By: jim

jim — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 14:34:20 +0000

My biggest complaint has always been the unpredictability of release dates. Maybe dealers want release dates consistently within the same quarter but I don’t see why they can’t be consistently within the same month. After all, the mint knows way in advance how many of a particular coin (set) they need to manufacture for initial release sales and can certainly plan ahead for those orders. Consistent release dates year over year would certainly help me in my budgeting and accumulating funds for purchases.

By: SirCharlie

SirCharlie — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 19:47:25 +0000

My vote would go for ditching the entire America the Beautiful 5 oz silver collector versions. They are trying to put too many products out on the market, and quality has been completely forgotten. They should concentrate more on quality and reduce the number of programs and items they try to deliver. Everything has gone downhill ever since Moy took over as director.
They made a huge mistake by letting the bullion dealers try and sell the America the Beautiful silver bullion coins. They are a collectors item and should not be confused as a bullion item in any way. The mint has also failed to hold their APs accountable, and have allowed them to do as they please, not following the rules and guidelines. They allowed the APs to walk all over them, and now they should eliminate those that abused their power. The public is fed up with it.
I also learned that the U.S. Mint no longer even solicits for artists to submit their art for these coins or any others being considered for future coins or medals. Their doing so would be a futile attempt that would just be thrown in the trash, and that is a shame. Our best and most elite coinage was completed by one person, from concept, through the sculpting, and seen through completion. President Roosevelt did not ask Augustus Saint Gaudens to draw him a picture for new gold coinage. He commissioned him to take it from beginning to end, and that coin will forever be seen as one of the greatest the world has ever known. The completion of the artist’s concept is what is missing from our coinage today.
I have been very disappointed in our coinage in the past several years as they failed to mint annual collector coins. For example, in 2009, the U.S. Mint failed to produce the American Silver Eagle Proofs. Collectors have been enjoying those since 1986, and all of a sudden in 2009, the mint decides that they just don’t have the time or the means to get it done. Now, collectors around the world will have a hole in their albums, and the disappointment will never be forgotten. There was one person that stepped up and produced it. Daniel Carr did not want to see all those collectors disappointed, so he took it upon himself to go from scratch, and actually mint a special 2009 American Silver Eagle Proof coin, which he has minted on a surplus press that he obtained from the Denver Mint.
America should demand the overhaul of the US Mint!

Comments on: Fuljenz Offers Suggestions for US Mint Officials at House Subcommittee Hearing

By: jim

By: SirCharlie