Why do we care about Mercanti-signed labels?

RYK · January 21, 2012 4:56AM

Did he hit 600 home runs while I was not watching?

Win a Super Bowl MVP?

Win the Tour de France?

Star in the latest Sherlock Holmes movie?

Save women and children from a burning building? Or a downed commercial airliner?

DIMEMAN · January 21, 2012 5:03AM

I don't even know who he is......don't want his labels......or what the labels go on!

dollarsandcents · January 21, 2012 5:04AM

Who?

PerryHall · January 21, 2012 5:08AM

John Mercanti was the most prolific Chief Engraver of the U. S. Mint and produced over 100 designs.

notwilight · January 21, 2012 5:14AM

<< John Mercanti was the most prolific Chief Engraver of the U. S. Mint and produced over 100 designs. >>

That's just coins. Sounds like this thead is looking for Bruce Willis or Lance Armstrong. --Jerry

kiyote · January 21, 2012 5:16AM

It's not like he did something amazing, like Jessica Lynch!

Leonidas · January 21, 2012 5:32AM

The Dude has carpal tunnel now, ya know he signed all of those by his own self dont ya ?.......

DIMEMAN · January 21, 2012 5:37AM

What exactly did he design?

PerryHall · January 21, 2012 5:39AM

<< What exactly did he design? >>

Try google.

wondercoin · January 21, 2012 5:57AM

I'll take a stab at your question ...

John Mercanti stands along with Gobrecht and Barber as one of the most significant American artists and designers in U.S. Mint history. I believe he worked at the US Mint longer than any other Chief Engraver and designed more coins and medals than anyone in the history of the US Mint. He may not have hit home runs out of Yankee stadium, but he contributed to the collecting gene that many of us possess in our bodies as we all sit at home and admire our coin collections. So, indeed, Mercanti did hit about 100 home runs out of Philly stadium, West Point and San Francisco Park (i.e. the Mints).

Wondercoin

TwoSides2aCoin · January 21, 2012 6:05AM

Because he has a job.

golfer72 · January 21, 2012 6:07AM

I dont know I havent seen many good designs come out of the mint these last 20 or so years.

Goldminers · January 21, 2012 6:17AM

Here are a few:

Hint if the initials JM are on the coin that is him

The reverse of the American Eagle Silver bullion coins
Reverse 1999 Pennsylvania State Quarter:
Reverse 2001 North Carolina State Quarter:
Reverse 2003 Arkansas State Quarter:
Reverse 2004 Iowa State Quarter:
Reverse 2005 West Virginia State Quarter:
1984 Olympic Gold $10:
1986 Statue of Liberty $1:
1989 Congress Bicentennial Gold $5:
Obverse 1990 Eisenhower Centennial $1:
Obverse 1991 Mount Rushmore $5:
Obverse 1991 Korean War Memorial $1:
REVERSE 1991 United Services Organizations $1:
Obverse 1992 Christopher Columbus Quincentenary $1:
Obverse 1994 Vietnam Veterans Memorial $1:
Obverse 1996 (1995) Atlanta Olympics $1 - Cycling $1:
Reverse 1996 Smithsonian Instution 150th Anniversary $1:
Obverse 1998 Black Revolutionary War Patriots $1:
Reverse 2002 West Point Military Academy Bicentennial $1:
Obverse 2003 First Flight Centennial Half Dollar:
Reverse 2004 125th Anniversary Of Edison's Electric Light $1:

In 1974, Mercanti joined the United States Mint as a sculptor-engraver after working as an illustrator. On May 19, 2006, he was appointed Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint (also known as Supervisor of Design and Master Tooling Development Specialist).

epcjimi1 · January 21, 2012 6:21AM

I don't think Mercanti's credentials are at issue here.

MilesWaits · January 21, 2012 6:37AM

Because his name/signature has the potential to make some people money, here and there.

Nice background work WC & GM, thanks.

Miles

Goldminers · January 21, 2012 6:39AM

I certainly don't care or want to bother with all the extra labels starting to show up more and more either, but he did do some good designs.

The above list was to answer a few questions that some had on what did he design. Obviously his silver eagle reverse design and the 25th anniversary silver eagle set are linked justifying to some the special label.

However, I sure don't need or plan on collecting a Teddy Roosevelt label, a Mercanti label, a Mercanti and flag, a San Francisco Bridge, and any other of the many pieces of paper that can be dreamed up. I would prefer that TPG concentrate on coins not labels.

