Community Voice Responses (04/03/2012)

From the March 9th Numismatic News E-Newsletter: Is a 350,000 mintage too low for a World War I commemorative dollar? Here are some answers sent from our e-newsletter readers to Editor, Dave Harper.

Your estimate of 350,000 mintage all inclusive doesn’t sound too low in my opinion, in fact may be a little high. It should be enough for the maximum distribution of three or five silver dollar orders per family of our World War I veterans, for those interested in that war so long ago. May they rest in peace.
To many of the youths of this generation, The First World War is basically a subject and statistics for high school examinations now.
The commemoratives for the Second World War had close to 100,000 silver dollars distribution, and many veterans of that war were still around at the time of minting.There were nearly 200,000 clad half dollars distributed also, according to the red book.
The Korean War Memorial had over a 200,000 distribution of its silver dollar.
The Viet Nam War Memorial silver dollar had a distribution of a little over 57,200.

Kenyon Miers
Esperance, N.Y.

You have asked how many World Ward I commemorative medals should be minted. My answer is enough to fully satisfy collector demand. In light of the recent debacle caused by the ridiculous 100,000 limit on the 25th anniversary silver Eagle sets, the mint should eliminate production limits of collector offerings entirely.
In my view, order limits are anachronistic devices used by the mint for its own internal planning and production purposes and should have no adverse impact on collectors by creating instant rarities like the 25th Anniversary “S” mint and reverse proof Eagle coins.
Every Mint offering to collectors should provide a reasonable time window in which to purchase the coins. No collector should be denied the right to purchase during the announced time period. Thus, the rarity of any collector coin may be determined only after all collectors have had a reasonable opportunity to purchase the coin.
The limits now set by the Mint before production have no necessary relation to the number of coins ultimately sold. A prime example is the 35,000 coin limit placed on the 2011 5-ounce collectors coins, which will never be achieved. The Mint should be required to issue sufficient collector coins to satisfy collector demand without imposing numerical limits.
As a government monopoly, the United States Mint has a duty to treat all of its customers equally and fairly. In the case of the 25th anniversary Eagle sets, the Mint breached that duty by imposing a totally unrealistic quantity limit in order to provide a huge monetary windfall to favored coin dealers at the expense of ordinary collectors.

Don W. Crockett
Washington, D.C.

As a commemorative collector (not a dealer), I think 350,000 is actually a little high. Actual WWI veterans are scarce, so there will be little demand there. Only dedicated commemorative coin collectors will be the largest body of buyers, and most of them only require one.
I don’t feel the demand will be that great for this commemorative, but 350,000 will certainly ensure that the value of the coin will never increase, and the average collector, like me, will be able to get one at a reasonable price before the dealers buy them all up and charge exorbitant prices for them.

Charles Landess
Evensville, Tenn.

As we approach the 100th anniversary of the “War to End All Wars” the proposed mintage of 350,000 is too low. Millions of Peace dollars heralded the Great War during from 1921-1935. The lowest mintage of that series was more than the proposed commemorative.
The world can learn much from examining the First World War as we face the uncertain times of the present day. Anything that can help us learn from our history will only benefit generations to come. Increase the mintage to at least 500,000, if not a million.

Timothy Scharr
Aviston, Ill.

It’s time to put an end to set mintages for coins. Mint to order for a specified period of not less than 30 days, and place a five-coin (set) per household limit on each order (this limit could be lifted after two weeks if sales appear slow).
Let the open market establish the mintage. This should also eliminate the insanity of instant Internet sellouts in a matter of minutes that only serve to frustrate longtime customers of U.S. Mint products.

Ross MacCallum
Dumfries, Va.

Seeing again Congress is being asked to authorize another commemorative silver dollar honoring American World War I veterans. Is a mintage of 350,000 to low?. It’s to high. It should be made under 50,000, why you ask, for the price it’ll cost us, a couple of months after the fact, it’s already a sleeper, and much cheaper to get from a third party, it’ll never sell for what you got into it. I’m also a Veteran, and, we all should be honoring American World War I veterans and all Veteran’s to, however there’s a ton of Pork and Earmarks in Congress that should of did this years ago for us Veteran’s. After all, we Veteran’s earned it.

Chuck Schroeder
St. Petersburg, Fla.

None should be minted. About as exciting as the 2012 Birthday set, the Ronald Reagan Gold Coin, etc., etc., etc., etc.,etc.

Bill Peyton
Address withheld

Just one WW I commemorative would seem to be sufficient;
with a mintage of around 200,000. That ought to be about right.

Name withheld
Camp Hill, Pa.

That’s a hard question...but one that needs addressing...First of all it was meant as the war to end all wars...We all know that wasn’t the case...the war did end many things including most of the powers the Kings had over the land and it’s people....So how many coins should honor this war?
I’d say just one...one that represents only what the USA did for that war...It should be minted only in Silver...both in Proof and In BU...sold to collectors at a reasonable price and that should be the end of it...Just move on to another subject and something even better to remember...

Dennis Post
Address withheld

with them issuing a w w 1 commemorative coin the interest in such a coin would be great so 350,000 sounds like a lot but I don't think that's enough they need to issue more like 500,000 to 750,000 and make an order limit of one per order! I sure know I want one to add to my collection of commemoratives hopefully in proof issue please don't mess it up like the silver eagle set! thank you

Michael P. Schmeyer

Halsey valley, N.Y.
I think a mintage of 350,000 is a great number, because it is a higher mintage than that of the 25th Anniversary Silver Eagle sets, which no one could seem to get, and not so many that there is an overwhelming surplus and half of them end up in mint vaults.

Alex Helzel
Greensburg, Pa