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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;benveniste, post: 3091637, member: 25547&quot;]&quot;Dies have to last&quot; is a not really a reason for NCLT.&nbsp; Let&#039;s assume that each die costs $1000 to make (NWT charges range from $150-$1500 per).&nbsp; Even if they only last 5000 strikes, that works out to $0.40 per coin.&nbsp; I&#039;d happily pay $1 more per coin if it improves the artistry of the coin.</p><p><br /></p><p>I see at least 2-3 potential problems.&nbsp; The first is that the machinery the mint uses may not be up to the task.&nbsp; We know they had to buy new machines for the Ultra High Relief 2009 gold and the 5 oz. hockey pucks, but I have no idea how on the age or specs of what they use to strike standard sized &quot;stuff.&quot;</p><p><br /></p><p>Inertia, ennui, and leadership at the mint may be a bigger problem.&nbsp; Commemorative coins are a sideline for them, and there&#039;s may not be enough personal and professional awards to drive improvement.&nbsp; It&#039;s a lot easier to quantify technical quality and consistency than artistry.&nbsp; While I&#039;d rather have an MS-67 coin with an attractive design than a boring MS-70 coin, management may be emphasizing the latter over the former.&nbsp; I wonder if anyone at the Mint even cares about the dismal sales figures put up by series like the Boys Town coins.</p><p><br /></p><p>But even before a single die is cast (well, carved), the design process stinks.&nbsp; The U.S. hasn&#039;t had an official chief engraver since 2010.&nbsp; Designs need approval by not one, but 2 committees, and they are apparently approved on the basis of enlarged drawings and flat concept art rather than minted prototypes.&nbsp; Nor, given the size difference, was the same design ever going to look good on a quarter and a 5 oz hockey puck.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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