Questions for John Mercanti and Ed Moy?
Dentuck
Posts: 3,820 ✭✭✭
If you have any questions for John Mercanti or Edmund Moy, let me know. . . .
“Silver, Gold, and Platinum: Behind the Scenes at the U.S. Mint,” with Edmund Moy and John Mercanti
Saturday, November 9, 2013, at the Whitman Baltimore Coin and Collectibles Expo
11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Join Ed Moy (retired director of the U.S. Mint) and John Mercanti (retired U.S. Mint chief engraver) in a free-wheeling
exploration of the American Eagle bullion program, modern coinage, collecting and investing, and other hobby topics.
This is a round-table discussion, moderated by Whitman publisher Dennis Tucker, featuring behind-the-scenes stories,
advice for collectors, and personal memories from two of the U.S. Mint’s most famous living legends. Bring your copy of
Mercanti's American Silver Eagles to be autographed after the round-table.
“Silver, Gold, and Platinum: Behind the Scenes at the U.S. Mint,” with Edmund Moy and John Mercanti
Saturday, November 9, 2013, at the Whitman Baltimore Coin and Collectibles Expo
11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Join Ed Moy (retired director of the U.S. Mint) and John Mercanti (retired U.S. Mint chief engraver) in a free-wheeling
exploration of the American Eagle bullion program, modern coinage, collecting and investing, and other hobby topics.
This is a round-table discussion, moderated by Whitman publisher Dennis Tucker, featuring behind-the-scenes stories,
advice for collectors, and personal memories from two of the U.S. Mint’s most famous living legends. Bring your copy of
Mercanti's American Silver Eagles to be autographed after the round-table.
0
Comments
Why?
The name is LEE!
2. Putting different designs and gimmicky edge markings will not make the small dollar circulate while the paper dollar is current. Why do you keep pushing on this string?
3. What happened to the classical redesign of our circulating coinage?
4. Please explain the use of small case lettering on the 2008 ASE reverse.
5. The nickel and dollar exhibit 3/4 views. Can we expect this of the cent, dime, quarter and half smoeday?
<< <i>1. Why continue on with the Kennedy half when it doesn't circulate?
2. Putting different designs and gimmicky edge markings will not make the small dollar circulate while the paper dollar is current. Why do you keep pushing on this string?
3. What happened to the classical redesign of our circulating coinage?
4. Please explain the use of small case lettering on the 2008 ASE reverse.
5. The nickel and dollar exhibit 3/4 views. Can we expect this of the cent, dime, quarter and half smoeday? >>
Oh, nice job on the gold Buffs, except for the RP, and fractionals along with the entire Plat series. I would like to see fractionals there too.
Ask them why they make "collector" items, but then leave collectors in the dust when follow-up items aren't done due to sucky sales (ie...should never have started in the first place, or should finish them off anyway).
I also agree to ask about the SAEs and the rinse/spotting.
What is the real reason that they don't always use the USPS....is it just pricing or is it something else logistical?
Ask why the designs are allowed to be stale (ie...kennedy, Roosevelt, Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln....all have been on the obverses quite awhile).
Ask why the push for edge lettering on the dollar that included the mintmark....what was it supposed to hide? It was poorly thought out and poorly executed.
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
<< <i>
<< <i>1. Why continue on with the Kennedy half when it doesn't circulate?
2. Putting different designs and gimmicky edge markings will not make the small dollar circulate while the paper dollar is current. Why do you keep pushing on this string?
3. What happened to the classical redesign of our circulating coinage?
4. Please explain the use of small case lettering on the 2008 ASE reverse.
5. The nickel and dollar exhibit 3/4 views. Can we expect this of the cent, dime, quarter and half smoeday? >>
Oh, nice job on the gold Buffs, except for the RP, and fractionals along with the entire Plat series. I would like to see fractionals there too. >>
1. mandate by US Code / Congress
2. congress again
5. they are both retired, so they can only offer their views on "future" questions or if anything was in the works before they left.
