has to resort to hours on the phone trying to purchase one only to be let down.</p><p>Now yes I do under free enterprise and take no issues until it effects my hobby.</p><p>I read here on every mint release the trials and tribulations of you all trying to buy a new release mint item.</p><p>Forced to pay after market price thats is inflated for an item they are under water on its value before it hits their mail box.</p><p>My issue is that this sort of pratice only deflates the hobby....as who here wants to pay for anything today to find out tomorrow they over paid...and now that pretty new coin does not have the same value</p><p>As it did before it was purchased.</p><p>Now to 90% + of us here who have played the game know that we can ttry and purchase a new item and if lucky get one or more items that are on the spot over inflated in price and value.</p><p>Again I get it.....free enterprise, but what does that do to the YN? The newbie collector who has been hyped into a hobby ,or purchase that now is underwater in value.</p><p>I see it all the time collectors becoming disenchanted due to these practices. </p><p>I see the mint using the West Point mint that was originally opened to mint gold coins,being used to produce items to entice the modern collector only to be let down due to these practices. </p><p>IDK....but the mint has soured me years ago....as what it thinks is contributing to this hobby is actually hurting it.&nbsp; And I see the mint more so a business run by the government that monopolizes this hobby .</p><p>As well price fixing or control of its products.</p><p>Last check that&#039;s illegal for all other businesses in this country.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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