Mint-produced Presidential dollar coin boards
DBSTrader2
Posts: 3,492 ✭✭✭✭
In the years since they started minting the Presidential dollars, has anyone else taken up the Mint on its offer for free "coin boards", similar to bookmarks?
When the Prez $'s first came out, the Mint made a big deal of providing free signs, posters, coin boards, etc to get the word out.
I found the coin boards to be an interesting way to display the coins and generate interest among friends & acquaintances.
Each year, the Mint would issue a board for that year, with either just the 4 presidents released that year, or, more recently, with a hole for the Sac-dollar-of-the-year as well......
The problem was in getting them out in a timely fashion, however..... Even though the Mint KNEW which presidents would be released each year, it became commonplace for them to not be ready with any given year's board for distribution until as late as April....... It's NOT like the Mint was caught by surprise or anything!!
Now comes 2010, and a blurb hidden on the Mint website states that, "due to expenses", the program is being suspended, but to "look for a new link shortly" once they re-start issuing them.........
EXPENSES?!
The same Mint which charges exhorbanent seignorage for rolls, etc all the time, or which has no problem giving away Sac & Pres dollar rolls at face with free shipping?!
Likely they got a few kids, etc (myself included) hooked on those coin boards, and are now looking at how they can sell THEM at an outrageous mark-up as well!
Let's face it.... they don't cost much to produce or send. Heck! Even the Post Office, which is hemhorraging cash by the MILLIONS, is able to send out shipping boxes in quantities FREE to those that request them!
Your thoughts?
- - Dave
When the Prez $'s first came out, the Mint made a big deal of providing free signs, posters, coin boards, etc to get the word out.
I found the coin boards to be an interesting way to display the coins and generate interest among friends & acquaintances.
Each year, the Mint would issue a board for that year, with either just the 4 presidents released that year, or, more recently, with a hole for the Sac-dollar-of-the-year as well......
The problem was in getting them out in a timely fashion, however..... Even though the Mint KNEW which presidents would be released each year, it became commonplace for them to not be ready with any given year's board for distribution until as late as April....... It's NOT like the Mint was caught by surprise or anything!!
Now comes 2010, and a blurb hidden on the Mint website states that, "due to expenses", the program is being suspended, but to "look for a new link shortly" once they re-start issuing them.........
EXPENSES?!
The same Mint which charges exhorbanent seignorage for rolls, etc all the time, or which has no problem giving away Sac & Pres dollar rolls at face with free shipping?!
Likely they got a few kids, etc (myself included) hooked on those coin boards, and are now looking at how they can sell THEM at an outrageous mark-up as well!
Let's face it.... they don't cost much to produce or send. Heck! Even the Post Office, which is hemhorraging cash by the MILLIONS, is able to send out shipping boxes in quantities FREE to those that request them!
Your thoughts?
- - Dave
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Comments
I'm not surprised by the tightening of the budget belt.
The priority mail boxes are sent through the mail, which they deliver, and it's an attempt to handcuff people to using the mail instead of fedex or ups.
There's not much of a profit nor "product protection" in the $4 each year taken out of circulation for the trouble they take in making and sending these around.
It's sad to see it go.
I fear the free coin exchange machines at the mint facilites will be next.
Thanks for the 800 number! Are they back up with the program for 2010 dollars, or are these just prior years they re trying to get rid of? I'll call first thing Monday.
MsMorrisine:
I hear where you're coming from on those Mint change machines! Once the territory coins started coming out in scarce numbers and I could no longer get bank-wrapped rolls, I first headed over to the local Fed building in Phila. I felt like a CRIMINAL just because I wanted to exchange for more than $1 worth of the latest quarters!! They practically had me taken away in HANDCUFFS!!
- - Dave
<< <i>Just call 800-usa-mint to place your order for free dollar coin boards. You can get for free any amount from any year issued so far in packages of 10. These are sent FedEx. I recently ordered 90 pieces altogether, but only recieved 40 in the mail, so I had to call again for the missing 50, which I'm awaiting delivery of. I like them - good for kids and coin clubs. >>
I don't think this is the point the OP was making. He was saying that, where they provided them before, now they will no longer be providing them. 2011, 2012, 2013, etc. will not get these boards becouse, evidently, their not charging enough for those rolls of cents. This really sucks and is simply yet another reflection of Mr. Moy's inability to run the US Mint or the US Mint's market.
They patronize us then pull the rug out from under us! Burnished & Proof AE's, Presidential Signature Sets, and now this.
It used to be a question of whether or not the collector had the determination to complete a program! Now the question is whether or not the US Mint will complete a program?? Laughingly frustrating!
The name is LEE!
<< <i>It used to be a question of whether or not the collector had the determination to complete a program! Now the question is whether or not the US Mint will complete a program?? >>
So true.
If the Mint is going to discontinue those boards I know a couple of YNs who will be discouraged even as they get started with coin collecting.
"Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working" Pablo Picasso
Here's the webpage with the ordering info:
http://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/?action=free$1CoinMaterials
Thanks for the link! Looks like that's the revised website they promised after all, streamlined to remove a lot of the unnecessary products INTRODUCING the coins, and leaving just the coinboards (with no complete list on any bookmark anymore, but that's ok) and stickers indicating businesses which accept the coins. Seems smarter. I'm glad they are keeping with production of the coinboard! I'm going to order 1 pack of 10 for each year - - there's a YN collector table outside the main hall of the monthly coin show nearby that can put them to good use!
Thanks again!
- - Dave
Thanks again for the updated link, Edwin!
- - Dave
The name is LEE!
I'm like you... I was all set to rant some more about the Mint, but they actually did ok this time! But I'm sure we can still find stuff to rag on them about!
DrBuster:
I got some of those promo classroom materials back then, too, but I think a lot of them were to introduce the idea of the dollar coins. Those materials were what I believe they sacrificed to expenses, now that people supposedly "know" about them.
- - Dave
Franklin-Lover's Forum
It's closing in on 3 weeks and counting............ and nothing in the mail yet...........
I have a friend who has been getting them for me, as well as the P mint of each coin when it comes out.
I don't store any of my coins in any form of paper (not any new additions, anyway) so I just save these for posterity. They are kind of fun, and the blue background is a nice touch when scanning them. (The coins come in the holder, so I scan it and then take them out)
I hope to have a complete collection someday.
I finally received notification they'd shipped mid-week, and they arrived in today's mail........... not bad for an in-stock item...... almost a month!
Now I can go out and spread the good word throughout the land & gather new coin collectors,,,,,,,,