This first spouse stuff is becoming ridiculous...

kiyote · July 30, 2012 3:31AM

Are we getting 2012 coins or not? Are they gonna shoot out a coin a month for the rest of the year? Are all 2011's going to get yanked?

Zoins · July 30, 2012 3:39AM

Some coins have been issued in the final months of the calendar year.

If this happens, we might see some even lower mintages, which might make things more exciting.

Sonorandesertrat · July 30, 2012 3:41AM

I thought that they were ridiculous from the get-go.

Bochiman · July 30, 2012 4:03AM

"Becoming"????

jmski52 · July 30, 2012 4:16AM

Initially, there were some 20,000 collectors of the First Spouses. Now, it's down to something less than 3,000. Who would've guessed?

Baley · July 30, 2012 4:18AM

Are NCLT mint state and proof rounds considered "gateway items" that eventually lead collectors to Real Coins?

Banemorth · July 30, 2012 4:19AM

<< "Becoming"???? >>

sonoranmonsoon · July 30, 2012 4:26AM

I am holding back for the first child series.

jmski52 · July 30, 2012 4:27AM

Did Alice Paul marry a "phantom president"? A real head-scratcher. Who put her name in the legislation, anyways? I'll bet that nobody knows.

BillJones · July 30, 2012 4:28AM

<< Initially, there were some 20,000 collectors of the First Spouses. Now, it's down to something less than 3,000. Who would've guessed? >>

.

At this rate maybe they will be like the Pan PAC $50 gold pieces. Even if they do, I'm out.

Sonorandesertrat · July 30, 2012 4:36AM

<< I am holding back for the first child series. >>

Nah, first dog (the four-legged kind).

HalfStrike · July 30, 2012 4:41AM

The mint can't round up any volunteers to strike the coins, the last ones are on disability from nightmares.

pf70collector · July 30, 2012 5:10AM

nitially, there were some 20,000 collectors of the First Spouses. Now, it's down to something less than 3,000. Who would've guessed?

Remember when they offered subscriptions and they all sold out the first year. This tends to happen with a new series. Just like the 5 oz ATBs.

ianrussell · July 30, 2012 5:25AM

Fashionably late can sometimes be a good thing...but in this case, probably not. If they release a bunch of these over 2 months, it's going to really cause problems - even fewer people will collect them.

(Btw. I'm long this set for the long-term, but I don't like the uncertainty of the new issues).

- Ian

DIMEMAN · July 30, 2012 5:57AM

To me they started out ridiculous and the prez dollars are just as stupid.

BillJones · July 30, 2012 6:58AM

<< To me they started out ridiculous and the prez dollars are just as stupid. >>

At least the prez dollars don't cost you almost $1,000 a piece, and even if they were bad presidents, they played a significant role in history. Like the modern commemorative $5 gold piece series, this one will either be worth melt or a playground for speculators to lure people with insufficient numismatic knowledge into buying so-called, “low mintage rarities.” Nothing that has a surviving mintage in excess of 1,000 pieces is truly rare.

The mint is simply issuing too many different coins, and collectors are either tied of them or can’t afford to keep up them. We have gone from too few new coins when I was a kid collector in the 1960s to a glut.

Zoins · July 30, 2012 8:02AM

<< Nothing that has a surviving mintage in excess of 1,000 pieces is truly rare. >>

According to CoinNews.net, the unc Lucretia Garfield has sales of 1,934 so far. I'm hoping some of these coins will have mintages of less than 1,000. That will be pretty interesting.

On the Sheldon scale, rare starts at 75 and less known. I don't think any of these will get to 75 or less, but sub-1,000 is a start.

Also, I'm not sure it's such a bad thing if everyone cannot keep up with the annual Mint catalog. If everyone could keep up, there would be no rarities. Things get a bit more interesting with a few scarce, key coins here and there like the unc LOC and Robinson.

TwoSides2aCoin · July 30, 2012 8:07AM

Who suggested president's dogs ?

derryb · July 30, 2012 8:08AM

I'm hoping for a gold planchet shortage, it's happened before.

<< To me they started out ridiculous and the prez dollars are just as stupid. >>

collectors wanted more issues from the mint. careful what you ask for.

TwoSides2aCoin · July 30, 2012 8:45AM

One gold spouse coin was equal to 450 presidential dollars when this started.
Now, a gold spouse coin starts at about 1000 presidential dollars and goes up, depending on how much hair the president has, or some strange factor.

Still, today it's tough to find collectors who don't scoff at one or the other.

