THE STATE OF NUMISMATICS IS IN SHAMBLES! Ok, not really, but have you ever wondered where the future of Numismatics lies? Long gone are the days of finding abundant silver coins in circulation and key date coins are becoming harder and harder to find in their once pristine condition. Now, most collector coins are being held in collector’s hands or packed away in the remains of yester year. As time goes on, it’s inevitable that some coins will be inadvertently destroyed or lost, or once Mint State coins will be subjected to improper handling and reduced to a lesser grade.
In my own educated opinion, they just don’t make them like they used to. Instead of the beautiful ornate designs of 100 years, coins of today have impersonal designs that lack the spirit and heart of America. Although it’s nice that we are honoring the Presidents who helped form this country, the computer generated designs are hideous and lack character!
In 100 years, if coin collecting still exists, will our children and our children’s children look back at our coinage; will they gaze in awe at the “beautiful” designs like we do today? Or will the government continue to slip into a world ugly, mass produced coins? Maybe the government will decide to do away with designs on coins completely and resort to using color coded metal disks? Only time will tell.
Leave a comment with your opinion of the future of coin designs!
I believe that there will continue to be more interesting designs to collect. But as far as the silver denominations, buffalo, indian cents, etc. go, increased prices will continue to make this hobby more geared to those who can afford it. Then it will truly be the hobby of kings, because they will be one of the few who can afford it.
ReplyDeleteCirculating U.S. coins today lack the artistic qualities of coins like a Walking Liberty half dollar or a Standing Liberty quarter but allegorical designs offer greater artistic latitude than representations of real people. Most current designs are old and tired and should be replaced; however, I am not optimistic that future designs will be any less sterile than those currently in circulation. The Lincoln cent has been around so long that it’s an institution. Maybe we shouldn’t mess with that one!
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