Weekly World Numismatic News for September 15, 2019
The U.S. Mint unveiled the design of the Basketball Hall of Fame coin at the induction ceremony in Springfield. I found the story on NBA.com, created a post that was later picked up by the rest of the numismatic community.
A day later, the U.S. Mint issued a press release about the design announcement to the general public.
Over the last year, the information from the U.S. Mint has had problems. Announcements are being issued late. On a recent case, they had to issue corrections. Now, they cannot even include the numismatic community in a collectible that has generated excitement.
The U.S. Mint may be the largest manufacturer of coins, but their communications skills leave much to be desired.
Why is the U.S. Mint not partnering with the numismatic media to get their word out?
Why is the U.S. Mint not issuing general press releases to all news outlets to publicize what they are doing?
Why is the U.S. Mint not publicizing themselves? Aside from being the sole manufacturer of coins in the United States, they are making a profit! Although some decry the amount of seigniorage they earn, it is a profit center for the United States government.
Tell the world!
Tell the world that not only are you producing coins but collectibles. Tell the world that you are producing bullion. Tell the world about the commemorative coins.
Why was the U.S. Mint not out in public in the run-up to the 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11 to highlight the coins? Why was the U.S. Mint not involved in helping celebrate one of the most significant events in United States history?
While the U.S. Mint did participate in National Coin Week, its outreach beyond the collector community leaves much to be desired. The U.S. Mint is doing itself a disservice. They are not helping the numismatic community. And, by extension, not doing right by the country which they are supposed to serve.
Why is this a difficult concept for the U.S. Mint?
It is time for Director David Ryder to either lead the U.S. Mint forward or vacate the job and allow someone who understands modern marketing to raise the bureau’s profile.
And now the news…
September 8, 2019Nevada Appeal staff report As the 150th anniversary of the opening of the U.S. Branch Mint in Carson City draws closer, the Nevada State Museum is expanding the days it showcases one of the Mint’s most enduring artifacts. 
→ Read more at nevadaappeal.com
September 8, 2019MANAMA, Bahrain — There's a burgeoning online market for the elaborate and colorful coins pressed into the palms of Navy petty officers when they pin on their anchors and take the chief petty officer's pledge, but some critics say the trade diminishes the value of the tradition. → Read more at military.com
September 9, 2019The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) has teamed up with the Royal Australian Mint to release their first ever coin featuring a secret code. The coin was released in commemoration of ASIO’s 70th anniversary this year. → Read more at businessinsider.com.au
September 15, 2019PROVO — The camera rows behind the baseline of a basketball court offer a vantage point of the game unlike anything caught from the nosebleed seats or even on television. It’s there where you can truly absorb the athleticism of the sport and appreciate how the way men and women fight for a loose ball, a ball much smaller than their gargantuan frames, flows elegantly like poetry. → Read more at ksl.com
A New Acquisition
It has been a long week. Not only did the election and everything around it provide enough to do, but we also have a new acquisition that has also provided for additional demands for my time. In my last post I said I would talk about this new acquisition, so please allow me to indulge…
Meet Tessa. That’s Tessa in the picture on the right laying on her new daddy’s shoulder. Tessa is a four-pound, 11-week old puggle puppy that we picked up last weekend. Tessa is the pup of the same sire and dam of our first puggle, Boomer. Boomer is now two years old and 48 pounds of four-legged fun. When we found that Boomer’s mom, a beagle, was expecting and that the father was the same pug, my wife and I decided to adopt Boomer’s sister.
Tessa has been with us for a week and we are getting to know her better as she tries to push the limits with us. She is very precocious and thinks nothing of trying to jump all over Boomer. To his credit, Boomer has been very tolerant of his sister and has not tried to take her head off—even though there were times she deserved it!
As we train a new puppy, it has not been easy to find time for much of anything. But I thank you for indulging me and I promise to write something numismatic-related soon.
Vote Numismatically
Citizens of the United States wake up this morning to what some has called the most exciting and exhausting election season since Dewy did not beat Truman. It also has to be the longest campaign after having started the day after the 2006 midterm election by our over-active press.
Numismatically, there should be few changes if any. Although there is a lot of passion for the presidential candidates, the only influence the president may have is the appointment of the directors of the US Mint and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Otherwise, congress must past the laws to command the US Mint to do its job. The president can veto any law, but is rarely done with numismatic bills.
Although most of the action is in congress, there is not much to watch from a numismatic perspective. Polls show that the Democrats will maintain control of Congress and possibly increase their lead. It is likely that the leadership will probably remain in place for the 111th Congress including Barney Frank (D-MA), Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, the committee responsible for numismatic laws.
Analysts suggest that Frank will win his 15th election and return to the House as chairman of the House Financial Services Committee. Numismatically, this means that the run the committee adopted that any commemorative coin bill must have 250 co-sponsors before it would be considered.