Coinsponge · July 30, 2012 8:47AM

On the Sheldon scale, rare starts at 75 and less known. I don't think any of these will get to 75 or less, but sub-1,000 is a start.

You may choose to define rare in absolute terms but I think it may be possible to define it in terms of supply and demand . For something in high demand a rare coin may still have greater availability than one with little demand.

renomedphys · July 30, 2012 8:47AM

As far as I'm concerned, Abagail Adams is about the only First Lady deserving of her own coin. She had as much to do with the founding of our country as any man of her time. The rest are for the whining liberals.

Zoins · July 30, 2012 8:48AM

<< today it's tough to find collectors who don't scoff at one or the other. >>

That may be a good sign as it can lead to reduced mintages. For classics, many also scoffed at Morgans in their day and they are one of the most popular collectible coins now.

Coinsponge · July 30, 2012 8:50AM

Now, a gold spouse coin starts at about 1000 presidential dollars and goes up, depending on how much hair the president has, or some strange factor.

Now we know the secret of the value of Spouse coins. You always learn something here.

Zoins · July 30, 2012 8:53AM

<< On the Sheldon scale, rare starts at 75 and less known. I don't think any of these will get to 75 or less, but sub-1,000 is a start.

You may choose to define rare in absolute terms but I think it may be possible to define it in terms of supply and demand . For something in high demand a rare coin may still have greater availability than one with little demand. >>

I like to think of rarity in absolute terms. A high demand "rare" coin that has higher availability, may really not be rare at all, but just in demand.

Goldbully · July 30, 2012 8:56AM

Is it my imagination???? I have yet to see the word 'hag' in this thread!

Coinsponge · July 30, 2012 9:04AM

<< 

<< On the Sheldon scale, rare starts at 75 and less known. I don't think any of these will get to 75 or less, but sub-1,000 is a start.

You may choose to define rare in absolute terms but I think it may be possible to define it in terms of supply and demand . For something in high demand a rare coin may still have greater availability than one with little demand. >>

I like to think of rarity in absolute terms. A high demand "rare" coin that has higher availability, may really not be rare at all, but just in demand. >>

Valid point but in market terms I think you could argue that rarity is also the ability for a buyer to find an item on the market for sale versus the absolute number that are believed to exist in the world. Even so, defining rarity in absolute terms should have no argument.

Coinsponge · July 30, 2012 9:06AM

<< Is it my imagination???? I have yet to see the word 'hag' in this thread!

>>

You are right. No one has said "HAG" yet. How refreshing.

Zoins · July 30, 2012 9:24AM

<< Valid point but in market terms I think you could argue that rarity is also the ability for a buyer to find an item on the market for sale versus the absolute number that are believed to exist in the world. Even so, defining rarity in absolute terms should have no argument. >>

I can see your point; however, for myself, I prefer to use the word "availability" for whether a buyer can find an item on the market. I think there's less chance for misunderstanding when words have specific meanings.

derryb · July 30, 2012 9:25AM

Hags are good bullion plays at the right price.

MsMorrisine · July 30, 2012 9:43AM

<< The rest are for the whining liberals. >>

even the republican ones?

Buzzybest · July 30, 2012 9:47AM

Do I smell a food fight?!

CaptHenway · July 30, 2012 9:51AM

<< "Becoming"???? >>

What he said.

MsMorrisine · July 30, 2012 9:53AM

not really.

I just can't imagine too many whining liberals jumping up and down demanding their Pat Nixon first spouse coin.

MrEureka · July 30, 2012 10:54AM

<>

Nah, first dog (the four-legged kind).

Now that would get me into the moderns game!

khayse · July 30, 2012 11:10AM

I'm waiting for the President's Mistresses to be made.

-KHayse

derryb · July 30, 2012 1:17PM

<< I'm waiting for the President's Mistresses to be made.

-KHayse >>

Yeah, I want the M. Monroe gold.

Buzzybest · July 30, 2012 2:12PM

<< I'm waiting for the President's Mistresses to be made.

-KHayse >>

They would run out of gold planchets long before completion of the series!

TwoSides2aCoin · July 30, 2012 3:38PM

Ludicrous Lucretia... sounds like a good nickname. There are currently only 9 available on eBay.

stealer · July 30, 2012 4:10PM

<< I am holding back for the first child series. >>

How about first dog series? Can't forget about the lovely mutts.

JedPlanchet · July 30, 2012 5:48PM

<< 

<< I'm waiting for the President's Mistresses to be made.

-KHayse >>

Yeah, I want the M. Monroe gold. >>

I'm looking forward to Monica Lewinsky in brass ...

