Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;coleguy, post: 803188, member: 9167&quot;]I&#039;ve heard for as many years as I&#039;ve been collecting the excuses given for the complete lack of interesting artwork on US coinage, and it seems that 90% of the time the main reason is restrictions in relief detailing, which is blamed on the fact that higher relief coins cannot be stacked. </p><p><br /></p><p>In fact, in 1919 Treasury Secretary Franklin MacVeagh wrote in his annual report: </p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;Coins have always aimed to be works of art, both in ancient and modern times. We do not hope, under present conditions, to equal the coins of the great ancient periods. The artists then had a far greater opportunity, because the coins did not have to be stacked.&quot;</p><p><br /></p><p>So, if ancient coins didn&#039;t have the need to be stacked, I have to ask why modern coins have the need. I&#039;ve been to the bank and have never seen piles of stacked coinage anywhere. Stores don&#039;t stack coins either. Who is stacking coins and where?</p><p><br /></p><p>As an experiment I tried to stack non-stackable items (marbles) in a paper coin wrapper as would be used in banking. They stack just as efficiently as coins, given the paper wrapper surrounding them is closed. So, I concluded that wasn&#039;t the reason.</p><p><br /></p><p>All I can figure is that somewhere, in some secret underground vault of some eccentric rich coin hoarder, is a glimmering scene right out of the playbook of Ebineezer Scrooge, with piles upon piles of stacked coins.</p><p><br /></p><p>So, from where did this need for stackable coins arise? I&#039;m surprised it hasn&#039;t come up before, as it seems to be the end-all excuse for drab coin designs, and has been for over two centuries now. Do we really need a coin that stacks?</p><p>Guy~[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in