<< <i>Ask them why they still can't fix the ordering process when a hot item hits.....why their customer service sucks.
Ask them why they make "collector" items, but then leave collectors in the dust when follow-up items aren't done due to sucky sales (ie...should never have started in the first place, or should finish them off anyway).
I also agree to ask about the SAEs and the rinse/spotting.
What is the real reason that they don't always use the USPS....is it just pricing or is it something else logistical?
Ask why the designs are allowed to be stale (ie...kennedy, Roosevelt, Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln....all have been on the obverses quite awhile).
Ask why the push for edge lettering on the dollar that included the mintmark....what was it supposed to hide? It was poorly thought out and poorly executed. >>
all these will have to be past tense questions since both are retired.
Congress mandated the date and "EPU" and formerly "IGWT" on the edge of the dollars. no mention of mint mark.
<< <i>Any plans for more high relief mintage similar to 2009 UHR >>
they could only speak to long-term plans.
from what I gathered from the sales guys, long-term for them was 12-24 months. but that could be a question, barring the congressionally mandated changes and commems, how far out do they plan their numismatic offerings? Do they actively provide input to congress on changes and commems? unsolicited input or only when solicited?
<< <i>Ask them how ASE are processed before and after they are struck; that is, are they washed in some solution? Basically, I would be interested to know if they have any idea why some ASE's milk spot so badly. They might not know enough about the production of the coins to offer an intelligent answer but I would be interested if they do have some insight. Of course, it is quite likely the powers at PCGS have already made this inquiry ... >>
I get the P pucks with what I call chocolate milk spots that don't wash off with acetone. It looks exactly like a semi-translucent/semi-opaque brown milk stain.
there are also a LOT of spots on coins struck for circulation, especially in the last few years and especially on the cents. What processes are involved there and can't we have more pride to do better with these things?
what are their opinions on ridding ourselves of the nickle and cent?
anything to divulge on the new material front as of before they left?
did they or were there future plans to actively recruit or solicit design submissions from the body of USA's ar and design schools?
Food for thought:
List of three things they wanted to do at the mint but could not and of course why.
What do they think would be the most surprising US Mint tidbit of info to us...uncommon facts.
Looking for Top Pop Mercury Dime Varieties & High Grade Mercury Dime Toners.
<< <i>
<< <i>Ask them why they still can't fix the ordering process when a hot item hits.....why their customer service sucks.
Ask them why they make "collector" items, but then leave collectors in the dust when follow-up items aren't done due to sucky sales (ie...should never have started in the first place, or should finish them off anyway).
I also agree to ask about the SAEs and the rinse/spotting.
What is the real reason that they don't always use the USPS....is it just pricing or is it something else logistical?
Ask why the designs are allowed to be stale (ie...kennedy, Roosevelt, Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln....all have been on the obverses quite awhile).
Ask why the push for edge lettering on the dollar that included the mintmark....what was it supposed to hide? It was poorly thought out and poorly executed. >>
all these will have to be past tense questions since both are retired.
Congress mandated the date and "EPU" and formerly "IGWT" on the edge of the dollars. no mention of mint mark. >>
Yes, I know they are not in their previous positions, however, I believe what was known and in place then is still the same now, which is why I left it in present tense.
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
He who knows he has enough is rich.
<< <i>The book on Silver Eagles clearly addresses the milk spot issue.. and there is no answer. Cheers, RickO >>
Put the NSA on it.
Lance.
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
<< <i>Put the NSA on it >>
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
Saturday’s morning roundtable with Ed Moy and John Mercanti was a big hit at the Whitman Baltimore Expo. The
retired U.S. Mint director and Mint chief engraver had an audience that was both involved and enthusiastic.
The roundtable was a conversational discussion with slideshow illustrations, followed by a question-and-answer
session with the audience, as well as some questions submitted online from coin enthusiasts. Moy closed
the hour-plus conversation with a touching, almost poetic, analysis of the symbolism of the Saint-Gaudens
double eagle, and the audience actually burst into cheers and applause.
