e-Letters: May 9, 2021

From the April 16 Numismatic News E-Newsletter

Will you collect the U.S. Mint’s American Women quarters? Why or why not?

I will collect American Women’s quarters. They will be a unique thing and a motivational factor for budding women professionals.

Dr. Anver Aziz
Address withheld

No. The Mint over-prices them and produces too many of them to be worth anything more than a quarter.

John Ormando
Address withheld

Yes, I will collect this series – a piece of American history.

David Barloon
Address withheld

Really? I thought we were finally getting back to one standard quarter. Back to normal, no more paying extra money to fill in those holes. Maybe the U.S. Mint figured it lost its cash cow and decided to get back to reaping in profits that were going to be lost by keeping collectors on the hook. Not for me. I’ll pass on it. My storage for coins is limited and I won’t waste money on something that’s not really worth it.

Barney Jones
Address withheld

No. I’ve become tired of yet another quarter series. More so, I’m skeptical of the selection process, which is subjective and likely political. In contrast, a series of all 50 states and of all presidents are objective and apolitical.

R. Morgan
St. Paul, Minn.

Seems with all the overstuffed-shirts-and wallets of the predominantly Men’s world of numismatics, putting women on coins is about the only way of getting them kinda, sorta into numismatics. I was looking through many, many of my reference books on numismatics and was hard-pressed to find any women shown in photos or, for that matter, even mentioned in print. In a recently released book edition, I noted over 130 names listed as contributors on a single page ... all men’s names – and only two women. Hey, here’s a novel idea, we’ve had 46 consecutive male presidents that have brought us to this unique point in our nation’s history. How about letting a woman give it a shot? Could things get any worse than they currently are ? Women on quarters? Of course. And the talking, male-headed titans that maintain their inscrutable grip on most all areas of numismatics should wake up to the realization that women are just as smart as they are and could give our coveted numismatics the shot that it needs fresh blood with new ideas.

Steve McGowan
Algonac, Mich.

Of course not.

People should be honored because of their accomplishments and historic significance, not on their biology, their sexual preferences, their skin color, their ethnicity or any other reason.

To have a separate “women’s quarters” is insulting to women, as it implies that they would not qualify on the basis of their accomplishments and historic significance and that we need a “minor league” for women. We don’t.

Sev Onyshkevych
Address withheld

I am a true collector and love the West Point quarters. That is what I think you should do with these, make 2-4 million of iconic women and make a privy. If you just flood the market/circulation ,then they will not take off like they could/should. I believe women need to be on U.S. currency but for some people that is a big change, so let’s start with putting them on the quarter slowly. I believe collectors will gobble them up by the dozens, and it may bring more women into the hobby of collecting coins. I think it could be an awesome series. Top 10 women in the last 100 years (just an example). I hope my little input helps.

Kyle Anderson
Address withheld

Yes, I plan to collect these items. Looking forward to the series. Great histories!

Charles Perkins
Address withheld

Yes, if politics are kept out, and they are all deceased.

Edd Daca
Sarnia, Ontario, Canada

Absolutely not.

All of these coin programs since the state quarters are all worthless Mint junk that are never even released in general circulation.

The parks, the presidents, the presidents’ wives, the Sacagawea dollars and, the latest mess, the Innovation dollars.

And now this new famous women quarters program ... please stop!

Gee, maybe they can make 5-ounce silver versions of these as well. Ugh!

K.R. Russo
Philadelphia, Pa.

Women commemoratives. Not interested much but might be good for granddaughters?

Allen Adleberg
Address withheld

Let me begin my answer with an admonishment that then-President Harry S. Truman wrote in a commemorative coinage veto over 70 years ago. Yes, a president did veto commemorative coinage bills. That president, in his message, reminded Congress that once you progress with more commemorative coinages, you enter “an endless path.”

Since 1982, and the singular George Washington Half, the United States Mint has soon within 40 years generated a massive succession of commemoratives, some highly received and most worth much less than the initial charge. In the process, the Mint has become the “world’s largest coin dealer.”

As for my pursuing the intended women’s quarter, if circulated and found in circulated, needless in nice bright condition, yes. As for proof strikes, sets or other gimmicks solicited by the Mint, no.

True, these would certainly honor the contributions of women in our nation’s heritage.

Out of habit and a cheap way to save for a raining day or easy change, I still set aside and drop into clean large jars State and National Park quarters until the jars become too heavy to lift or carry. So, now “the ladies!”

Michael S. Turrini
Vallejo, Calif.

Probably not on a regular basis as some of the women chosen are not qualified to be on these quarters and it is to push certain people into the spotlight that should not be in the spotlight.

William Johnston
San Antonio, Texas

I probably will collect the American Women quarters to continue the quarter series.

Bob Eatman
Address withheld