If there is less of me, will you love me just the same? No, I am not going on a diet. However, you might have noticed that what we in the publishing business call leading has been increased in this issue of Numismatic News. It is hoped that with more white space between the lines of type that it is easier for you to read the text.
Our art director thinks the added leading also makes the text look more modern. I will leave that judgment to her. She kind of looked at my gray hair and paused in the conversation long enough to imply that I just might be disqualified as a judge if my opinion happened to be at odds with her?s.
I told her I was in favor of improving readability. Nothing in the paper will do anyone any good if they can?t see it, read it and comprehend it. If the wider leading helps that process, good.
One of the consequences of the increased leading is that it takes fewer words to fill this space each week. That means there is less of me. I hope that I can continue to make my points in somewhat fewer words.
I know I can rely upon readers to straighten me out if that doesn?t turn out to be the case. Drop me an e-mail and let me know what you think of the new look. I am at david.harper@fwpubs.com. While you are at it, share your opinion about any topic that happens to come to mind.
Let your mind wander the full range of concerns that collectors have. It could be more on the American Numismatic Association election, or a plea for less on that topic. Keep in mind that the next election is two years away.
You might want to weigh in on the reputation of Franklin D. Roosevelt or any of the nation?s other Presidents. While I opened the door with John Adams, who knows where it will lead?
I interviewed Mint Director Moy this morning. I hope you read the story in this issue. There seems to be more to what wasn?t said than what was said. It is nice to see that the Mint is inventorying its business and looking at its product line. The implication is that there might be more of some things and less of others.
Which Mint products would you like to see grow? Which products would you like to see terminated?
Anything is possible. When numismaticnews.net asked in an online poll whether readers would buy a gold version of the Sacagawea dollar, I was surprised to see that half said they would buy one. The other half said no. I would have thought the negative respondents would have been more numerous.
There were a number of e-mails to me remarking on the topic and suggesting that the collector version of the Sac dollar should be silver. That certainly would be more affordable than gold and making the coin silver for at least the silver proof set would make the contents more consistent.
Since the silver proof set was developed in 1992, five dollar coins have been added to it. The four base-metal Presidential dollars and the base-metal Sac strike some as out of place in it. From the logic of it, they are right. What might be done to change it is the stuff of hobby dreams. Let me know what you think and I will share your dreams with other readers.
