gxseries Posted January 16, 2009 Report Share Posted January 16, 2009 Here is something that I had to ask: Are we as coin collectors being too stubborn and look at old coins and go "Wow, wish our coinages are this awesome" or coin designers are just too "revolutionary" or lazy these days? This is something I had to ask as I see various US commemorative coins such as the Walkers, Buffalos and St. Gaudent - all of them being caved under pressure from collectors. Personally, I find it uncreative as well as posing dangers to future designers. What do you think? Can you think of any fascinating coins struck after 1960s? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted January 16, 2009 Report Share Posted January 16, 2009 Can you think of any fascinating coins struck after 1960s? Yes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
just carl Posted January 16, 2009 Report Share Posted January 16, 2009 What do you think? Can you think of any fascinating coins struck after 1960s? Of course not. Actually not since about the 30's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted January 16, 2009 Report Share Posted January 16, 2009 Sorry about that, I couldn't resist. I assume you meant what would you offer as examples? I'd start with the commemorative coins of Finland. Some of the circulating coins in Australia (the $2 coin comes to mind) and some of the bimetal pieces of Mexico, also circulating. I think there are a number of good examples out there. Going back into the past for the US is a mistake in my mind. The Buffalo gold piece for example just doesn't cut it when compared to the original Buffalo nickel in my opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kristofer Posted January 16, 2009 Report Share Posted January 16, 2009 I actually enjoyed the Alaska Quarter. But that's about all that comes to mind right off the cuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
numismatic nut Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 Some of the new designs make my guts churn. They have no relief. They get more raised design on a banknote than on a coin. The last good coin that comes to mind is the merc's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtryka Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 As collectors, our fondness for the old designs may be due to a variety of factors, nostalgia, old fashionedness, etc. but for Americans, I think us collectors are not as much enamored with specific designs but rather the themes. I think we long for a return to Liberty on our coinage after 70+ years being stuck with dead presidents (for those of you living in monarchies, this is probably not much of an issue). I think a whole new era of creativity in design could be ushered in simply by a return to Liberty on our coins. They don't have to be limited to the "statue of liberty" or simply pretty white women, but open it up to the many races, etc. that make up our country. Maybe other symbols of Liberty, like our natural wonders, or Liberty's torch or cap, there are endless possibilities. We've seen what a remake of the status quo gets us with the 2 remakes of Jefferson on the nickel, and it only proved that all three are bad! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frank Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 I agree with you mostly jtryka -- but I really love the three reverse designs on the Jeff nickel in 2004-05 (or whenever that was) commemorating Lewis and Clark. I'm not big on state quarters or Presidential or even Sacajawea dollars, but I actually saved every Jeff nickel with those reverses I could find. Just 'cause I liked the looks of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedeadpoint Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 You can blame cost-effectiveness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
De Orc Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 NO and NO, we do like old designs for sure but some of us embrace what is new and innovative as well, ok not all off them turn out nice LOL but some of them realy do if you take the time to look for them Dont forget guy's there is a whole world of coins out there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drusus Posted January 18, 2009 Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 Low relief, no bronze, silver, gold, often mechanical...I honestly think the quality of coins have become token-like and the artistry is lesser in most cases. I am a fan of old tokens but modern coinage doesn't even stand up to the quality of old tokens when it comes to unique design. Its funny because I even noticed recently that PLAY money is far more cheap (mostly plastic) and poorly designed. I am sure I could think of a few good coins types in the past 30 years but only a few...So I honestly believe the age of the coin has past, they just don't care near as much about coin much anymore, when coins were the sole or primary medium of exchange, people just cared more? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finn235 Posted January 18, 2009 Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 As far as artistic design goes, I'd agree that many of the old coins from Reconstruction through World War II are much more visually pleasing, but ultimately I think that the set we had circulating from the 70's through the 90's fills all the necessary jobs of a coin. They are easily recognizable, have a very clean and balanced look to them, and stand up to the wear and tear of circluation very well. When you can regularly find coins that have been in circulation for 50+ years and aren't just blank sheets of metal, your coin has done its job. While the old coins were visually appealing, let's face it. They weren't designed to be used. Peace dollars and Buffalo nickels are notorious for being worn smooth in spots (I have an old buffalo nickel that I got as a freebie from a coin show when I was a kid, and the date is almost completely unreadable). While I would agree that I like a handful of the state quarter designs and the Westward Journey nickel series, I'm not so fond of the newer designs since the 2000's. The new "Forward" Jefferson nickels just seem ugly to me. And don't even get me started on how easy the Sacagaweas are to tarnish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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