JupitarCoins · January 21, 2012 6:49AM

Hard to believe that their are so many of you who dont know who John Mercanti is. If you have bought mint products over the years you would have seen his name on many c.o.a.'s

LMM · January 21, 2012 6:50AM

That’s the way to educate us Mitch! Mercanti is also probably fairly wealthy after all the labels in has signed

Don't American's like rich celebrities

BillJones · January 21, 2012 7:04AM

Felix Schlag only designed the obverse of the Jefferson nickel (His reverse design was not used because the mint did not think that it could mass produce it.) yet one of his sighed cards in a frame with a 1938 Proof Jefferson nickel in it that is worth $80 had a $2,300 price tag on it at the FUN show.

I think that Mercanti's signature is worth something.

Goldminers · January 21, 2012 7:14AM

Well considering that, maybe I will buy a Mercanti label for a few of my silver eagles after all, ... just in case.

I also don't like the fact that collectors sending in one set for example could not get a "special label" in the first place, only larger submission quantities could get them. I don't like it when things are biased.

GM

PerryHall · January 21, 2012 7:30AM

<< I think that Mercanti's signature is worth something. >>

Wouldn't that depend on how many are eventually produced?

RYK · January 21, 2012 7:52AM

I have respect for Mercanti (though do not hold him in the same regard as Gobrecht and Barber, but perhaps future generations of collectors will), but having him sign a label that makes it into the slab that holds my coin seems silly to me. It's not like he actually held the coin or the slab.

I would be slightly more interested in a slab signed by him or even the coin physically signed by him, but ultimately I think that for some reason my interest in autographs does not make me interested in him signing the slab tag.

I have a couple

autographed Steelers jerseys, but I also have a Pete Rose autograph on some tanning equipment brochure from a trade show, which always struck me as odd.

derryb · January 21, 2012 8:05AM

I'd rather have the signature of the person who certified and graded my coin.

<< It's not like he did something amazing, like Jessica Lynch!

>>

or Gerald Ford.

RYK · January 21, 2012 8:10AM

<< I'd rather have the signature of the person who certified and graded my coin.

<< It's not like he did something amazing, like Jessica Lynch!

>>

or Gerald Ford. >>

All of these are silly to me. I just cannot get into it. It may be the straw that breaks the camel's back for me. I can except third party grading of coins and encapsulation, but I cannot accept some stranger who had had little or nothing to do with the provenance of the coin autographing the slab. I guess if the coin were Jessica Lynch's pocket piece in Iraq or Lance Armstrong carried the coin in one of the Tour de France stages, I could see having the autographed slab. Or if the actual coin were on Mercanti's desk at the Mint.

magikbilly · January 21, 2012 8:13AM

<< The Dude has carpal tunnel now, ya know he signed all of those by his own self dont ya ?.......

>>

LOL I hope not, that hurts. He ought to learn how to sign autographs and not engage he wrist at all. I'd not be interested in signed slab inserts though.

Eric

epcjimi1 · January 21, 2012 8:26AM

<< [All of these are silly to me. I just cannot get into it. It may be the straw that breaks the camel's back for me. I can except third party grading of coins and encapsulation, but I cannot accept some stranger who had had little or nothing to do with the provenance of the coin autographing the slab >>

See ya. Buy Buy

Baley · January 21, 2012 8:28AM

It's not like he did something amazing, like Jessica Lynch! >>

or Gerald Ford. >>

All of these are silly to me. I just cannot get into it. It may be the straw that breaks the camel's back for me. I can except third party grading of coins and encapsulation, but I cannot accept some stranger who had had little or nothing to do with the provenance of the coin autographing the slab. I guess if the coin were Jessica Lynch's pocket piece in Iraq or Lance Armstrong carried the coin in one of the Tour de France stages, I could see having the autographed slab. Or if the actual coin were on Mercanti's desk at the Mint.

These autographed slabs are "crossover collectibles" manufactured to supply the market. There are also beanie babies with state quarters attached to them.

In that case, two sharks jumped each other simultaneously

Caleb · January 21, 2012 8:31AM

<< I'll take a stab at your question ...

John Mercanti stands along with Gobrecht and Barber as one of the most significant American artists and designers in U.S. Mint history. I believe he worked at the US Mint longer than any other Chief Engraver and designed more coins and medals than anyone in the history of the US Mint. He may not have hit home runs out of Yankee stadium, but he contributed to the collecting gene that many of us possess in our bodies as we all sit at home and admire our coin collections. So, indeed, Mercanti did hit about 100 home runs out of Philly stadium, West Point and San Francisco Park (i.e. the Mints).

Wondercoin >>

Well, not totally true.

Mercanti worked for the US Mint for 37 years and was "Chief Engraver of the US Mint for about 5 years.
Frank Gasparro, (who was not mentioned in the posted quoted) worked for the US Mint for 39 years and was "Chief Engraver of the US Mint for about 16 years.

