US Mint Spends $70,000 Redesigning Website...in Times New Roman? Your Tax Dollars At Work

Coinzine

In another overwhelming success on par with the launch of the Susan B Anthony in 1979 and the current handling of the America The Beautiful 5 Ounce Silver coins (resulting in an average 400% over markup current closing price on a popular auction site - discussed here on Coinzine), the US Mint has currently spent just under $70,000 to change the look but not the functionality of their website. The current look has done away with standard conventions such as abundant white space to create the current mid 90's retro look. Love the font choices. Your tax dollars at work America! What do you think about the new look?

Rampage

<< <i>In another overwhelming success on par with the launch of the Susan B Anthony in 1979 and the current handling of the America The Beautiful 5 Ounce Silver coins (resulting in an average 400% over markup current closing price on a popular auction site - discussed here on Coinzine), the US Mint has currently spent just under $70,000 to change the look but not the functionality of their website. The current look has done away with standard conventions such as abundant white space to create the current mid 90's retro look. Love the font choices. Your tax dollars at work America! What do you think about the new look? >>



I think you need to remove your political slants. Instead of saying

<< <i>Your tax dollars at work America! What do you think about the new look? >>

why not simply state: What do you think about the new look?

I come here to read, contribute, engage in and enjoy coin related topics, not political bias. You may read the rules posted at the top of the forum if you require clarification.

Coinzine

No slant towards either direction whatsoever. I just really hate the new look and I'm certain they could have done better for the $70,000 spent. Sorry if I offended Rampage, it wasn't meant to

tjc2120

I like it. Keep spending.

DieClash

Actually, I noticed the change too, and I liked it, if not for the new esthetics, then just because its a change. I must say I didn't notice the font change.

As far as "Tax Dollars" at work, the U.S. Mint is a self-sustaining branch of Gov't that does not consume Tax dollars but rather contributes seingorage or excess revenue back into the General Fund. Granted, the folks who manage the Mint are political appointees and perhaps that is where your umbrage is directed at.

Cheers!



Kirk

Akbeez

Akbeez

Underwhelming.

I have admired the Mint's webpage look, and the black background with the "flippin" coin is not as attractive.

$70k for this is a total rip!

HTubbs

I have seen much, much better looking sites designed for a fraction of the cost...

PinkFloyd

I wasn't real impressed, because sections seemed kind of unpolished. But my guess is that it's in transition. I think it'll be pretty snazzy when its all done.

sumnom

It's fine. I don't really care either way.

carew4me

I think you need to remove your political slants. Instead of saying

<< <i>Your tax dollars at work America! What do you think about the new look? >>

why not simply state: What do you think about the new look?

I come here to read, contribute, engage in and enjoy coin related topics, not political bias. You may read the rules posted at the top of the forum if you require clarification. >>



Foul!

There is no partiuclar party related slant here. There are MANY threads that have phrases related to government budget busting spending, farcical decisions and other genral
government buffoonery and these tend to be fine by all.

"tax dollars at work" falls into that category.

Overreaction due to abnormal political sensitivity. 15 yards from the spot of the foul.

Ciccio

They didn't change much, just added some black, a new logo and a nicer homepage.
The previous one was very old-fashion, this is simply patchy!
They should have made it all black.

DieClash

<< <i>I think you need to remove your political slants. Instead of saying

<< <i>Your tax dollars at work America! What do you think about the new look? >>

why not simply state: What do you think about the new look?

I come here to read, contribute, engage in and enjoy coin related topics, not political bias. You may read the rules posted at the top of the forum if you require clarification. >>



Foul!

There is no partiuclar party related slant here. There are MANY threads that have phrases related to government budget busting spending, farcical decisions and other genral
government buffoonery and these tend to be fine by all.

"tax dollars at work" falls into that category.

