Community Voice Response: July 24 Numismatic News eNewsletter

from the July 24, Numismatic News E-NewsLetter

What is your opinion on the U.S. Mint issuing colorized coins? Will you be a buyer?

Here are some answers sent from our e-newsletter readers.

Colorized coins? Sure, but what's the premium going to cost us? I have the 50 state quarters colorized and they look pretty neat. Do I find them in circulation? Never. And that's what will happen if they don't make them for general circulation. But they are in the market to "make" money, are they not?

Name and Address Withheld 

I like my coins without color, plus I think it is poorly designed with the net and outstretched arms. Way too busy. So the answer to the question is no.

Marshall Bilderback
Seattle, Wa.

No, I won't be a buyer of the U.S. Mint Basketball coins, colorized or not. I am still upset with the mint over the 2019 - S Enhanced Uncirculated Silver Eagle debacle.
Many of these coins went to flippers and dealers. The true collectors/numismatists who have been buying mint products for 30+ years were treated unfairly by the U.S. Mint.

I was a buyer of all the baseball coins back in 2014 including the gold pieces but the mint can keep their colorized basketball coins. I'm not interested.
I hope they rot in their vaults.

William M. Schuck
Address Withheld

No. The mint has enough to do without adding useless coins. I do not buy anything that’s colored.

Name and Address Withheld

No, I will not be buying any of the Basketball series coins. They are overpriced, to begin with, and the subject does not interest me at all.

Tom Gugliotta
Albuquerque, N.M.

As long as not all coins have varying color schemes over multiple years. I think to better distinguish various denominations, especially those that are very similar sizes, consistent color designs, emphasis on consistency!

Pete (last name and address withheld)

I think the colorized coins are awesome, they are a little overpriced but I will still buy a few. I'm a collector, but I also buy what I like!

Ronald Robinson
Waukegan, Ill.

Having been an avid collector for close to 60 years with my earlier years spent rummaging through rolls of coins to fill my “blue” books, I guess I’m more of a purist when it comes to coin collecting. Based on that, no I would not purchase colorized (painted) coins.

Andy Athan
Address Withheld

Colorized coins and commemoratives are not intended for circulation and should be considered medals, not coins. No one would consider spending a colorized half dollar at face. In the midst of a coin shortage, the U.S. Mint comes out with another over-priced bullion object. Will I buy one? I haven't yet and probably never will.

Jim Riley
Dubois, Ind.

The idea of colorizing coins might work to get junior coin collectors more involved.
However, myself a coin collector of nearly 60 years, would not be in the market of comic coinage. That is for tv sales only.

Dave Martin
Big Bear Lake, Calif.

I do not like colorized coins. I see so many things coming out of Europe and elsewhere. I don't like any of them. The bigger question might be do YN's like them? If YN's approve and might buy colored coins, maybe it would be a good thing.

Tim (Last name and Address Withheld) 

I love collecting coins, especially type sets, from throughout the world. I learn so much about the various countries, cultures, and geographies of the world. I refuse to buy or collect colorized "collector" coins issued by tiny islands or mini-countries because they are not indicative of the heritage of these areas as much as they are investment items. They often reveal aspects of the culture but are actually ersatz items, much like the colorful postage stamps or icons issued by these areas.

Recently, many larger countries have been issuing colorized "collector" coins, so the U.S. will have to follow suit, just as they have with their expensive gold and silver "commemorative" coins. I won't be participating. I'm not a numismatist for the investment but for the pleasure and education it brings me.

Steve Fry
Culver City, Calif.