" The Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee has given a resounding thumbs-down to the U.S. Mint's plans to reissue classic coin designs on some of its high-priced platinum Proof and bullion coins." But isent this what the mint did with the ase and the gold buffalos etc. and now for some other news that some one might want to know but which i dont have a comment for. The United States Mint finally determined release dates for the first three of five 2013-W First Spouse $10 gold coins. Additionally, the 2013 mintage limits for the gold coins are down 3,000 coins for each of the First Spouse releases from 2012 levels.
Kind of makes you proud the only designs the mint can come up with that collectors will like are old designs, huh? Sure looks like they are earning their salaries and government benefits.
The mint has little to nothing to do with it. All the mint can do is to do what they are told to do. And when they are told by the CCAC to let the artists come up with new and modern designs then that is what they have to do. The mint knows what sells and what doesn't sell. The mint, and anybody who would take the time to read comments posted by thousands and thousands of people on the various forums, would also know that collectors want the old classic designs. It is probably the most agreed upon and often repeated request that there is. But like many govt. committees, the CCAC refuses to listen to what the people want. And instead they focus on what they, the committee, want. Read the article, it leaves little room for doubt as to what is going on, and why. http://www.coinworld.com/articles/ccac-rejects-mint-proposal-on-classic-coins
My modern commemorative manifesto: Art by Committee is better are excluding great designs than it is at preventing bad ones. Doubly so for art by a Committee and a Commission. One review group per coin, please. The Mint needs to give designers some relief. Literally. There's no reason NCLT needs to have the same relief requirements as circulating coins. Congress should stop mandating multiple formats and/or multiple finishes per design. If a coin designer takes advantage of the increased contrast of a proof, the uncirculated coin will suffer. Similarly, a design made for a 3" hockey puck is not optimal for a <1" quarter. Go/No Go decisions should be made on preliminary "fantasy" tokens rather than drawings. While these tokens could be laser engraved rather than struck and/or be uniface, they should be made at the size and in the metal used for the anticipated release strikes.
Well if they don't give us the classic designs how about they actualy make good new ones? not just for silver & gold bullion but for every coin denomination out there. We have used the same quarter since 1932 we have used the same penny since 1909 we have used the same nickel since 1938 we have used the same silver dollars since 1986. Sure on some of these coins they changed the reverse of the coin but that isn't good enough. Who agrees with me? collectors like the old stuff because it is physically attractive and well designed.
i love the old stuff! i hate having coins with historical figuers on them. (excluding the nickel) i'm fine with older one cent peices because that was shortly after Abe died. but putting someone whoes been dead for 100s of years on a coin? why? and the mint having the licoln cent run for so long is annoying. it has been minted for over 100 years! honestly! be creative!
The biggest problem I see is that we use presidential profiles for all obv. coinage. This seems a major limitation to a designer’s creativity. Wasn't it Washington that originally rejected his face depicted on US coins due to his anti-monarchical views? While that feeling is a bit anachronistic, perhaps breaking tradition and placing a strong symbol (lady liberty, for example) on modern coins would not be such a bad thing.
Agreed I'd have to agree with that as well. Congress has not mandated any multiple formats/finishes, those have been decisions made by the mint. They do the multiple formats and finishes because they can do that without having to get Congressional approval. 45 years after he died. Roosevelt and Kennedy were put on the coins within about 6 months after they died so I guess you approve of them more than the Lincoln cent. Good for them. Yes the old designs were great, But it is sad to think that the country reached its greatest peak over a hundred years ago and now has nowhere to go but down. There have to be SOME artists out there that have to talent to create good NEW designs.
For quarters why don't we replace Washington's head with something that depicts the part of the song god bless America. That reads Stand beside her, and guide her Through the night with a light from above Who thinks this is a good idea? if not on the quarter but on maybe the dollar coins instead?
I'm afraid I disagree. For years now, the standard boilerplate for commemorative coin enabling legislation contains the phrase "Coins minted under this Act shall be issued in uncirculated and proof qualities." That includes the legislation for both the 5-Star Generals Profile and Girl Scouts of America issues. https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/111/hr1177/text https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/111/hr621/text
yes i approve of both those as well. but both the Roosevelt dime and Lincoln cent have been around to long. same with the jeffs, Washingtons, the half im fine with because they changed the design shortly after coming out with it.
I have always thought that the Mint should use the classic designs for the one 1 oz. silver coins (ASE) but what do I know
I think they should get rid of all the presidential designs that are currently on our coins. Start fresh with some allegorical designs of liberty, or justice, or freedom. I know it probably won't happen in my lifetime as the process is so politicized. Make any noise about removing Washington and you'll have lobby/interest groups yelling that it would be sacrilegious to do that. Or the Senator/Congressman for Washington's home state would be up in arms about it!!! It's truly a shame that we can't bring to bear the creative talent that we have to design coins that would jump start another golden age of coin collecting.
