Just wondering what the consensus is on this new dollar? I've stated before in other threads -that to me, 99% of the silver commens seem to lean more to artistic expression side rather than stateliness. Maybe thats the point of commens?
As they say - beauty is in the eye of the beholder. So it depends on each individual as to whether or not they like a particular design. As for myself - I don't care for it much.
It fasinates me that the Mint does not seem to notice historically what moves and what does not. Take for example the SE design. The walking liberty is an intensely beautiful yet stately design and bang! It becomes the most popular coin in current production. Interestingly it comes from the pages of history -not some new-age artist. Next the Buffalo silver dollar. The commen as I understand that turned up the heat on silver commen/dollar collecting. Again, it too is a classic design and bang! It becomes a super seller. If the Mint were to creat a Franklin half commen or up it to silver dollar design -bang -it would likely become a hit. Now why is that? When I compare these older -classic designs and mind you these were before my time -the new designs in my opinion dont even come close! But, like you say surely someone flips for the new stuff -I just dont get why the Mint does not generate more classic designs for release rather than some of these artsie "stamp anything on a coin" commen. I know, every commen has a purpose duh -they cant all be great works. Oh well, stand by and see what they come up with nexr eh?
Well I for one hope that we never get to the point where we just copy our past designs. Where would we be today if that logic was used in the last two hundred years. No design has ever pleased everyone. We must as a nation continue to change. Without it, what would the Longacre's and Morgans have done?
yep you're right. We can not fashion all coins/commens after historical designs. I'm jsut bummed over the reverse design of the Edison silver dollar -so dont mind me
I've only just seen the design for the Edison Commemorative. I like it. It doesn't bother me at all that it's not a "classic" design. I believe that the mint would be smart to resurrect a single classic design each year as part of the commem program. We already have the Saint-Gaudens $20 design on the Gold Eagles, and the Walker on the ASEs. The Buffalo was a huge success. So something like the Indian Head Cent done as a Dollar and the Flying Eagle done as a half. Great set -- they could even throw in a classic gold piece as a $5 or $10 gold. Maybe the Stella.
You're forgetting one thing folks - the Mint can only strike what the US Congress tells them to strike. When the laws for commemorative coins are written - the design is dictated by those writing them. Now then - that being said - the cent, dime & half dollar are open game. The US Secretary of the Treasury can change these designs or give the Mint free reign to create new designs for these coins any time he wishes. This is because the law permits him to do just that for any coin design that is 25 yrs old or older. Problem is - he won't.
