e-Letters: June 15

Does the U.S. Mint produce too many “made-for-collector” products? If so, what would you like to see instead?

The U.S. Mint is trying to be all things to all people, and flooding the market with so many types of commemoratives that the average collector is at a loss to complete a collection of them. I acknowledge that some of the subjects are very historically significant (e.g. H. Tubman) but most folks have limited funds and would be quite happy to just acquire one coin instead of the H.T. series of three.

I also think it is time to get rid of the cent. Nobody even picks them up off the pavement in the parking lot anymore – a good sign that they are worthless. I think it is time to bring back the concept of a silver “penny.” Make it a small coin about the size of a present-day cent and containing a fraction of an ounce of silver, say 0.1 ounces, and let it be traded for whatever the spot price is. People are starting to lose faith in our currency, and having a silver coin would do a lot to make that problem go away.

Tom Pesacreta
Lafayette, La.

I’d like to see some coins featuring the neoclassical designs on some of the patterns by Barber, Morgan, etc. such as Charles E. Barber’s 1906 $20 J-1773 and George T. Morgan’s 1876 $100 Gold Union.

Cary Bown
Fairview, N.C.

I do not feel that the U.S. Mint produces too many coins for collectors. In my opinion, the number of coins produced is about right. If you want to know of a mint that produces way too many collector coins, look at Great Britain’s Royal Mint. I collect coins from Great Britain, and the number of coins the Royal Mint puts out is astounding. The Royal Mint cannot keep up with all their issues, and quality control has suffered tremendously. Many collectors are returning their coins for replacement or refund.

Jeffrey Mina
Chicago Heights, Ill.

The mint is getting like the baseball card companies: way too many cards. It takes the joy out of collecting. It also puts the common collector out of range for the prices they are charging.

Douglas Rawding
Marine City, Mich.

Stop it with all of the oddities and focus on your key business. Make high quality coins for circulation. Also everything you make at every mint should carry the mintmark for that mint. You are playing into the hands of a few distributors and grading companies with your current practice.

You work for the people but you are generating wealth for a few as they mark products up to unaffordable levels, making collecting unaffordable. Please focus on direct sales to the collectors.

A. T. Swickrath
Address withheld

Yes and no. I am sure there are at least a few buyers for every coin the Mint turns out. However, I am not so sure that some of their offerings attract enough attention to make them financially viable. Any losses have to be made up elsewhere and that means prices overall for Mint products are higher than they might otherwise be. I think that the Mint should ask collectors what they would like to see. They could then review all the suggestions, take the items receiving the most interest and ask the collectors to choose which ones they would likely purchase if offered. That way, only the most popular suggestions would be offered and they would be offered with reasonable assurances that they would be purchased in quantity if offered. They should include dealers who may already have a good idea what their customers are looking for. Only offering items with a demonstrated interest and a reasonable probability of selling seems like a formula for success.

Daniel L. O’Brien
Address withheld

Yes there are too many coins made for collectors only and coins only available in mint and proof sets. It makes collecting harder for the hobbyist to find a full set without spending a fortune

Patricia Correia
Abilene, Texas

Absolutely. Way too much stuff, overpriced at issue as evidenced by the consistent reduction of value on the secondary market, with a few exceptions (e.g. the Morgan and Peace program).

Donn H. Wray​
Indianapolis, Ind.

What I’d like to see: No products really, just regular varieties like “W” mintmark quarters, or maybe intentional doubled dies and/or off-metals and other errors that people would be looking out for since they’d have low mintages. Get the attention back on our currency and the hobby growing.

Joe
Address withheld

In my humble opinion they are. The Mint should make only a limited amount of commemorative coins.

Also I would like to see all presidents, statesmen, celebrities and anyone else’s likeness off national coins and currency.

Michael McKinnon
Crawfordsville, Ind.

Absolutely! That is why I stopped buying their products years ago and sold what I had. Besides, most of these issues can be bought at a reduced price in the aftermarket.

Instead, do one mint set, one proof set,the gold and silver bullion coins in mint and collector proof. Then, maybe a half-dozen truly relevant commemoratives in mint and proof each year.

All of the above based on demand (or a pre-order basis) by a certain date. No manufactured rarities by virtue of limited mintages, or by means of altered manufacturing techniques, i.e., reverse proofs, etc.

This will engender a consistent, loyal base who will be able to afford their areas of interest.

Lorne Lavertu
Herndon, Va.