Why so many quarter programs lately?

acelm

We went from no change in the Washington quarter from 1932 to 1998 (except the bicentennial) to 5 reverse designs nearly every year since then. The state quarter program was intended to be just the 50 states. Then we added the territories, then BOOM another 56 designs for national parks, then finally a break in 2021, only to be followed by the women quarters, 5 (ugly) obverses for the semiquincentennial, and now youth sports of all things.

Who is getting the ideas for all these programs and passing them through Congress? IMO they exhausted their welcome long ago. And are we sure they'll end in the 2030s, or ever? I assume something will be done in 2032 for Washington's 300th birthday, but after that I want some stability for once.

MasonG

The mint likes selling coins. Collectors like completing sets. More designs = more sales.

edited to add... And when I say "The mint", I really mean "Congress", since the mint doesn't make those decisions.

Goob

I think it’s for a plethora of reasons:

First, the mint wants to grow collecting so they put “circulating commemoratives” in change for people to find to try to spark people to become numismatists.

Second, they likely do it on quarters since while halves are (currently) being struck for circulation, quarters are the biggest denomination actively seen in circulation and so they’re the most prevalent. Quarters would certainly make more sense than, for example, the dime!

Finally, I think it depends on how the public reacts. People seemed to like state quarters, so they expanded the idea of quarter series. I think unless theres just like some active disliking for the series that the mint puts out, they’ll probably keep churning out things like these.

Just my thoughts though, I could be wrong! 😉

TomB

$$$

acelm

@Goob said:
I think it’s for a plethora of reasons:

First, the mint wants to grow collecting so they put “circulating commemoratives” in change for people to find to try to spark people to become numismatists.

Second, they likely do it on quarters since while halves are (currently) being struck for circulation, quarters are the biggest denomination actively seen in circulation and so they’re the most prevalent. Quarters would certainly make more sense than, for example, the dime!

Finally, I think it depends on how the public reacts. People seemed to like state quarters, so they expanded the idea of quarter series. I think unless theres just like some active disliking for the series that the mint puts out, they’ll probably keep churning out things like these.

Just my thoughts though, I could be wrong! 😉

True, and I actually enjoy some of the designs; that said I have way more state quarter sets than anything else. The early national parks have lower mintages, and of course there's the West Point issues, but not much else to look for. Tbh the 2019-W coins did way more for growing collector interest than the program itself.

Rc5280

@TomB said:
$$$

$$$ ✓

Quarters = positive seigniorage.

WQuarterFreddie

@acelm said:

@Goob said:
I think it’s for a plethora of reasons:

First, the mint wants to grow collecting so they put “circulating commemoratives” in change for people to find to try to spark people to become numismatists.

Second, they likely do it on quarters since while halves are (currently) being struck for circulation, quarters are the biggest denomination actively seen in circulation and so they’re the most prevalent. Quarters would certainly make more sense than, for example, the dime!

Finally, I think it depends on how the public reacts. People seemed to like state quarters, so they expanded the idea of quarter series. I think unless theres just like some active disliking for the series that the mint puts out, they’ll probably keep churning out things like these.

Just my thoughts though, I could be wrong! 😉

True, and I actually enjoy some of the designs; that said I have way more state quarter sets than anything else. The early national parks have lower mintages, and of course there's the West Point issues, but not much else to look for. Tbh the 2019-W coins did way more for growing collector interest than the program itself.

Don't forget about the 2020-W quarters!😎