Letters to the Editor: Oct. 15, 2019

Finally Found a W Quarter

After looking at literally thousands of 2019 quarters, I finally found my first W mint. It is a Lowell quarter, and I didn’t find it in a bankroll. I was rolling up quarters from the pool table at work and found just this one example. I almost missed it because it wasn’t as shiny and new-looking as all the other 2019s I looked at, but at least I have one.

It seems like the W quarters are having a hard time getting across the Mississippi River. About 95% of the quarters we get in my area are from the Denver mint. Have any other collectors in the western states had any luck, or lack thereof, finding these?

Daryl Conley
New Mexico, USA

In Response to William Rodis

I am in agreement with William Rodis about the mint issuing so-called “coins” when, for the most part, they are “medals.” Now the purists will say, “Coins produced by a government have a stated value, while medals do not.”OK, I agree with that, even if I’m not a real purist.

But not all the stuff the mints are producing are real “coins,” but only “medals” with a stated value. Using Mr. Rodis’ example of the 5 oz silver Quarters, these are nothing more than an “exploded” example of a regular circulating coin.The face value of the “coin” (really a silver medal) is 25 Cents.I would like to see someone carry one of these coins into a store to purchase something. The clerk would probably ask, “What the (BEEP) is that?”But I don’t think there would be anyone to bring in (about) $85 worth of silver for a 25 cent purchase.

I’ve had one experience several years back where someone actually thought the ASE was only a dollar.Just for curiosity, I stopped by a neighborhood garage sale.The seller had a few coins on the table where I saw 11 American Silver Eagles in the small lot.The seller had the coins in a baggy for $5 and the ASEs lined up separately.I asked, “what do you want for the Silver Eagles?”

The seller replied, “They say a dollar on them, so a dollar each.”(I bought the whole lot for $16.)

The “coins” the mint(s) put out other than the “regular circulating” ones are designated “NCLT” (Non-Circulating Legal Tender).This is sort of an oxymoron as you can’t really spend the “coins” in circulation, but the government is telling us they are “legal tender,” although they’re not meant to circulate (NC..).

The mints are putting out these medals they call “coins” solely for profit and to make up for the losses in producing the cent and nickel.All the varieties of the modern (unnecessary) “coins” is almost like the old Soviet Union producing all those “commemorative” stamps in the 1960s - ‘80s.

Do we REALLY need them?

William B. Tuttle
Cleveland, Ohio

A Win for the Mint

I just wanted to notify you that the Mint replaced the stolen W penny from my Uncirculated set. Kudos to them.

Name and address withheld

CSNA and NCNA Concluded Forum

For the first time, the California State Numismatic Association (CSNA) joined the Northern California Numismatic Association (NCNA) to sponsor their Sept. 14, 2019, Northern California Numismatic Forum in Vallejo, California.

While attendance was not as hoped, the four presenters provided to those in the audience four exemplary programs, revolving around the theme, ‘Transportation Numismatics.’ The four were Geoffrey Bell, from New Brunswick, Canada, ‘Jeff’ Shevlin, from Carson City, Nevada, Kyle W. Lubke, from Palo Alto, California, and Matthew L. Malvini, from San Jose, California. The first two could be identified as ‘the old guys’ while Kyle, at age 24, and Matthew, at age 19, were ‘the kids.’

Regardless of age, all four shared their enthusiasm and knowledge, sparking positive reviews and comments from those who attended.

The success of this first-ever joint event can be credited to ‘Benefactors’: Alexander B. ‘Xan’ Chamberlain and Fred G. van den Haak, as well as several ‘Patrons.’

Credit is also acknowledged to Earliene Millier and ‘Don’ Hill with Registration and Door Prizes, to ‘Doctor’ Lloyd G. Chan with technical support and video coverage, ‘Xan’ Chamberlain, Hosting, and Fred G. van den Haak, Hosting and Transport. Also credited is James E. Kern, of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum, site of the joint event, who was the Forum’s Moderator.

No date and theme has been confirmed for 2020; but, due to his outstanding program, Matthew L. Malvini has been invited to again present.

Both CSNA and NCNA anticipate this was a first venture igniting future joint activities.

Information can be learned at www.calcoin.org. and www.solanocoinclub.org.

Michael S. Turrini
Vallejo, Calif.

2010 Burnished Silver Eagle

I have a question about the 2010 Silver eagle. Did the Mint issue any burnished eagles (one dollar) for that year? The Sept. 3 issue of Numismatic News does not list one for the years 2009 and 2010.

W.H. Poindexter
Lewisville, N.C.

Editor’s Note:

According to money.org “Burnished silver eagles have been produced every year since their inception, with the exception of 2009 and 2010, and typically have mintages of less than 700,000 coins.”