Ed Moy and John Mercanti make a great team: vibrant, funny, with lots of good information and experience to
share. They engage the audience from many angles and can pull from a rich variety of topics off the top of their
heads: technical, artistic, relating to production/manufacturing, supply/demand, collectors and investors, legislative
issues, touching on all levels of federal government, design, engraving, modern-day techniques vs. classic U.S.
Mint, and much more.
Some of the questions:
- to John Mercanti: "When you were working at the Mint, did you feel the weight of history, following in the
footsteps of great artists and coin designers like Frank Gasparro, Gilroy Roberts, Adolph Weinman, and others?
Or was it just like any other job?"
- to Ed Moy: "What were some of the challenges the Mint faced when demand for gold quintupled after the
Crash of 2008?"
- to John: "What are some of your favorite or most interesting coin designs?"
- to Ed: "Where do you see gold going over the next couple years?"
- to John: "If you could redesign all of America's circulating coins, what would you do?"
- to Ed: "What was your motivation behind the Ultra High Relief 2009 double eagle?"
Those are just a few of the questions that came up during the conversation and in the Q&A portion. It was
a great presentation, lots of fun to participate in. David Lisot videotaped it, so it will be available on CD if
you couldn't make the show.
you might be able to place your order at Whitman.com today and grab up one of the advance
copies before the scheduled 12/3/2013 rollout.
Looking through my notes, other questions included:
- to Ed Moy: Did you go into Fort Knox, and is the government's gold really in there?
- to Ed Moy: Why can't you just say, "I want to change all of America's circulating coinage," and make it happen?
- to Ed Moy: What do you think should happen with the Langbord family's 1933 double eagles?
- to John Mercanti: Tell us about the Statue of Liberty commemorative coins.
- to both: Does the Mint actively recruit or solicit design submissions from the students of the USA's art and design schools?
- to both: Is there a policy on retaining computer design records showing different stages of the design process?
Looking for Top Pop Mercury Dime Varieties & High Grade Mercury Dime Toners.
in mint quality of circulating coinage in recent years is in response to customer
demand.
<< <i>
Saturday’s morning roundtable with Ed Moy and John Mercanti was a big hit at the Whitman Baltimore Expo. The
retired U.S. Mint director and Mint chief engraver had an audience that was both involved and enthusiastic.
The roundtable was a conversational discussion with slideshow illustrations, followed by a question-and-answer
session with the audience, as well as some questions submitted online from coin enthusiasts. Moy closed
the hour-plus conversation with a touching, almost poetic, analysis of the symbolism of the Saint-Gaudens
double eagle, and the audience actually burst into cheers and applause.
Ed Moy and John Mercanti make a great team: vibrant, funny, with lots of good information and experience to
share. They engage the audience from many angles and can pull from a rich variety of topics off the top of their
heads: technical, artistic, relating to production/manufacturing, supply/demand, collectors and investors, legislative
issues, touching on all levels of federal government, design, engraving, modern-day techniques vs. classic U.S.
Mint, and much more.
Some of the questions:
- to John Mercanti: "When you were working at the Mint, did you feel the weight of history, following in the
footsteps of great artists and coin designers like Frank Gasparro, Gilroy Roberts, Adolph Weinman, and others?
Or was it just like any other job?"
- to Ed Moy: "What were some of the challenges the Mint faced when demand for gold quintupled after the
Crash of 2008?"
- to John: "What are some of your favorite or most interesting coin designs?"
- to Ed: "Where do you see gold going over the next couple years?"
- to John: "If you could redesign all of America's circulating coins, what would you do?"
- to Ed: "What was your motivation behind the Ultra High Relief 2009 double eagle?"
Those are just a few of the questions that came up during the conversation and in the Q&A portion. It was
a great presentation, lots of fun to participate in. David Lisot videotaped it, so it will be available on CD if
you couldn't make the show. >>
Don't know of him.
How can we get the CD?
Thanks!