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Question about NEW coinage?
lonelyp
Posts: 1,634
Why are all the NEW coins being struck with such a shallow image?
In a side by side comparison of a 2000 and a 1970 jeff, (the 1970 coin is from circ. but is in good condition) The image on the 2000 coin only seems about half as deeply struck into the planchet.
Is the mint making "throwaway money"
Is it so they can put more intricate designs on the coins?
Is it causing more error coins? (speared bison, dettached leg, extra leaf quarter, and so on)
pz
In a side by side comparison of a 2000 and a 1970 jeff, (the 1970 coin is from circ. but is in good condition) The image on the 2000 coin only seems about half as deeply struck into the planchet.
Is the mint making "throwaway money"
Is it so they can put more intricate designs on the coins?
Is it causing more error coins? (speared bison, dettached leg, extra leaf quarter, and so on)
pz
(Old man) Look I had a lovely supper, and all I said to my wife was, “That piece of halibut was good enough for Jehovah”.
(Priest) BLASPHEMY he said it again, did you hear him?
(Priest) BLASPHEMY he said it again, did you hear him?
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In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
also helps to cut down on die wear but there is only so much time for the metal to flow and
the more shallow the relief the less time required. To give the coins character and make them
appear to have more relief there is more variation in height within the devices. This has caused
collectors to coin the term spaghetti hair in reference to some (especially the Washington). The
mint spends an inordinate amount of resources making cents so when this coin is discontinued
there may be some restoration of of depth in the designs.
These low designs will prove interesting in the future as the entire run of these coins all appear
to wear away at the same time. The old quarters are wearing at about the same rate the relief
is being lowered. To keep the coins the same width for verification in machines they've even re-
duced the planchet thickness by 1% in 1999.
<< <i> Why are all the NEW coins being struck with such a shallow image? >>
It is kind of sad. I look at my Buffalo nickels (1913-1938) and they look like medallions compared to modern coinage.
<< <i>They are likely doing it to extend die life. >>
It also make the coins UGLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
<< <i>High speed presses, The faster you can make them the more money you make... >>
OK,
These answers make sence to me, BUT, Do we really need to produce that many coins?
Wouldn't it be cheaper in the long run to produce higher quality coinage in fewer numbers?
I know if I have paper money in my pocket I don't dig for coins to complete a purchase. Of course then I get change back, so maybe we do.
And... If the biggest problem with the SBA dollar was that it to closely resembled a quarter. I believe that is the biggest reason it never really had a chance. Why not try a square, or rectangle dollar coin? If they can make a machine take a dollar bill I'm sure they could make them work.
pz
(Priest) BLASPHEMY he said it again, did you hear him?
<< <i>
<< <i>High speed presses, The faster you can make them the more money you make... >>
OK,
These answers make sence to me, BUT, Do we really need to produce that many coins?
Wouldn't it be cheaper in the long run to produce higher quality coinage in fewer numbers?
I know if I have paper money in my pocket I don't dig for coins to complete a purchase. Of course then I get change back, so maybe we do.
And... If the biggest problem with the SBA dollar was that it to closely resembled a quarter. I believe that is the biggest reason it never really had a chance. Why not try a square, or rectangle dollar coin? If they can make a machine take a dollar bill I'm sure they could make them work.
pz >>
Mintages could easily be slashed in half by eliminating the cent. This would free up
a huge amount of resources and cut costs since these cost more than a cent to make.
This wouls cause at least a small increase in nickel production but it probably wouldn't
be significant. It might also pave the way for issuance of a more useful coin like a dollar
which would be more significant. The states quarters will be winding down soon and this
will free personnel and some productive capacity as production ramps back down to his-
torical levels for quarters.
Still the mint has invested heavily in the high speed quad presses and it's unlikely they
would replace these. Slowing them down could restore most of the relief that has been
lost but perhaps not all.
Making coins of better quality and/or higher relief would have almost no effect on pro-
duction. Very few coins are unsuitable for commerce or machines so lowering this per-
centage would have little effect. Collectors might save a few more coins so demand
is likely to actually increase.
Coins are made to demand so any change in production would have to be caused by a
structural change in the way coins are handled or used. No dollar coin can succeed un-
less banks and stores hand them out and they've had no interest in changing the status
quo. There is an apparent increased handling cost which they choose not to bear though
indirect savings from convenience and ease of use would likely offset this cost in its entirety.
<< <i>1964 was the final year for U.S. coinage, of any substance. The art and value of the coins has deteriorated from that year. A few nice Silver and Gold commems have been designed and produced, but the circulating stuff, has been wretched. >>
Nope. It's too arbitrary a date. The relief has been dropping for some time and
I don't believe it changed at all in 1965 except for the half and the reverse of the
quarter. There is very little difference even between a 1964 and 1973 quarter.
Not only didn't the relief change on the cent and nickel but the composition didn't
change either. The nickel had the designers initials added in 1966.
Most of the complaints about the look of the newer coins has more to do with
the fact that the concavity was reversed and that the variability of depth within
the devices increased. It was the mid-'90's where these newer changes were
started.