State Quarters: Love or Hate Them

Haha, woah there... didnt mean to anger anyone with my views.
To clarify:
I dont think coin collecting is about making money, and for sure if any money is to be made its not going to be a quick buck.
For me coin collecting is about having beautiful things im happy with, frankly I dont care if someone gave me an entire collection of mint state quarters all pf/ms 70 if one was missing I would have no drive to find it because to me these coins are UGLY, too common, and lack any eye appeal.

 

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Ever done half dollar CRH? bout a million times more rewarding to find piles of silver coins than to go to the bank and ask for new quarters. tons more work... but sooo much more rewarding... profitable too.

 

It's only rewarding if you happen to like what you find. For instance, I would rather find an old beat half to death large cent worth maybe $15 on a good day in pocket change, than say an AU 1914 D Lincoln cent, just because thats what I like. Coins are art, and all art is subjective to who's viewing it. I can't stand the Mona Lisa, yet it's a classic piece of art because many do like it.
Guy~

 

Exactly. Not only is beauty in the eye of the beholder but what is desirable to enjoy and collect is an individual preference as well. I'd be ecstatic to have even a single MS or PR-70 state quarter while many collectors really couldn't care less.

It is best to encourage new coin collectors. There's nothing wrong with attempting to steer them to your own chosen specialty but we should take care not to discourage them in the process. Many people are doing just this by slamming the coins and sometimes even the collectors themselves. It might not matter to an advanced collector what anyone thinks of his collection but how many kids will just lose interest altogether when everone makes fun of his collection no matter how much time and effort is put into it and no matter how much he has learned.

It sounds to me that your nephews are pretty passionate about collecting. Why don't you buy them a nice 1964 quarter and a folder for it? If they lack interest maybe a folder for the older clad quarters would peek their interest. It seems to me that leading them in gentle steps might get them where you think they should be. Even if it doesn't work you just might find they'll be teaching you about coins someday.

 

Oh dont worry, im not discouraging them just because I dont like what they collect. I stop by the bank on my business trips and ask for the coins they collect, but I also bought each of them a folder for their American eagles and one eagle each to start the collection. I think once they are older they will be into the silver and gold coins, but at their age they just cant afford many of anything so they just go with whats the most accessable. Its okay though, like you said, its all about the individual and what that individual prefers to collect.

 

Now you may be onto something. The hobby grows with the person and eventually their interests will branch out to other coins. Give them time and encourage them. Someday maybe you'll have a few hardcore collectors in the family.
Guy~

 

Most of my generation started with Lincoln cents but now we're the backbone of the hobby and collect just about everything. This will be true of most collectors in twenty years but they'll be much younger than we are and will have started with states coins and keelboat nickels.

 

You gotta love the old state quarter haters...don't ya?

Thankfully the kids love them and might actually learn about the history on each one. There is a lot to learn about. Like what is a diamond doing on the Arkansas quarter? Why is Nevada called the Silver state? what language is that on the hawaiian quarter and who is the guy in the robe? Why are those 2 trains on the Utah quarter nose to nose and what's that nail for?

Some old folks might be stuck in a rut and to old to teach new tricks but the youth fill their state quarter albums from circulation. It's not what its worth that matters ..it what they are learning. Like why is there a space shuttle on the florida quarter and who was Caesar Rodney (which quarter is he on?)? and why is the wright brothers flyer on 2 different state quarters? I guess some folks just know everything ....lol.

I can't wait for the National Park series ..i have so much to read up on with each and every issue...it will be facinating to learn about parks that I never knew existed.

 

I collect them because I collect all modern circulating coins. I've got the complete silvers, clads and UC's because of the yearly sets. Not gonna slab em, but I am glad I have them, some of the silvers are beautiful, well struck coins.

The terrain relief maps of Texas, New York and New Mexico are really amazing under magnification. The Montana skull and the simplicity of the Delaware/Wyoming works for me. I especially like the tree on the back of the Connecticut, it glows on a well struck coin.

