Can Pop Culture Mint New Coin Collectors?
The U.S. Mint is turning to superheroes and pop culture in hopes of reaching new audiences, but can these unconventional collectibles help bring a new generation to numismatics?
We’ve had quarters whose reverse designs change five times a year, circulating commemorative coins on which the design is supposed to appear for just one year, Liberty Bell-shaped non-circulating legal tender commemoratives, FIFA World Cup NCLT’s, and now we are about to have what I will call Comic-Coin rather than Comic-Con introduced on more new U.S. Mint products.
Comic-Con is dedicated to creating the general public’s awareness of comics and similar art forms. The annual Comic-Con International convention also draws a crowd of around 130,000 people. Coin shows don’t normally draw even 10 percent of that figure. Well, the Mint has recently released a three-piece set of medals on which Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman appear in their typical cartoon format. This is part of the Mint’s first venture into comic superheroes as a numismatic subject. It could lead to other modern pop cultural subjects in the future should this prove to be a successful venture.
Depending on where the marketing publicity for these products goes, perhaps coin conventions will get a boost? We shouldn’t expect people to come dressed as their favorite comic character, but wait a minute. Ben Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, and other cosplay characters are already appearing at shows, including the upcoming American Numismatic Association convention.
Everyone is always on the lookout for new ways to entice new people to coin collecting. The cashless society movement won’t make circulating coins go away, but younger people may not see much of them. Pop-culture coins as a collectible rather than as something to pick out of circulation may get their attention. Don’t scoff at the Mint’s latest products as simply gimmicks.
Look below for more crime-fighting coinage:
