Poll Question: What themes or topics don’t belong on a coin? Why?

I think this is a very easy answer.

No president, while alive, belongs on our coins. George Washington had the chance to have his portrait on our first coinage, but he rightly refused, saying he wasn’t a monarch and didn’t want his portrait on any coins. Now compare that to what we have that passes for a president. Trump, who thinks his name and portrait belong on everything.

He has already desecrated the Kennedy Center and the white house, and there is, I believe, a bill in Congress to put his portrait on a circulating coin. To me, that’s an abomination for many reasons

First off, he hasn't died yet, but more importantly, he would be the last president who ever should be honored on our coinage or currency in any way. If it comes to pass that he is added to any of our new coins, I will not accept in payment anything with his likeness. After all, why should we honor in any way a president who doesn’t believe in our Constitution and breaks the law every single day?

Maybe the Greenlanders, if he takes over their country, would want to see his portrait on a circulating coin.

I am betting they won't.

Roy, Address withheld

Good question, but no answer. Themes or topics sell to someone.

Shouldn't be sex, drugs, and Trump on coins. But that would make a few trillion people mad they can't get a coin with that on it.

Name and Address withheld

Truthfully, every topic under the sun has been depicted on a coin, as well as many celestial and outer space topics.

Most topics of modern-day coins are very different if it’s a circulated daily-use coin or it's an NCLT that, in many (most) cases, have never seen and never will see the "country " of issue, such as Niue, the Marshall Islands, and many other "commemoratives".

These so-called coins depict what the producers believe are either "collectible" subjects (animals, space, landscapes, superheroes, sports, etc.) or have gimmicks, such as 3D, color, extremely high relief, concave/convex, or both.

Coins made for circulation are much more mundane and usually depict local and national subjects, like historical buildings, heroes, achievements, etc.

No subject matter has ever been banned. That includes nudity & sex, drugs (marijuana is common), death & disasters, and many other controversial subjects, as well as dictators, slavery, guns, wars, etc.

I think that the only limits of coin topics are the imagination of the coin designers and makers, and in that aspect, the sky's the limit!

On a different, yet similar note, I'm saddened that the United States Mint has joined the ranks of these NCLTs, made for the sole purpose of profit and collectors' exploitation, such as the superheroes series. I, for one, will never buy any of these. Unfortunately, many will, as a fool and his money will soon part.

Oded Paz, Arco, Idaho 

No coin should have Trump on it until he passes, like all other current living presidents, like the dollar coin.

Name and Address withheld

Any topic or event that is current or relevant to people at the time the coin is minted can, in a broad sense, be a subject for coins. As such, almost no topic is out. The exceptions are those that are unlawful or censored by society. And it could even depend on how the topic is presented or depicted. For instance, crimes are a no-go. However, if the coin is about the legal authority that protects against such crimes, then the topic could be sensibly mentioned, as it would be in any news report on the subject. The important thing is not the topic itself, but the maturity with which it is presented, taking into account the audience for whom the coin is intended.

A good example of this is the coin depicted with this question. It shows the reverse of a commemorative coin from the Republic of Benin, a small country in West Africa. This coin was issued in 2010 as part of a series of commemorative coins dedicated to plants from around the world. Given the scientific context of this issue, it is acceptable. Should it have been issued with the intention of supporting or promoting the illegal consumption of the plant, then it would have been inappropriate.

Eliseo Ramos, Virginia

The mint's themes for coinage have gotten out of control.  With the beginning of the statehood program on quarters in 1999, which increased interest in numismatics for the youth, the coinage themes have gotten progressively worse. The mint is just trying to sell "collector pieces" rather than stick to the task at hand of making money. The recent "superhero" coins are a joke. If I wanted play money, I'd get a Monopoly set or buy something at Toys R Us.  Some mint "coins" and definitely the mint prices are totally out of hand. They just as well put together a clown set with Bozo and Clarabelle - it would befit what they're doing now!

Larry, Louisville