BillJones · July 30, 2012 9:54PM

<< not really.

I just can't imagine too many whining liberals jumping up and down demanding their Pat Nixon first spouse coin. >>

In my opinion Pat Nixon was a long suffering person. Living with HIM was not easy. His emotional ups and downs (loss of elections in 1960 and California governor’s race in 1962. Winning the presidency in 1968 only fall in disgrace after Watergate.) plus his dictatorial ways must have made life hard. During the Watergate period I understood that she took a tumbler of Scotch to bed with her every night. Although I don't think that she rates a U.S. commemorative coin, she was person who deserves a sympathetic footnote in history.

jmski52 · July 30, 2012 10:08PM

Yeah, I want the M. Monroe gold.

If Congress and the Mint were really serious about selling 1/2 oz gold commemorative coins, they WOULD have authorized a couple of Marilyn Monroe coins. An American icon.

Heck, they could have made a bunch of money on a whole series of Marilyn Monroe gold coins. Alice Paul? Not a spouse. Leave it to Congress not to be able to figure that much out.

PerryHall · July 30, 2012 10:28PM

<< 

<< I'm waiting for the President's Mistresses to be made.

-KHayse >>

Yeah, I want the M. Monroe gold. >>

Agree. I'd even buy a Monica Lewinsky.

BillJones · July 30, 2012 11:03PM

<< 

<< 

<< I'm waiting for the President's Mistresses to be made.

-KHayse >>

Yeah, I want the M. Monroe gold. >>

Agree. I'd even buy a Monica Lewinsky.

>>

Only if it is struck on brass.

Coinsponge · July 30, 2012 11:11PM

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< I'm waiting for the President's Mistresses to be made.

-KHayse >>

Yeah, I want the M. Monroe gold. >>

Agree. I'd even buy a Monica Lewinsky.

>>

Only if it is struck on brass.

>>

If it must be I think a broadstrike would be in order.

Sonorandesertrat · July 30, 2012 11:20PM

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< I'm waiting for the President's Mistresses to be made.

-KHayse >>

Yeah, I want the M. Monroe gold. >>

Agree. I'd even buy a Monica Lewinsky.

>>

Only if it is struck on brass.

>>

If it must be I think a broadstrike would be in order. >>

And packaged with a cigar.

PerryHall · July 31, 2012 12:33AM

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< I'm waiting for the President's Mistresses to be made.

-KHayse >>

Yeah, I want the M. Monroe gold. >>

Agree. I'd even buy a Monica Lewinsky.

>>

Only if it is struck on brass.

>>

And priced accordingly---cheap.

lcoopie · July 31, 2012 12:38AM

it's bullion, political bullion.

revoldlog · July 31, 2012 2:51AM

For those who think there might be a new lower mintage due to the release timing may need to think again.
IMHO, I guess (even though I know the Mint is unpredictable) the mintage will now be dictated by how many the Mint struck initially instead of how many they sold in one year as they Mint no longer uphold this practice of ending sales in 1 year. The 2011 gold buffalo, and also some of the 2011 gold spouses are still on sale even passed the 1 year mark.

So, if say the Mint has/will struck about the same number of 2012 first spouse compared with 2011, the final mintage of the 2012 spouse will still be similar to 2011, no matter how many they sold in the first day, first few months or first year, because the Mint will keep selling them until they are "sold out".

Of course, if the Mint has reduced the # struck in the first batch (maybe Eric will be able to find out the number?), then we will see a new lower mintage for 2012 spouses because it is very unlikely that the Mint can strike a new batch within 2012.

Coinsponge · July 31, 2012 3:17AM

<< For those who think there might be a new lower mintage due to the release timing may need to think again.
IMHO, I guess (even though I know the Mint is unpredictable) the mintage will now be dictated by how many the Mint struck initially instead of how many they sold in one year as they Mint no longer uphold this practice of ending sales in 1 year. The 2011 gold buffalo, and also some of the 2011 gold spouses are still on sale even passed the 1 year mark.

So, if say the Mint has/will struck about the same number of 2012 first spouse compared with 2011, the final mintage of the 2012 spouse will still be similar to 2011, no matter how many they sold in the first day, first few months or first year, because the Mint will keep selling them until they are "sold out".

Of course, if the Mint has reduced the # struck in the first batch (maybe Eric will be able to find out the number?), then we will see a new lower mintage for 2012 spouses because it is very unlikely that the Mint can strike a new batch within 2012. >>

The way they are going, they should mint the first batch at 2000 minus scrap only and that might do it for them.

This first spouse stuff is becoming ridiculous...

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