Overreaction due to abnormal political sensitivity. 15 yards from the spot of the foul. >>



Dude there are NO TAX DOLLARS at work here. The mint generates revenue for the general fund via seignorage. Gotta pick up that flag....no foul on this play!!

carew4me

<< <i>Dude there are NO TAX DOLLARS at work here. The mint generates revenue for the general fund via seignorage. Gotta pick up that flag....no foul on this play!! >>



Dude bro Mcdude, foul was on rampage for implying "tax dollars at work" was some type of political declaration.
Validity of phrase was not prescient.

PS: The web site stinks when compared to many other bullion sites.

DieClash

<< <i>

<< <i>Dude there are NO TAX DOLLARS at work here. The mint generates revenue for the general fund via seignorage. Gotta pick up that flag....no foul on this play!! >>



Dude bro Mcdude, foul was on rampage for implying "tax dollars at work" was some type of political declaration.
Validity of phrase was not prescient.

PS: The web site stinks when compared to many other bullion sites. >>



Dude's clarification is accepted!! Moving on now!!

renman95

It's lame. Just a color change. Rebranding or repackaging is not quality enhancement or value added.

If they came out with a high relief logo coin with this enhancement I would reconsider.

PinkFloyd

If it ain't broke...

mrearlygold

Rip off. Totally inefficient typical of all government.

DrBuster

The other thread on this I said it looked like someone just figured out how to use Frontpage from 1998. I don't like it, does not seem as professional. I know it was just a redesign of their template, you can see the exact same engine in it, but it looks amatuerish.

I've been building websites for 16 years, there's no way I would have signed off on the new design.

jessewvu

I hate the new look.

Coinzine

<< <i>The other thread on this I said it looked like someone just figured out how to use Frontpage from 1998. I don't like it, does not seem as professional. I know it was just a redesign of their template, you can see the exact same engine in it, but it looks amatuerish.

I've been building websites for 16 years, there's no way I would have signed off on the new design. >>



I HATE code. I'm not a very good designer. In fact, I chose wordpress to host my sites so I don't have to do design work (though I am learning...and could use suggestions if you have them!). But even I can tell that that wasn't worth $70,000. Oh, and Hi All

DrBuster

<< <i>

<< <i>The other thread on this I said it looked like someone just figured out how to use Frontpage from 1998. I don't like it, does not seem as professional. I know it was just a redesign of their template, you can see the exact same engine in it, but it looks amatuerish.

I've been building websites for 16 years, there's no way I would have signed off on the new design. >>



I HATE code. I'm not a very good designer. In fact, I chose wordpress to host my sites so I don't have to do design work (though I am learning...and could use suggestions if you have them!). But even I can tell that that wasn't worth $70,000. Oh, and Hi All

>>



Suggestions for design? Really just surf around and make notes on the sites that work well and you think look good then deconstruct. Best way to figure out how to build something is break/hack it and figure out how to put it back together.

If you want to see what some folks are doing professionaly, check out Communication Arts website/magazine. I've had a subscription for ..hell I dunno, 15 years maybe. Comm Arts They seem to stay on the pulse of things fairly well, although there are strays here and there, as expected.

crypto79

<< <i>Rip off. Totally inefficient typical of all government. >>



I feel like people don't have even the smallest clue how much stuff is done for them and how much of what they already have was developed or provided by the Gov that makes them "think" they are self sufficient. And even when they do come to terms with that their freedom / roads/ services/ protection / communications/ entertainment/ science/ religion/ food/ rights/art / education is provided, funded, protected or administered by the Gov, they want everybody else to pay for it but them(the last point is across the spectrum on both sides). Not to mention that the avg person complaining knows about as much about inefficiencies as a heat pump in the arctic does. Sure there is some waste but show me someone who knows about a perfect system and I will show you an unrealistic fool with utopian ideals.

Coinzine

Thx I will check it out!

ricko

Relax, it is a website, and it is not up for vote. People are just not happy with anything it seems. Cheers, RickO

CertifiedGoldCoins

Since there is now $70,000 less left over from seigniorage to remit to the Treasury, one can say that "tax dollars" were used to redesign its Web site, however if the goal was to produce more sales and more seigniorage, I don't see a problem.