Community Voice Responses (July 26, 2016)

From the July 1 Numismatic News E-Newsletter:

Are you excited about the approaching issuance of a U.S. palladium coin?

Here are some answers sent from our e-newsletter readers to Editor Dave Harper.

Another low-mintage, high-priced coin that will sell out in a short period of time. Coin dealers will have hundreds of graded copies at twice the initial price for sale within a few days. Another snafu by the U.S. Mint.

Steve Bass
Gardena, Calif.

I think this is going to be a fantastic option for collectors.

Unfortunately, the palladium coins issued by other countries, beginning with Tonga, have not really had much of a following.

I can count the countries on both hands that have issued palladium coins, and their interest among collectors and the general population is small. In fact, a few years back I won a platinum, palladium, gold and silver set on eBay that was sent from Canada and Customs held it back three weeks because they didn’t even know what palladium was. In fact, the explanation was that they thought it was a radioactive metal.

I suspect that this issuance will be novel and maybe carry some collector interest as did the 2000 gold/platinum $10 Library of Congress commemorative, but I doubt that it will ever take off.

William H. “Bill” Brownstein
Los Angeles, Calif.

No. Excitement should be for something worthwhile. Palladium ain’t it!

Bob Fritsch
Nashua, N.H.

Mixed emotions over this.

William Johnston
San Antonio, Texas

It may be a precious metal, but it was never a metal to back our currency in all of our history. Trying to make it one now doesn’t interest me in the least.

Melvin Poblocki
Address withheld

I wouldn’t say I am excited about a new palladium coin. I am more interested in the design. Adolph Weinman’s designs are beautiful. I will probably be a buyer of at least the proof version. Possibly even a BU example. More than likely just one example each. I don’t think this coin will be a big seller after a year or two. Great type coin, though.

Donald Cantrell
Address withheld

Not really. Another way for the government to grow.

Jerry Drummer
Address withheld

No. No one really follows palladium or even knows what it is.

The Mint needs to work on more varieties in their bullion program and work with Congress to give them more latitude in that regard.

Keep the American silver Eagle, but add other bullion .9999 one-ounce silver offerings as the RCM does, the Perth Mint does and so many other world mints currently do.

I don’t think there is any demand, want or need for a palladium coin. We need better innovations than that!

Robert Matitia
Address withheld

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