U.S. Mint Director Ed Moy recently held a Coin Collectors forum in Puerto Rico in conjunction with the launch of the Puerto Rico quarter. U.S. Mint Collectors Forums are public question-and-answer sessions where a U.S. Mint executive, usually the director, provides information to the public and tries to gain a feel for how the public is responding to U.S. Mint products and services. These forums have been very effective in allowing top Mint leadership to hear the concerns of the rank-and-file collector, and more often than not, including in Puerto Rico, these sessions reveal interesting tidbits about the Mint's future plans and the way it operates.
Some of the more interesting questions which were asked at the Puerto Rico forum include:
- Will the U.S. Mint be producing commemorative coins from the Morgan and Barber drawings recently discovered at the Smithsonian by Dr. Doty?
- Since the el Yunque National Forest in Puerto Rico was designated in 1903 (pre-dating Yellowstone in 1916), will it be the first National Parks quarter to be issued?
- Is the U.S. still losing money striking pennies and nickels?
- When can we expect to see the one ounce silver buffalo coins?
Comments
Regarding #15, actually if you want to split hairs, Pres. Lincoln signed an act of congress to set aside Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias in 1864, but it was administered by the state of California. Yellowstone was arguably the first “National Park” in 1872, because Wyoming Terr. was not yet a state so it was administered by the federal government. Both Yosemite and Yellowstone were made into National Parks in 1890 when the federal government took direct responsibility for their administration. 1916 was the date the “National Park Service” was established by Teddy Roosevelt; prior to 1916 the national parks were maintained by the US Army Corps of Engineers.
The El Yunque forest region was initially set aside in 1876 by the King Alfonso XII of Spain, and represents one of the oldest reserves in the Western Hemisphere, but is still beaten by Yellowstone and Yosemite. So I don’t really see how a National Forest, not even administered by the NPS, has a leg to stand on as being “the first national park”.
Ah, I stand corrected. Hot Springs National Park (Ark.), was set aside by Andrew Jackson via congress in 1832.
Re: (7)
As the question was asked, a case could be made for the 1935 Old Spanish Trail half dollar, with the name of the Spanish explorer emblazoned on the obverse of the coin since the surname Cabeza de Vaca is Spanish for “head of a cow.” For a circulating coin, this is a first for those who don’t consider Latin a language.
Re: (17) I haven’t seen these designs, but this shows Moy’s cluelessness. For all the talk of kicking off a new renaissance in coin design, you would think they would leap at this opportunity. Designs not used by beloved coin designers of the past. He can get them issued in gold with no problems, and part of his job is to recommend coin designs and issuance to Congress.
Re: (20) Honestly, haven’t we overused the design enough? You can get it on a nickel, in gold on bullion pieces (although now limited), and there is already a silver buffalo coin issued from 2001. But, I know that collectors love it, and Moy should easily be able to convince Congress to allow him to issue Silver Eagles in a buffalo design if he had any sway with Congress.
not to rain on anyone’s parade, but as far as bilingual, wouldn’t “e pluribus unum” qualify?
I have a silver 1920 buffalo head nickel. can you please tell me what the approximate value is?
first, it’s not silver but a nickel-copper alloy.
it’s hard to value without seeing it.
It is a keeper though. Take it to a local coin shop and see if they will give you an estimate.
How about this for bullion ideas.
UHR peace dollar, 10 dollar indian “also designed by saint gaudens, or the original liberty double eagle. I would love to see these in ultra high relief.
I have a 1985-D Lincoln Cent that appears to be only Zinc and not Copper plated. Have you heard of another coin like this? Any advice?
Lynny
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