Letters to the Editor (May 8, 2018)

Breast Cancer Awareness gold $5s have nice color

I bought both uncirculated and proof pink $5 coins. I bought both of them because I am a collector. I did not get them to support the cause and I did not get them because they are pink and I did not get them because they have great designs. I only got them because I collect $5 gold commems.

The good news is that the color is nowhere near as pink as that which had been reproduced in any print media I have seen. In fact, the coins are a nice light rose gold that is best appreciated by viewing next to yellow and or white gold. Kudos to the Mint’s metallurgists for a job well done.

The bad news is that (by my shaky math) there is 10 percent less gold than other $5 gold coins. Perhaps the Mint could have made them thicker to give us the same amount of gold.

Also, in my humble opinion, the designs are awful. Much too busy. Why not just the ribbon? Ginger Rapsus is likely alone in her pronouncement that these coins are the “best designed and most meaningful ever issued.”

Give me a break.

H. Craig Hamling
Address withheld

First 2018-D Roosevelt shows up in California

Just wanted to let you know that 2018- D Roosevelt dimes arrived last week in my area. My husband brought two home after grocery shopping. The next day at Wal-mart, I scored at the self-service registers. I was watching as the first coin dropped into the coin cup then bounced onto the floor. I stepped on it as it was rolling away. It was a 1954-S wheat cent I graded fine. However, the big score was this week at a Coin Star. It took me four handfuls to collect the 47 coins. The only one of interest was the one that triggered the rejection, a very corroded and chipped cent. The rest were all current clad coins. I scored $5.60.

Name withheld
Yucca Valley, Calif.

Where did the American Eagle section go?

I received my new 2019 R.S. Yeoman (72nd Edition) Red Book yesterday. I am in disbelief that they took out all the information on the American silver and gold Eagles and gold Buffalo. No listing of mintages and prices for the coins. I called Whitman Publishing Company and complained. They said they had other people call in and complain also. They will send me an insert about the coins. I told them to please put back the American silver and gold and gold Buffalo next year.

Tom Shuman
Knoxville, Tenn.

Another 2018-D coin catches eye in California

Got my first 2018, a Denver cent, today.

Richard Wilkerson
Carmel, Calif.

Whatever happened to attempt to kill $1 bill?

While going through some old paperwork, I came across an e-article from another coin publication about eliminating or suspending production of the cent coin and dollar bill (S.759).

Senators John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) introduced the bill last year (March 29, 2017) to end production of the $1 Federal Reserve Note (FRN), revise the composition of the 5- cent coin (nickel) and cease production of the cent (penny). S.759 was referred to the Senate Committee on Banking Housing and Urban Affairs. Possibly the place where S.759 died of “old age?

There has been news that the Treasury has been researching less expensive compositions for the nickel but actually made no reaction (it seems) to ceasing or eliminating production of the $1 FRN and cent. Crane & Co. has held an exclusive government contract since about the Civil War and is in opposition to eliminating the paper dollar since the small dollar (SBA dollar) was introduced. Why?

Crane supplies the paper for all other notes produced by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Eliminate the $1 FRN and use the special paper to print other official government documents. There still is enough for five $100 FRNs. Over 35 years ago, Canada dropped its paper dollar for the coin and is doing well without it [the paper $1].

With production of the cent now in the billions, what sense does it make to produce and distribute a coin costing about 1.5 times its face value? With the billions of cents already in circulation, why is the government pumping billions more into the system? I am a true collector; if I see a stray coin, I’ll collect it.

Recently, I’ve seen a lot of stray cents (enough to roll up and take to the bank) in the various places I’ve been. It seems the public has little desire for the cent, except to throw it into a wishing well or fountain pool. Six years ago, Canada stopped production of its cent due to production costs with no problem. S.759’s wording about the cent should be changed from “suspend” to “cease.” Like the stars in the universe, there are billions of cents out in circulation. We don’t need any more.

Just what is happening (or happened) to S.759?

Bill Tuttle,
Cleveland, Ohio

Weekly poll question should ask this

I would like you to ask your readers, “If you collect the five-ounce silver ATB pieces, would you like to have an album to display them in?

Jeff Vogel
Address withheld