Options
Commemorative Themes - Classics vs. Moderns
Zoins
Posts: 33,863 ✭✭✭✭✭
The themes selected for classics and moderns were/are selected under very different criteria and, accordingly, turn out to have different subject matter.
Do you prefer the classic way of selecting themes, or the modern way? Or something else?
Commemorative Themes - Classics vs. Moderns
This is a public poll: others will see what you voted for.
0
Comments
Some of us just love coins period. Modern or classic.
Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value. Zero. Voltaire. Ebay coinbowlllc
Most modern designs are just plain terrible.
classics are my choice. there are some moderns that I picked up along the way because I liked them. fwiw
Classic for me.... to much commercialization and political correctness in modern designs. Cheers, RickO
Have both, love what I have.
I like Commemoratives with Major errors ...
The themes selected for classics and moderns were/are selected under very different criteria............................
I think by "themes" you are referring to what is being commemorated and not the design which ends up adorning our coinage, is that correct?? replies like "Most modern designs are just plain terrible" seem to indicate some miss the point of the poll.
can you please clarify that??
For me, I like the classics. The moderns seem to say to me......OK,. What shall we commemorate next.
My War Nickels https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/nickels/jefferson-nickels-specialty-sets/jefferson-nickels-fs-basic-war-set-circulation-strikes-1942-1945/publishedset/94452
The moderns seem to say to me......OK,. What shall we commemorate next.
perhaps you are unaware, but that is exactly the kind of thinking that killed the older program after the Washington-Carver Half-Dollar.
In general I like more classic designs than moderns but find 1992 Columbus halves, 1986 Statue of Liberty, 1999
Dolly Madison dollars and a few others quite appealing.
Get Both!
I admit that I am biased toward older coins. A few of the moderns are ok, and a few of the classics are poor. I do like the 92 Columbus Half Eagle, so much that I bought a proof.
I own a few of both. I'll probably complete the classic series (minus the two $50 coins unless I stop buying for years to save up). I'll never complete the modern series, but there are a few I like and still need to buy (recently I've been looking for the 2014 Baseball HoF coins at a good price).
My eBay Store | My Registry Profile
Neither the classical nor modern commemorative coins are paragons of virtue when it comes to events commemorated. Some of the classic commemoratives, like the Albany, Hudson and New Rochelle half dollars should never have been national commemorative coins. They should have been local town medals. Back in the 30’s New York state had a large and powerful Congressional delegation. They got the legislation passed for the coins. In fairness, other places, like York, Bridgeport, Connecticut, Columbia, South Carolina, Lynchburg, Virginia, and York, Maine should have town medals too.
The modern topics are not a lot better. Olympic coins should not be issued when the U.S. is the host country. One can also question why some charities get special support from Congress. The Kennedy family has gotten more than its share of commemorative coins. The reason why the modern commemorative programs have not done well for the buyers and, on occasion, the charity is that there are simply too many programs. I used to keep up them, but I got “collector fatigue” a few years ago and stopped buying.
The only good thing for me financially has been the price of gold which has bailed me out of most the modern gold commemorative coins I own.
so Bill, just so I have this right, you don't consider the Albany Charter as being significant?? and just to be right-er, the Half-Dollar actually commemorates that Charter and not the City.
I would never argue that some of the Classic Commemorations were rather vague, but I don't think Albany is one of them.
Both eras have had their excesses. I think the modern program's stronger oversight is a benefit overall. Can you imagine if we still had zombie programs minted year after year, or intentional varieties (stars, 2x4s, etc.), all distributed by private organizations of variable character for their own profit? I think we'd see a lot more Cincinnati Center of Music-type programs than Apollo XIs.
+1, Amen, well said!!!
Both!
Both series have an issue for those wanting to collect every coin— coins that have zero interest to the collector but you need it to complete the set.
I just had to buy a PCGS MS70 FS Breast Cancer 50c... for $300. I could have gotten a nice Oregon for that money.
The 1991 Korean war $1 commem is the 38th anniversary of the Korean war.
38th anniversary = 38th parallel. LOL
Also has the Ying Yang symbol on it.
1992 columbus commem. . ..reads: Discoverer of America
2000 Leif Ericson commem...reads Discoverer of America
The 1993 madison $5 Gold...James madison's arm on the obverse is like 3 feet long.
First US coin to have Brail. 1996 paraOlympic games Blind Runner silver dollar......very impressive. No excuse not to run or at least walk everyday.
The classics are better in that they had more latitude for design and relief. However the themes overall were kind of boring with some notable exceptions. I’d prefer the styling latitude of the older classics with newer themes. Imagine if some of the national park quarters were done in half dollar sizes with design and relief details of the San Diego or Texas commem? That would be cool.
TurtleCat Gold Dollars
I like some classics and some moderns, but not all of them. I think the best advice I've heard is collect what you like or what you can.
I love this one, it looks like lightening in a stormy sky!!!!