Mercanti, not to be mean, and not to take anything away from him for his accomplishments while he worked at the US Mint but Mercanti doesn’t hold a candle to the likes of Barber, Gasparro, Roberts or Sinnock as a designer in US Mint history or the impact they had on US coinage.

Getting back to the OP's question, "Why do we care about Mercanti - signed labels?"

These labels are being used on the US Silver eagles, who designed the reverse of this coin? So who is better to sign the labels. Myself, I like the plain "baby blue" labels so all the coins in the set look uniform, the initals JM on the reverse of the coin is enough for me but each to their own way of collecting.

DenverDave · January 21, 2012 8:32AM

Now if you had Adolph Alexander Weinman sig on the slab that would be something..."-)

The reverse design on the ASE by John is one of my least favorite Eagle Designs...

I'll take mine with out Please...

RYK · January 21, 2012 8:37AM

We must add promotional work for Goldline to Mercanti's list of accomplishments.

DIMEMAN · January 21, 2012 8:39AM

Looking at the list goldminers put up.......I would not put this guy in the same class as any of the classic designers. Just a bunch of modern stuff.

epcjimi1 · January 21, 2012 8:45AM

This ain't going to end well, I'm out, but other posters might as well ride this torpedo to the end. May the Irish be with ya'.

Cameonut · January 21, 2012 8:46AM

I'd put the Mercanti label in the same class as a First Strike label. Has no impact on the value of the coin inside the slab.

comma · January 21, 2012 8:47AM

Everyone is saying that he's not the same caliber as Golbrecht or other "classic" designers. I completely agree.
But are we going to have dead guys sign these? If someone is going to sign them, he seems pretty qualified as a modern designer to me.
And for the original question of what he's done....copying and pasting John Mercanti into google worked for me.

In the end, it doesn't really matter does it? PCGS made the slabs, he signed them, if you like them you'll buy them, if not, you won't.
Right?

RYK · January 21, 2012 8:57AM

In the end, it doesn't really matter does it? ... if you like them you'll buy them, if not, you won't.
Right?

Wrong! I bought one and don't like them.

comma · January 21, 2012 9:07AM

<< In the end, it doesn't really matter does it? ... if you like them you'll buy them, if not, you won't.
Right?

Wrong! I bought one and don't like them.

>>

Well if you don't like them and re-sell them right now you'll make money...which should make you like them

(makes me like them. haha)

RYK · January 21, 2012 9:12AM

<< 

<< In the end, it doesn't really matter does it? ... if you like them you'll buy them, if not, you won't.
Right?

Wrong! I bought one and don't like them.

>>

Well if you don't like them and re-sell them right now you'll make money...which should make you like them

(makes me like them. haha) >>

I think that we have gotten too far from the caring about the coin when not only is the grade important, not only is the grader important, not only is the era of the slab important, but the style of the label and who may or may not have signed it dictates the value of them item. My opinion. YMMV

wondercoin · January 21, 2012 9:12AM

"Well, not totally true."

Thanks for adding that information regarding Gasparro. I said it was my recollection ... that's what happens when you become a "senior citizen". Only time will tell if Mercanti's work is appreciated to the degree of Barber, etc. That's fair. Wondercoin

njcoincrank · January 21, 2012 9:14AM

As a student of American numismatics, I collect autographs of coin designers. I have Saint Gaudens (on a calling card), Anthony de Francisci (again on a calling card), James Fraser (signed letter), and several others. I even have Mercanti's on his US Mint business card. I try and get them with some sort of tie in to their work (s) if possible. I also have some of the PCGS slabs with the designers autograph. I for one think they are "cool". But I understand, and respect the opinion of, those that do not. To each his (her) own.

NJCC

Goldbully · January 21, 2012 9:17AM

What good did Donna Pope's signature do for the several series she lent her name to?
Just sayin'!!

comma · January 21, 2012 9:19AM

<< 

<< 

<< In the end, it doesn't really matter does it? ... if you like them you'll buy them, if not, you won't.
Right?

Wrong! I bought one and don't like them.

>>

Well if you don't like them and re-sell them right now you'll make money...which should make you like them

(makes me like them. haha) >>

I think that we have gotten too far from the caring about the coin when not only is the grade important, not only is the grader important, not only is the era of the slab important, but the style of the label and who may or may not have signed it dictates the value of them item. My opinion. YMMV >>

I do agree with that. But I don't agree that Mercanti is someone who hasn't accomplished a lot and isn't someone who is relevant to sign these. He is. So if they had to have a label that had a signature I think he was a good candidate. (Even though I strongly disagree with this label game that is being played).
In the same context, I personally think it is a waste of money to buy anything for a premium just because somebody who is "famous" signed it...

