Poll Question: What youth sports do you hope to see on the U.S. Mint’s 2027 coins and why?

The U.S. Mint’s plan to issue youth sports-focused quarters is yet another unneeded and unwanted program. The vast majority of designs since 2011 have been absolutely awful, and no one should expect this one to be any better. The U.S. Mint has clearly lost its way and needs to have a complete overhaul of the decision-makers at the top.

C.B., Danbury, Conn.

I suggest Junior Dragsters be included in the upcoming U.S. Mint Youth Sports quarter program. The following is from the NHRA Summit Racing Equipment Junior Drag Racing League website:

The NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League offers kids ages 5-17 a chance to race half-scale dragsters in a controlled environment at many of NHRA's 130 member tracks throughout the United States and Canada long before they can obtain a state driver's license. Membership in the Jr. Drag Racing League is required for competition.

The cars that Jr. Drag Racing League competitors race are called Jr. Dragsters and are half-scale versions of Top Fuel Dragsters. Using a five-horsepower, single-cylinder engine, a Jr. Dragster can go as fast as 85 mph and as quick as 7.90 seconds in an eighth-mile, though younger age groups are restricted to slower times/speeds.

Many of NHRA's 130 member tracks offer weekly Jr. Drag Racing League programs where kids can race to earn points toward track championships in their age group. The points leaders in each class are then chosen to represent their track at the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing Western or Eastern Conference Finals, depending on the location of the track.

Michael Schwartz, Silver Spring, Md.

I'm not hoping to see any children's sports on our coins. We have too many designs on our coins already. It seems the Washington quarters will have many different designs every year in perpetuity. Starting with the state quarters in 1999, there are already over 400 quarters to collect, and there are more coming every year! Add to them the different dollar coin series, and our coinage system has become a huge mess with constant ideas for new series to please various special interests. This makes the abuses of the classic commemorative series look like child's play. 

This could have a detrimental effect on coin collecting in the long run, as beginning collectors become overwhelmed with the amount of coins needed to complete the sets, especially the aforementioned quarters. The mint needs to return to the simplicity of issuing the coins necessary to meet our needs for commerce and let collectors collect what they want from there, with proof versions of circulating coins being available, too, of course.

Louis Ludiciani, Cumberland, R.I.

I wasn't hoping to see any sports, youth or otherwise, on the quarter. Government agencies out of touch is how we got the current administration. Can we ask DOGE to kill this idea and return the eagle to the back of our quarter?

Richard Bumpus, Marion, Mass.

While this is a nice attempt to interest the country's youth in coins, haven’t we had enough “programs” for a while? There are about 130 different Washington quarters currently circulating. It's great if you collect foreign coins because cashiers rarely know which are U.S. coins and which are not. As long as the size is close, it goes into the drawer. I have collected all of these quarters and am struggling to find the enthusiasm to do so for youth sports!

Gerald Ward, Address withheld

NONE. This is just another gimmick. It is similar to giving participation awards.

Let’s go back to some meaningful coin designs as we approach our 250th year of freedom and independence.

Bill Rodriguez, Address withheld

Soccer, soccer, and more soccer!

Tom Pesacreta, Address withheld

I don't understand why the topic of kids’ sports is going to be the next Quarter Program. There should have been a poll as to what the program should have been. I honestly feel that the program should have been something that's actually interesting. Like animals of the United States or endangered species that are soon to be eradicated because of Trump's drill baby drill. I am an avid coin collector, and I'm not excited about the 2027 quarter program at all. I'm a father, and I don't even think my daughter would find that interesting.

Aaron White, Address withheld

The U.S. Mint has issued five different quarter designs for 27 years, including this year and with the exception of 2021. Enough is enough already. I know they are going to do youth sports, and it will probably be football, baseball, hockey, basketball, and soccer. But who really cares anymore?

J. Kern, Grand Ridge, Fla.

Girls playing baseball because I played on a high school team for the city championship in Detroit but lost.

Name and Address withheld

Hockey, baseball, soccer, golf, tennis, archery, swimming, walking, track & field, wrestling, volleyball, gymnastics. Kids collect coins and promote sports for kids. 25 cent pcs.... lots of promoting with USA, flag, date, or an eagle on the obverse.

Name and Address withheld

Football, basketball, baseball, soccer.

Name and Address withheld

This program is nothing but a big joke, and these different quarter coin programs are a joke. Let's go back to one quarter and leave it. I, for one, no longer buy proof or uncirculated sets because of the quarters.

Name and Address withheld

I would love to do a special coin every year for the Williamsport, Pa. Little League World Series champion baseball game.

T. Kenyon, Pennsylvania

Baseball/softball, soccer, football, tennis, cross-country running, basketball, archery wrestling, track, field hockey, rugby, and weightlifting. Both boys and girls – but NOT TOGETHER!

KRE, Germantown, Ohio