I think they will be the introductory sets for the hobby for a long time to come. More kids will begin with these than with Lincolns over time. Most will never become serious collectors but some of them will.

50 years from now, people will be nostalgic for that first set of SQ's they started when they were 8 years old.

Investment potential? Not much if any.

Interest potential? Show some kids a complete set and see for yourself. Give a kid one he needs for his cheap push in set and you will see the simple joys of coin collecting. Its good to be reminded of it from time to time.

Just my humble .02

 

I Love this rant. It sums up the quater hater movement very well.

To a kid, i don't think a silver 64 quarter looks that fun compared to Washington Crossing the Delaware. That's freaking awesome and one of my favorite paintings. I'm doubtful that you have ever seen it in real life. It's breathtaking and makes one proud to be an American to be in it's presence.

By diluting, you must mean getting millions of non collectors interested and excited about coins? You sound a little elitist there.

Designs are crap? It's easy to complain but how many designs did you submit to your state? How involved did you get in the process of selecting your state's coin? Did you lobby for a design that you liked but wasn't selected? It's one thing to be an arm chair quarterback but really? Just because some designs don't meet your exacting standards ..that are now crap? ...Oh, ok.

I'm glad the mint makes coins that little kids like. Little kids are the collectors of tomorrow and the future of the hobby is in their hands and the hands of the other 140 million state quarter collectors who are now collecting that never did before 1999.

Bravo US Mint ...keep up the good work !

 

Exactly, I couldnt agree with you more. I have my 12 year old niece collecting and the President dollars now. Now that we are in the streatch were not many adults know these Presidents, its a great learning opportunity. I hope to start her on the first lady bronze medals soon.

I also agree abot Montana and Wyoming. Great old west icons that most folks can't really understand, they just dont get it.

 

They were a good idea with poor execution and worse oversight that produced some of the most low relief uninspiring state outlined pieces of garbage. Honestly only 4 or 5 states were worth it and two or three of them were in the inaugural year of the program.

 

I don't like some of these designs anymore than you do but time has a way of mellowing a lot of opinions and old things get fresh perspectives. Take the worst clip art which might be Indiana and Florida. they might seem hackneyed now but they really do represent the states and that appears to be all some of them were striving for.

Also consider it's entirely possible some of these will be in circulation for generations. How are they going to look with the legitimacy imparted by honest wear?

And a few of the designs are really great.

 

:thumb: +1

I didnt know there was a "state quarter hater movement"... I just hate them, I think the usual pre 99 quarters are much better looking. I was a kid when this program was stared and many people tried to get me involved, I never got into it... Only recently after being handed a silver quarter in a sales transaction did I become interested. To each their own I suppose, but silver and gold just has a different feeling in your hand, and a different shine than other metals coins are made from. The look and weight of those metals is a big reason I love coin collecting... hand anyone an oz gold coin and you will instantly make a coin lover out of them.

 

I'm not sure but I was wondering since you collect quarters if you would have any input to my situation. I have a 2007 Denver mint Silver Montana Quarter. It is actually silver. I brought it to a few local dealers to ensure that the coin was real and it is. I know they never minted silver quarters from Denver so I thinkI may have an error coin. Maybe 1 of very few. What do you think?

 

They're just fine for a fiat currency token. That's all the quarter dollar is nowadays anyway.

 

I would submit to PCGS or NGC for verification and possible encapsulation, if you think it is genuine.

 

A 2008 quarter had much more value in copper nickel than a brand new 1935 quarter had in silver.

Should everyone now spend or sell all their 1935 quarters since they weren't real coins? At what value metal does a coin become real? A 1913 liberty nickel sells for more than a million dollars but it had only a penny's worth of metal.

I suppose a 2008 zinc cent that was as rare as the '13 nickel should be worth much more since it had a penny and a half worth of metal.

An 1804 dollar doesn't even contain $15 worth of metal. It is much less legitimate than any states coin ever made.

 

I'd wager it's plated. Try weighing it.

 

Well thanks for all of the input. I did check to see if it was plated and unfortunately it is. What a disapointment.