Another Mint Survey - Prepare to Tee Off!

MikeyMo · May 21, 2015 7:02AM

Participated in another mint survey today, the stuff they are considering :

Three-medal set:

The 3 medal (Byron Nelson, Arnold Palmer, and Jack Nicklaus) boxed set would be a collector case with felt inside and include:

• A booklet with historical information about the PGA and why these golfers were recognized with medals

• One of the following golf-oriented collectibles:

• A pro golf ball with the United States Mint logo

• A divot tool and magnetically attached ball marker with the United States Mint logo

• A standard wood tee in 3 ¼ inch size with the United States Mint logo.

The price of the 3 medal boxed set with one golf-oriented collectible would be $45-$55 (depending on the collectible included).

The United States Mint is also considering producing a new silver medal in honor of the 100th Anniversary of the PGA in 2016. The medal would honor the PGA itself rather than any one person in particular. The silver medal would potentially be offered three ways:

1. For $50: the silver PGA medal alone

2. For $60-$65: A silver PGA medal with a case and one of the following golf-oriented collectibles:

• A pro golf ball with the United States Mint logo

• A divot tool and magnetically attached ball marker with the United States Mint logo

• A standard wood tee in 3 ¼ inch size with the United States Mint logo

3. For $100: A silver PGA medal in a larger boxed set - includes the 1 ½ inch bronze medals for PGA golfers Byron Nelson, Arnold Palmer, and Jack Nicklaus as well as a golf-oriented collectible (ball, divot tool, or tee).

CaptHenway · May 21, 2015 7:08AM

First you must address the ball.

"HELLO, BALL!"

epcjimi1 · May 21, 2015 7:08AM

Nod to Ed Norton and Jackie Gleason ^^^. LOL

Srsly? How much is the PGA paying the US mint for this? Srsly?

MsMorrisine · May 21, 2015 7:11AM

The mint is on shaky ground choosing to honor the PGA, even if they can mint national medals.

Is there an unsold inventory problem we aren't aware of?

MikeyMo · May 21, 2015 7:15AM

Nice one, Cap'n

silverpop · May 21, 2015 7:18AM

more ways to part suckers with their cash

TopographicOceans · May 21, 2015 9:19AM

I don't think many of the nice people on eBay play golf -- unless it's on their computer

dcarr · May 21, 2015 9:27AM

<< <i>... How much is the PGA paying the US mint for this? Srsly? >>

Or is it the other way around ?

keyman64 · May 21, 2015 9:49AM

Disgusting!

What's next? A bowling ball, ping pong ball?

roadrunner · May 21, 2015 10:08AM

Yeah, Legends of golf to be followed by:

Legends of Bass Fishing, Surfing, Bodybuilding, X-Games, Women's Beach Volleyball, etc.

DennisH · May 21, 2015 11:47AM

Let me know when they start commemorating famous hookers and I may consider buying something from the Mint.

Raufus · May 21, 2015 12:11PM

This sounds like Canadian Mint. Actually, I don't think that the RCM would market such cr*p. Good lord.

Kaline6 · May 21, 2015 12:38PM

<< <i>Yeah, Legends of golf to be followed by:

Legends of Bass Fishing, Surfing, Bodybuilding, X-Games, Women's Beach Volleyball, etc. >>

Don't diss bass fishing. I'm in for that one.

MsMorrisine · May 21, 2015 12:46PM

My big issue is honoring the PGA or the USGA or whatever association with a medal. Who are they to decide when commemorative coins are chosen by an Act of Congress. A national medal may be allowed under law but it is toe stepping to commemorate an entity outside of Congress' blessing.

If they chose golf and stopped there I'd be on board with the ones saying "anything to make a buck."

Similarly for Bass Fishing vs Roland Martin

OperationButter · May 21, 2015 12:51PM

Baseball worked so well, don't be so sure that these medals arent going to be curved coins as well.

fishcooker · May 21, 2015 1:35PM

Bass fishing? Would that be a hoaky, plated silver dollar to match up with Bill Dance...

GotTheBug · May 21, 2015 9:03PM

.

ricko · May 21, 2015 9:11PM

The Mint is a business.... and although it is the source of our hobby, it also endeavors to make a profit. Expect more.... Cheers, RickO

7Jaguars · May 21, 2015 9:16PM

Yikes. And then further hurting the image of the mint. Royal Canadian Mint and Franklin Mint, here we come.

Truly this PGA garp is looking as bad or worse. A magnetized ball marker? Gaaaacckkk!

CaptHenway · May 21, 2015 10:12PM

The bass fishing medal could show the scales of justice............

messydesk · May 21, 2015 10:41PM

<< <i>First you must address the ball.

"HELLO, BALL!" >>

I'd rather do the Hucklebuck.

WillieBoyd2 · May 21, 2015 10:49PM

What about Famous Coin Collectors and Experts?

Green, Farouk, Norweb, Ford, Breen...

BackroadJunkie · May 21, 2015 10:54PM

I think y'all are being too harsh on the Mint. The Nelson, Palmer and Nicklaus medals exist because each got a Congressional Gold Medal, and (I think) the mint is mandated to reproduce bronze replicas from the same dies for the public. They've made medals for all sorts of seemingly small interest groups.

If they do a 100th PGA medal, the packaging wouldn't be that far off from what the mint has done in the past with Commemoratives. Does no one remember the Edison Commem that came in a folder, and if you opened the folder a little light would go on? (Ironic that they used an LED as the light, which IS NOT AN INCANDESCENT LIGHT BULB.) Does no one remember the Lewis and Clark commems that came with the little pouches decorated by Native Americans? Does no one remember the 50 state quarter spoons?

The mint has a history of falling off the edge of reality.

Speaking of Medals, I have one of these on backorder. It will already be a First Strike when I get it. HAHAhahaha... (Hoping it looks as good in hand than in the pictures.)

Doolittle Tokyo Raiders Bronze Medal 3 Inch

DeepCoin · May 21, 2015 11:43PM

From the inside looking out, there is a person or position at the Mint whose job it is to come up with new products to sell. This person is not particularly knowledgeable regarding numismatics, or for that matter marketing. That does now however, keep them from making a remarkable number of products that are less than stellar. For years and years there were Coin and Currency sets, in partnership with BEP. There was a falling out there due to some internal issues that go way back, so you don't see those so much anymore.

Thus, when a new product is announced or one is contemplated, I view their choices through the lens of who is running the show. I will give the Mint credit for finally hiring a professional archivist, but that was not the doing of Sales and Marketing.

I think the PGA set is just another means of creating product for them to sell that someone had a bright idea about. Often, choices are made for bureaucratic reasons that defy logic. Not saying this one is bad, just sharing what goes on inside the Mint. Just MHO after years of viewing the process in progress (an aside, I was a product manager in a previous life for Black & Decker so I am not unfamiliar with new product design having chaired that committee at my division MANY years ago)