Lakesammman · January 21, 2012 9:19AM

So, indeed, Mercanti did hit about 100 home runs out of Philly stadium, West Point and San Francisco Park

RYK - that's like better than 3 Rivers stadium.......

Goldminers · January 21, 2012 9:31AM

I just realized I bought a Mercanti label without knowing it. I was just after a MS70 gold $50 eagle and not paying that much attention. Darn.

Now when I look through the blue box of my coins with this in it, I see the obverse has the Mercanti label above it and I don't see the date and grade like the others. When you turn the coin sideways to see the reverse and put it in the box, it is labeled upside down. So to see the date with it right side up it ends up in the bottom of a standard PCGS blue box and the coin date can't be seen as you glance thru the box.

So I think, in addition to the total silliness of it all, the label is in the wrong spot. The date should be in the normal obverse position on top of the slab, and the Mercanti label should be on the reverse.

Also Mercanti did not design the gold eagles? So I do not understand why he is signing them, too? Are there going to be signed labels available at PCGS for every coin? Maybe PCGS will even be able to insert a signed label for a MS68 2012 Roosevelt, too

GM

njcoincrank · January 21, 2012 9:41AM

If someone could get me a genuine PCGS slabbed 2012 Roosevelt dime in MS68 with the label signed by the designer I'd pay handsomely for it.

NJCC

Caleb · January 21, 2012 9:44AM

<< "Well, not totally true."

Thanks for adding that information regarding Gasparro. I said it was my recollection ... that's what happens when you become a "senior citizen". Only time will tell if Mercanti's work is appreciated to the degree of Barber, etc. That's fair. Wondercoin >>

Thats fair. But I thought you were around when Kneass was the Chief Engraver for the US mint, or that is atleast what my dad told me.

RobertS · January 22, 2012 12:49AM

Pcgs is a traded company and they are in it to make money. Sad when a grading company puts more emphasis in creating limited edition labels than they do to the core of their business, grading. i think 50 years from now the label will not mean anything; however, if i owned a grading company, i would not play with my reputation they way Pcgs is. It stands to reason that if they are willing to create a label market that benefits only their top dealers, then they could do other questionable things down the road. That my friends is a slippery slope...

Ps. I want to add that i love pcgs and all of my coins are slabbed by pcgs. The mercanti label however makes me question the direction of the company. if they are going to crank 5 labels per coin moving forward, then they will loose this customer.

DennisH · January 22, 2012 12:59AM

There are only a couple of people whose signature on an insert label would be meaningful to me. The talented and prolific Mr. Mercanti isn't one of them.

johnrav · January 22, 2012 1:04AM

<< Did he hit 600 home runs while I was not watching?

Win a Super Bowl MVP?

Win the Tour de France?

Star in the latest Sherlock Holmes movie?

Save women and children from a burning building? Or a downed commercial airliner? >>

I specifically avoid them for my collection of Proof ASE's. (all his accomplishments aside.) It seems the 25th anniversary coins, the tombstones are the minority/rarity. I am also ok with that.

RYK · January 22, 2012 1:23AM

<< Pcgs is a traded company and they are in it to make money. Sad when a grading company puts more enfasis in creating limmited edition labels than they do to the core of their business, grading. i think 50 years from now the label will not mean anything; however, if i was a grading company, i would not play with my reputation they way Pcgs is. It stands to reason that if they are willing to create a label market that beneffits only their top dealers, then they could do other questionable things down the road. That my friends is a sliperry sloap...

Ps. I want to add that i love pcgs and all of my coins are slabbed by pcgs. The mercanti label however makes me question the direction of the company. if they are going to crank 5 labels per coin moving forward, then they will loose this customer. >>

PCGS (and NGC) are offering this product because they have customers that appreciate it. I would not dis either for doing so.

My favorite pizza parlor offers pepperoni pizza, which I think is disgusting and bad for your health, but it does not stop me from going there, nor does it keep it from being my favorite pizza parlor.

Gemineye · January 22, 2012 1:39AM

Geeze ...corn flakes are corn flakes.You can sugar-coat them and change their appearances all you want..Eventualy you will want just ..Corn Flakes..and all the added crap to the packages and changes will just fade away..

jesbroken · January 22, 2012 1:55AM

I agree wholeheartedly with njcc, if you like them, cool, if not, then that's ok, too. For my part, I cannot fathom why anyone would wish
to have someone's automated signature(even a 19th century superstar) that was cranked out by a machine with no regard by the signer caring
where and which coin received the automated sig. Try selling a signed copy of Leroy Van Allen's book that was automatically signed during
its printing. Wonder what premium would be attached to it, but someone would pay more, I guess, and that is their prerogative. Then, that's just my opinion.
Jim

Why do we care about Mercanti-signed labels?

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