L&C Coin 'n Pouch Sets

Bubblehead

Am I the only one?
My (10) set order finally arrived this aftn!
Super happy! Not!
All TEN of my pouches are from the same Tribe!!!
Different gals, tho. It would appear that SD tanners were the last to finish their projects.....

magikbilly

Hi,
that along with the fact that the Mint suggests you don't even store the coin in the pouch - I'd be unhappy too!

Best,
Billy

Jackrabbit

Got mine today, and was a little disappointed... My pouch was done my a gentleman (A Chief I hope).
Most of the names I have seen are from ladies.... I wonder how many pouch's were done by men ???

dthigpen

<< <i>Got mine today, and was a little disappointed... My pouch was done my a gentleman (A Chief I hope).
Most of the names I have seen are from ladies.... I wonder how many pouch's were done by men ??? >>



I hope you realize that the likelihood of all of these pouches being produced by a warehouse full of random 'native americans' earning minimum wage is very high...

JadeRareCoin

........so why is the U.S. Mint now engaged in the practice of selling mass produced trinkets that have nothing to do with coins?

dthigpen

<< <i>........so why is the U.S. Mint now engaged in the practice of selling mass produced trinkets that have nothing to do with coins? >>



I've sort of been wondering this since they first announced this particular set.

morgannut2

I don't see what all the griping is about. I just paid over $3000 for some old Native American leather beadwork (a bag and a broken quillqork pipe) but was the underbidder on an upper Plains cradle with leather/beadwork the a dealer got for inventory at $58,000! I've never see even fragments of leather pouches (parfleche bags) going for less than $300. I wish my grandfather had bought up some of this authentic stuff a 100 years ago when it sold for what the current pouches sell for today.

JadeRareCoin

morgannut2, there's a BIG difference:

The authentic pouch fragments that are selling for $300 and up are historically important in that they were REAL pouches that were actually used by Native Americans in their daily lives. The crap that the U.S. Mint is now mass marketing is being made for the sole purpose of making money. The pouches will never appreciated in value, imho. They are making too many of them. They are nice replicas, at best. Souvenirs. Trinkets.

I think people should collect what they like, so if you like the pouch sets, then buy some. My only point in this rant is that the U.S. Mint should focus on making coins, not souvenirs.

morgannut2

I agree that the US mint has no business being involved in anything but coins. The Bureau of Indian Affairs in the U.S. Department of the Interior actually does promote Native American artwork in a responsible way both at reservations and some government offices. Some material is at best a trinket. But some is truly rare and beautiful. For example the modern magnificent blackware bowls from Santa Clara that from a few artists command over 4 figures and are art museum quality. My only point is that its hard to buy anything today, even trinkets, at the low prices offered in this poorly thought through coin program.

dthigpen

Down in Tijuana, I can buy 'authentic' indian-made pouches for $2, $1 if I haggle.

Hoot

<< <i>morgannut2, there's a BIG difference:

The authentic pouch fragments that are selling for $300 and up are historically important in that they were REAL pouches that were actually used by Native Americans in their daily lives. The crap that the U.S. Mint is now mass marketing is being made for the sole purpose of making money. The pouches will never appreciated in value, imho. They are making too many of them. They are nice replicas, at best. Souvenirs. Trinkets.

I think people should collect what they like, so if you like the pouch sets, then buy some. My only point in this rant is that the U.S. Mint should focus on making coins, not souvenirs. >>



I see your point, but I don't think some of what you are saying is correct. The leather for the pouches was cured by traditional methods (I believe three types of leather cured by two distinct methods) and sewn by hand by native Americans that are participating in their tribes and their heritable traditions. Having lived around American Indians for a number of years, there are clearly a contingent of people from nearly every tribe who want to participate in learning and passing on the traditions of their forefathers. The pouches in the L&C sets are modern but come from a deep historical tradition and are worked by the hands of individuals involved in their tribe's traditions. They were made with care and represent an offering to people of this country that is uncommon. I would never reduce the work to the level of "trinket" or "souvenir," as it lacks an understanding of an underlying process. With modern beadwork (which itself has meaning) and from modern hands, these pouches are as real as historical pieces, albeit not as rare or old. The Indians who made them are as real as any of their ancestors and they are trying to keep a wealth of tradition alive. Should the Mint profit? Since the sales benefitted the tribes, I don't have a problem with it.

Hoot

magikbilly

Hi All,
to me this is the same manner of foolishness that brought us the "brilliant" light-up Edison - which looked like a Franklin Mint nightmare.

Billy

JadeRareCoin

Hoot, you make some good points. I probably overreacted. Thanks, Dennis