In other races, Virgil Goode (R-VA) is in a very tight race. Goode was eventually credited with inserting a measure in an omnibus budget act to move the motto “IN G-D WE TRUST” from the edge to the front of both dollar coins.
For those hoping that the new congress will eliminate the paper dollar, the 111th congress may not be your answer. With the exception of the retiring Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA), most of the Washington, DC area representatives in Maryland and Virginia will be returning to their seats the House meaning that there will continue to be local political incentives force the BEP to continue with printing $1 Federal Reserve Note.
Since this election does not matter numismatically, you may want to consider such “minor” issues such as the economy, healthcare, or international policy. But whomever you chose, VOTE!
Penny Harvest Grows for the 18th Time
Common Cents, the creators of the Penny Harvest, has announced the 18th Annual Penny Harvest kick-off. Over 1,000 schools and 500,000 students nationwide will go on a massive penny hunt to put those pennies to use.
I have written about the Penny Harvest Field and marveled at the large box of pennies on display at Rockefeller Center in New York City. It is an awesome site on television, but I hope to visit in person.
Last year, the Penny Harvest raised $677,955.99, including $20,000 from passers-by in Rockefeller Plaza. When I make my visit, I will bring my bottle of pennies to add to this year’s Penny Field. Besides, it gives me an excuse to visit my home town!
If you want to support Common Cents and the Penny Harvest, please consider a tax deductible contribution to help them with their work.
Should I Podcast?
For the last three years, in over 400 posts, I have written about the coin collecting news, stories, interests, and my collection in this blog. It has been a labor of love and a lot of fun. I enjoy hearing from my readers and find it satisfying to know that someone is reading.
On the third anniversary of the Coin Collectors’ Blog, I am considering branching out by adding a podcast to my repertoire. For those who are unfamiliar with podcasts, Wikipedia defines a podcast as “a series of audio or video digital-media files which is distributed over the Internet by syndicated download, through Web feeds, to portable media players and personal computers.”
The podcast would be a half-hour show (on the average) consisting of a review of news in the numismatic world along with stories and features. I would take audience questions and answer them or find someone who can help me answer those questions. I would try to find guests to interview and even take input and reviews from the listeners. My goal is to make the show entertaining and informative.
If I record a podcast, I will record an audio show and make it available for download from the Internet. I would do it in a way so that listeners would be able to subscribe to the show using Apple’s iTunes and other syndication services for easier access. Advanced listeners will be able to manually download the show.
Are you interested in a coin collectors’ podcast? Let me know what you think. Please let me know by participating in the survey on the right side of this page. The survey will be available until November 16. If you would like, post a comment with your opinion to this note.
We seem to be in a voting mood this year. Vote now!
Thank you!!
A Bully Birthday
Few noticed and seemed to care, but as numismatists, we should have been in celebration for the 150th anniversary of the birth of Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt was known as a reformer with a real vision as to how to modernize a nation still recovering from a bloody Civil War and draconian laws from the Victorian Age. Roosevelt was a man of strength and a man of peace. Roosevelt was the first US citizen to win Alfred Nobel’s prize, the first sitting president to be so awarded (the only other sitting president to win the Nobel Peace Prize was Woodrow Wilson for his founding of the League of Nations, the forerunner to the United Nations). He earned this honor for negotiating the 1905 peace treaty ending the Russo-Japanese War.
For us numismatists, Roosevelt initiated the “Golden Age of American Coin Design.” Using his bully pulpit, he held the designs of the US Mint’s Chief Engraver Charles E. Barber in contempt and ordered coinage whose designs were more than 25 years old to be redesigned. Roosevelt was a fan of sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens and asked Saint-Gaudens to redesign the small cent. Rather than use the Liberty design in an Indian Headdress for the small cent, it was used on the 1907 $10 gold coin. Roosevelt also asked Saint-Gaudens to design the $20 gold double eagle coin to rival the beauty of all classic coins.
Unfortunately, Saint-Gaudens died of cancer before he could redesign the small cent. Roosevelt continued to look to revitalize US coinage and seized on Abraham Lincoln’s 100th birthday to redesign the small cent. He was steered to Victor David Brenner, whose bust of Lincoln was used as the model for the new Lincoln Cent first issued in 1909. Not only was Lincoln the first president to appear on a circulating coin, but Brenner’s obverse is still in use today.
Roosevelt called his coinage redesign his “pet crime.”
The impact of Roosevelt’s redesign continues to be felt today. Saint-Gaudens’ image of Liberty from the $20 coin is being used today on the American Eagle Gold Bullion Coins. And don’t forget the 2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle Gold Coin, which is based on a reported pattern of the original Saint-Gaudens design.
It is difficult to understand why the youngest inaugurated president and the first to win the Nobel Peace Prize while in office has not had a commemorative coin made for him.
Happy Birthday, President Roosevelt. We numismatists thank you for your “pet crime!”
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