Not necessarily KaiserWilhelm and know this is not a deflection attempt. Although, Congress legislates, regulates, mandates, I can, have and still place, plenty of blame on the US Mint, regularly.

It’s not as though those operating and executing the mandates from within the US Mint are, deaf, unintelligent, blind, muted, children? Assuredly none are named “Tommy” nor are they familiar with Pinball, Wizardry, or “Who” is???

They have voices and could have and should have been doing more to interact with Congress, gain a platform, build alliances, rub shoulders, etc, etc to lend a voice to what’s working and what’s not, now how do or can we move forward?

Nope; nada zip! Today, as usual, I’ve lit up MInt News Blog with plenty of continued rants about how the US Mint operates and accounts for losses. Uggh…. I’ll stop now, as I’m trying to not bring that level of intensity to this relatively peaceful blog. I like that this site gives me some additional perspective and time to reflect before I write things I don’t want to regret. Rare that I do, however sometimes I know I’m on the edge, but how often do people not say anything or go along with the flow, sugar coat and not really tell it like they see it?

BTW, nothing against, “Deaf, Dumb and Blind Kids. Just saying….. if you are, I really want to know; “Who are you”?

I understand. I just have zero interest in adding them to my collection of “coins”.

I know many folks on here have an interest in these products as well as rolls of coins but I just can’t get excited about them.

I guess I’m just have more of a narrow view of the hobby. When I started collecting buffalo nickels could still be found in circulation and indoor plumbing and TP were a luxury.

I would say they’re compensating for last year’s missed proof S Morgan and Peace dollars.

You’re right about that.

Or a nickel three cent.

Wow! Bring back the two cents! And that’s MY two cents.

I’m a long time collector of circulating type coins and more recently bullion as my list of desired coins has been depleted. I never buy more than one coin of each variety (unless by accident) and have never sold a coin I’ve collected.

Based on my collecting history, these modern collectibles have no value to me.

To each his/her own I guess.

I’ve been a collector of circulating coins for decades. As I’ve completed most of the sets I had an interest in I’ve started collecting ASE, AGE, Buffalos and of course mint sets to extend my collection.

Medals/Commemoratives just never peaked my interest since they are not “coins” or “bullion”. I just fail to ken the attraction of these products as they seem to me to be just products created by the mint to make a profit by creating collectables. They remind me of the products advertised on TV by private mints.

Perhaps you can explain to me the attraction of such products to some collectors.

Alright, here’s my 2 cents and I’ll raise you a 3 cent piece for an “even” nickel! Th US Mints interest in producing commemoratives is fruited or bound by Legislation that has been written and produced by Congress. So no one to blame for commemoratives besides the Lame Ducks in Congress!

Regarding comments about commemoratives, medals and bullion, I don’t want to speak for Roger, however I believe he equates all of these as bullion, due to when you go to sell, you would or will be lucky to be tendered an offer greater than going spot price?

For an additional reference, I look at ALL silver medals, with zero mintage limits as expensive rounds also known as bullion often times. Yes Kaiser Wilhelm, you are correct about shapes sizes, types of bullion.

Thanks Major D for clarifying your stance and what is correct regarding the inclusion of the Silver medals as being Knock-off’s of known designs coming from the Presidential Medals that have been produced and all the upcoming designs based of the bronze versions can be found here on the US Mints website for any curious about upcoming designs for the Silver Presidential medals. Scroll from left to right, for a trip through history and what is coming, design wise for Presidential Silver medals

https://www.usmint.gov/learn/coin-and-medal-programs/medals/presidential

When I’d been weighing on whether or not to try and collect, as a matter of reference, we are now into the interesting designs, I’d been anticipating. The Presidential Medals where the Reverses begin to vary from the original handshake versions.

Medals have gotten a bad rap IMO based on how the US Mint has implemented and continue to run their Medals program IMO. Unfortunately this is partially due in part, to the fact, this is one of the only ways the US Mint is allowed to come up with products or new designs independently, without approval or oversight from Congress.(loophole) Otherwise, any programs, changes in anything new, old or otherwise, must be generated, signed off on, then approved by our one and only POTUS.

Many with much grater experience, knowledge and respect within the numismatic hobby have been noted to say, “Medals are the New coins”? One that comes to mind is Dennis Tucker.

Definitely a subject that garners a bit of debate when it comes to collecting, value, stature, or place within this chosen/given activity, which often is challenging in and of itself, to label all the moving parts? Are you a collector, numismatist, hoarder, historian, hoarder, speculator, metallurgist, accumulator or mix of al, to be known as a well balanced “alloy of sorts”? (Me!)

In closing, there has never been a better time to step away from US Mint moderns IMO, for more than one reason!