Sacs most numismatically interesting moderns?

DHeath

As I think about the Sac's demise as a circulating coin, I wonder how collectors will view the coin in say 20 years. They are very unpopular with the public, and most collectors poofah them as novelties. As the current modern circs go, they seem much more interesting to me than the other coinage. I like the state quarter program, and it is indeed interesting, but the Sacs are more numismatically interesting in my mind because of the following -

» They have a unique finish. (new process)
» They are treated with anti-oxidant (new process)
» They wear poorly
» They take on quite a variety of looks with wear (Olive/Dark Copper/Brass/Bright Gold/etc.)
» They will be an interesting coin with some remaining luster around the devices
» They are a unique composition (new process)
» Toning really occurs rapidly
» There were P and D burnished coins in limited quantity in 2000 (Millenium and Goodacre) (new process)
» All coins after 2001 are not made for normal circulation

I think they are a more interesting coin than the SBA, and have the duration of production of the Flying Eagle cent, or say the Trime. We'll see in twenty years.

Edited to add - I'm not promoting collecting them to anyone, but I think the coin and process are more interesting than that of the other coins, except maybe the barrel plating of the Lincolns.

Russ

Don,

Your analysis, while thorough, discounts one important consideration. They're butt ugly.

Russ, NCNE

Placid

It's the only coin with a baby on it

ursabear

I have to say that I love the Sacagawea. I've studied it quite a bit, spent some time learning to grade MS and Pr versions.

I especially like the eagle.

Also, I think the story behind Sacagawea is interesting. I also like the serious amount of detail in the eyes of Sacagawea and the papoose cloth.

Just my opinion - No matter how long they run or how collectible they become (or not) I really think they're fun and different.

FrattLaw

Not to mention the fact it's real easy to have a All Time Finest Set!

Michael

clw54

I like them also, probably because I prefer metal money.

Neptune

I also like the Sac. I think it is a very pretty coin - color and design - front and back. I also like the idea of the mother and child art. Everyone has their own opinion, but I don't think is as ugly as some of the other coins out there - I mean like presidents on coins are just plain boring to me. Others however may like that. I also agree that the state quarters have really NICE designs. Disagree if you wish, but they are at least "different". And they are interesting as well. There is nothing interesting about Washington or Lincoln's mug shot. Does anyone know what they have planned for Texas?

DHeath: Could you possibly expand on the last two points you made as I find them interesting, but don't know that much about it. I have a couple of rolls that I am saving - Roll of 2K and roll of 02, but don't have any 01's yet.

ie.
» There were P and D burnished coins in limited quantity in 2000 (Millenium and Goodacre) (new process)
» All coins after 2001 are not made for normal circulation

supercoin

Don't forget the future 100 million dollar (hey, inflation!) sale of one of the few surviving pseudo-legal 22K gold examples. The gov't will of course take 50% of the proceeds.

richbeat

The mint DID strike 2002 Sacs for circulation, before the decision was made to suspend production. Mint production figures through September 2002 show a total of 7,177,610 total Sacs struck: 3,732,000 for Denver and 3,445,610 for Philadelphia. Production figures do not include mint sets and bag and roll sales. The Sac is not dead yet, there is a niche for them: full line vending machines, the US Postal Service, toll roads and mass transit, self service car washes, a slow growth in amusement game arcades and even countries such as Ecuador and El Salvador. Granted, the demand is small but it's there and will eventually deplete the stockpile on hand. I would suspect that more will be struck by then. So far I have found one 2002P Sac in a roll I went through last week (not purchased from the mint.) I'll be saving the ones that I find. At face value purchase I'm not out anything and can always spend them later if I decide to.

DHeath

Neptune,

The US Mint recently announced the Sacagawea would no longer be produced for circulation, but would continue to be produced for collectors at least through this year. Richbeat is right about the timimg, so my statement should read "All coins after 2002 ". As for the burnished coins, both the Millenium coin (2000-D from the Mill coin and currency set) and the Goodacre presentation dollar (2000-P 5000 specially prepared coins used to pay Glenna for her design work) were burnished (polished), and are a different look.


Note - Many 2000 coins have been found raw that appear burnished, and have the same finish.

DHeath

Tad, I completely forgot the 12 space coins!

coppercoins

My personal opinion is that Goodacre originally did well with the obverse design, then the mint screwed it up. The reverse design is rather simple, but nice. Still, though, the ONLY way we will every see a $1 coin have success is if we get rid of the $1 bill.

TWQG

Where are the gold ones now? I can't recall hearing anything more about them, wasn't the true number in question?

kranky

<< <i>The mint DID strike 2002 Sacs for circulation, before the decision was made to suspend production. Mint production figures through September 2002 show a total of 7,177,610 total Sacs struck: 3,732,000 for Denver and 3,445,610 for Philadelphia. Production figures do not include mint sets and bag and roll sales. The Sac is not dead yet, there is a niche for them: full line vending machines, the US Postal Service, toll roads and mass transit, self service car washes, a slow growth in amusement game arcades and even countries such as Ecuador and El Salvador. Granted, the demand is small but it's there and will eventually deplete the stockpile on hand. I would suspect that more will be struck by then. So far I have found one 2002P Sac in a roll I went through last week (not purchased from the mint.) I'll be saving the ones that I find. At face value purchase I'm not out anything and can always spend them later if I decide to. >>



richbeat, according to this week's Coin World, none of the 2002 Sacs have been put into circulation and any examples found there would have come from people spending the ones bought from the Mint in rolls or bags.

supercoin

TWQG, off the top of my head, I believe there were 35 of the 22K gold coins struck, and all but 12 melted. The last thing I read about them, there was some confusion as to where they are now.

DHeath

That's what I heard as well. I also understand that they were never monetized, and are stored at Ft.Knox.