Letters to the Editor (March 5, 2019)

A stack of Washington Presidential $1 coins that display edge lettering. (Image courtesy https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:George_stack.JPG)

Willy-nilly edge lettering

I just checked past dollars with edge lettering, and it must be a common practice for the inscriptions to face the obverse (right side up) and some coins the edge lettering faces the reverse (upside down). I wrote to you earlier about finding such inscriptions on the new Innovation Dollars. Is it a common practice for the Mint to put the edge lettering willy-nilly? So you can ignore my earlier letter as it doesn’t reveal anything new at all. But at least I have a five-coin start to my Innovation collection!

Tom Robbins
Oquawka, Ill.

Mint aims to make money

It is a well-known fact that the objective of the U.S. Mint is to make money

Dan Bubalo
Brainerd, Minn.

Discolored dimes pass for cents when getting change

This is really odd. Not long ago, I informed you that I had received a dime in change for a cent, since it looked like one. Today I received another dime in change, also as a cent, but different date (both P mintmarks). I can’t help but wonder what is happening to the dimes but am not complaining, as I am making out.

William Mills
Orlando, Fla.

2019 cents in N.J. change

Today, Feb 4, 2019, at the WAWA in Lumberton, N.J., I received four 2019 cents that appear to be normal.

William Atkinson
Address withheld

Mint needs to consider avid little collectors

Was watching HSN, Home Shopping Network, and they were selling Apollo coins, including 5 oz. How could they have such quantities when my 5 oz. were back-ordered, and I ordered within 15 minutes of opening sale? He also stated that they are back-ordered till October. How would this person give this information without knowing from the Mint?

Also, the Mint does not give an expected ship date. How am I to get first strike designation from PCGS if I do not receive my coins by a certain date? If this keeps up, I will not order from the Mint unless they change their system so the avid LITTLE collector could collect these special coins.

To mention all his coins are graded, how could they have them shipped and returned so fast if they did not receive prior sales before public was to get them? He also stated on two-coin set with Kennedy, half the description on back was wrong, crediting Gilroy Roberts with both obverse and reverse. He was designer on one or the other, but not both. Is the Mint going to create new sleeves?

Daniel Kuziela
Chicago, Ill.

Editor’s note: A clerical error did occur in the packaging for the Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Half Dollar Set. The Mint statement said the back of the outer sleeve lists Gilroy Roberts as the designer/engraver for both the obverse and reverse of the Kennedy half dollar. Roberts designed/engraved the obverse and Frank Gasparro designed/engraved the reverse. Plans to reprint sleeves with the correct information are under way.

Lack of sellout may mean many have left the market

I am an avid reader of your column and of Mint Statistics. I am quite surprised that the half dollar set (containing the 2019 Reverse Proof JFK half dollar) didn’t sell out in the first few hours. The 100,000 mintage for this half got my attention. It makes the 1970-D issue (2,038,134) look like they made millions of them! The only JFK half that seems to have a lower mintage is the 1998 matte half (64,141).

I fear the lack of a quick sell-out tells us that many collectors have “left the market” since the 2007/2008 economic downturn. We witness dramatically lower sales of mint and proof sets. I fear many collectors, after loosing their jobs, had to sell their collections in order to pay their mortgage and put food on the table. Those that had to completely sell their collection have not and will not return to coin collecting.

But when nobody is buying, the correct thing to do is acquire.

We have seen the commemorative theme of “Boy’s Town” and “Breast Cancer Awareness” (half, dollar, and $5 gold) produce extremely small sales. I’m hopeful that the Apollo Program will reinvigorate sales, as will the American Legion theme. Are the lows in for this cycle? Only time will tell.

Jerome Watts
Vacaville, Calif.

Description for Enhanced Reverse Proof JFK is apt

Just a note about the JFK Enhanced Reverse Proof Coin in the Apollo two-coin set. There is no doubt by my example that the description is apt. My coin is in excellent condition with JFK’s image a true mirrored finish and a frosted or sand-blasted background. The Apollo half is also well struck and has great eye appeal. The 5 Oz. Proof, though, is going back to the Mint, as there are so many flaws and blemishes that it is not acceptable for my collection. I’m still awaiting my shipment for the PF70 5 Oz.

Steve McGowan
Algonac, Mich.

Mint mistreats medal buyers

I refer to your comment, “It is laudable that the Mint is attempting to make medals popular” in the article about the new Jefferson medal (Numismatic News Express, Feb 19, 2019, page 12). If the Mint wanted to make medals popular, they should not have forced all buyers of the uniformed services silver medals to also buy a WWI commemorative dollar with each medal at about $100 per set.

After that stunt, the only Mint product I am buying is the annual Native American dollar in the 100-coin bag. This is so that I have golden dollars to carry for spending through the year. All other Mint products will find no home here.

Joseph E. Boling
Indianapolis, Ind.

Get in line to buy rolls during launch ceremony?

I was just wondering how many rolls were sold yesterday at the Lowell, Mass., quarter release ceremony. I don’t know who puts out that stat. Maybe it’s the Mint.

It was held at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium, which is a large venue. I’ve been to a few other ceremonies but have never seen a large line assembling for the rolls of quarters while the ceremony was ongoing and probably mid-way.

Much to my chagrin, I joined that line. I used to think it was rude to leave the ceremony early to get in line for the quarters, but frankly, with about 50 people waiting during the ceremony and not near the end of the ceremony, I succumbed.

The name of the bank was the Jeanne d’Arc Credit Union.

The very weird thing is the coins were from the Denver Mint. This is not usually the case; probably that was what was most available.
It’s nearly impossible to find rolls of quarters around Boston normally, so I had to lower my courtesy standards!

Name withheld

Editor’s note: For up-to-date sales figures on rolls of the Lowell National Historical Park quarter, see this week's Mint Statistics.

More 2019 cents spotted in East Coast change

Just received two 2019 one-cent coins in change today in the cafeteria of the Palmetto Richland hospital in Columbia, S.C.

Tom D.
South Carolina

Denver cents turn up, too

Early Spring has struck here, along with my first circulation find of 2019 coins! I was handed two 2019 Denver cents today (Feb. 11) in change. So kicks off the new collecting year for me! Within the last two weeks, I’ve finally been finding some 2018 Block Island ATB quarters also, the only one I hadn’t seen yet.

In the 2017 series greenbacks, I have seen (and kept a few) $20, $10, and $1 notes. I have also found and kept two 2017 $1 star notes: one from Dallas, one from Chicago. So continues my collecting (hoarding?!) of odds and ends!

Thank you for your time and the work you guys do in keeping me educated!

Jay Woodin
Address withheld