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Would the Cheerios Dollar get more respect if it were not named for a breakfast cereal?

MrEurekaMrEureka Posts: 24,452 ✭✭✭✭✭
As Longacre might put it, "Nobody has more love for the the Cheerios Dollar than MrEureka, but how can you possibly take a coin seriously when it's named for a breakfast cereal?"

Yes, the story of the Cheerios Dollar is cool, but there's a not-so-fine line between being thinking something's cool and being willing to spend thousands of dollars to get one. Now, I suppose things could be worse for the Cheerios Dollar. For example, imagine how little respect the coin might get if they had appeared in boxes of Crackerjacks instead. After all, how much could anyone really bring themselves to pay for a Crackerjacks prize? Then again, the Cheerios situation may be only slightly better.

So, fellow lovers of Cheerios Dollars, is it time we gave the coin a new name? Any suggestions?
Andy Lustig

Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.

Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.

Comments

  • savoyspecialsavoyspecial Posts: 7,316 ✭✭✭✭
    i think a corny name helps


    (think Superbird)

    www.brunkauctions.com

  • If the coin has some boring technical name, or even worse, just a variety number, than it would be less memorable.
  • 291fifth291fifth Posts: 24,735 ✭✭✭✭✭
    It doesn't get more respect because the dollar coins just don't circulate in the US. Increasingly, it is just another of the dizzyingly large number of modern US Mint varieties.

    A new name won't help it. Getting the dollar coins to circulate in the US might bring it back into prominence.
    All glory is fleeting.
  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I believe the name to be totally appropriate. It tells a story and identifies a specific coin variety. We have the 'bugs bunny Franklin', the speared bison etc, etc., which are, in my opinion, much worse sobriquets. Cheers, RickO
  • savoyspecialsavoyspecial Posts: 7,316 ✭✭✭✭
    to expound a little, it is really a quite remarkable coin (and no, i dont own an example)


    it is unique, or nearly so, in that it is the only U.S. pattern to be placed into circulation (the case can be made for 1856 Flyers and Gobrecht dollars i suppose)

    also, the variety lay dormant for 5 years before discovery......by comparison the 1892-O, micro O variety half dollar was noticed and recorded in 1893 sans internet and at a time when Heaton had just convinced collectors to give ANY consideration to a mintmark

    it was also a new composition and design that was anxiously awaited and actually leaked out early (by that i mean 2000 dated coins were in public hands in late 1999, something that should not happen)

    www.brunkauctions.com

  • ctf_error_coinsctf_error_coins Posts: 15,433 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The name is fine and the coin gets plenty of respect, just look at the prices.
  • djdilliodondjdilliodon Posts: 1,938 ✭✭
    I think the name is actually very fitting. Like mentioned above the coin dollar just doesn't circulate enough and the fact that it isn't silver imo also is another reason. Personally if the mint started offering silver/copper uncirculated sets i would totally get into collecting the moderns image
  • CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 32,896 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I think that the "Cheerios Dollar" nickname originally helped it, but it became confusing when it was discovered that not all "Cheerios dollars" were the pattern dollars that I wrote about back in 2000.

    I think that the "Reverse of 1999 Pattern" designation that Paul Gilkes at Coin World suggested is a much better designation.

    TD
    Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
  • savoyspecialsavoyspecial Posts: 7,316 ✭✭✭✭
    in addition, Cheerios carries a certain gravitas among breakfast cereals........it has dignity, nobility


    your point would be well taken if we were discussion the Fruity Pebbles Sacagawea

    www.brunkauctions.com

  • FredWeinbergFredWeinberg Posts: 5,932 ✭✭✭✭✭
    How About:


    'THE DELOREY DELIGHT'
    Retired Collector & Dealer in Major Mint Error Coins & Currency since the 1960's.Co-Author of Whitman's "100 Greatest U.S. Mint Error Coins", and the Error Coin Encyclopedia, Vols., III & IV. Retired Authenticator for Major Mint Errors for PCGS. A 50+ Year PNG Member.A full-time numismatist since 1972, retired in 2022.
  • CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 32,896 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>in addition, Cheerios carries a certain gravitas among breakfast cereals........it has dignity, nobility


    your point would be well taken if we were discussion the Fruity Pebbles Sacagawea >>



    Or something truly disgusting, like Granola......

    image
    Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
  • BroadstruckBroadstruck Posts: 30,497 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Fruity Pebbles Sacagawea >>



    image
    To Err Is Human.... To Collect Err's Is Just Too Much Darn Tootin Fun!
  • HussuloHussulo Posts: 2,953 ✭✭✭
    To be honest I don't think it matters what its called but its over hyped in my book.

    The design difference is so subtle and even if it is a "pattern" there were far too many made and released (I think I read 5500 somewhere). Granted many would have been spent but a "faux rarity" in my book and not worth the huge premiums.

    But each to their own.

  • WoodenJeffersonWoodenJefferson Posts: 6,491 ✭✭✭✭
    hmmm..."Accented Hair" designation quickly leads collectors to the 1964 proof Kennedy half dollar, so why not have "Accentuated Tail Feathers" lead us to the 2000-P Sacajawea golden prototype dollar?
    Chat Board Lingo

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  • AhrensdadAhrensdad Posts: 2,583 ✭✭✭
    It could be worse, it could be called the Cream of Wheat dollar or the Oatmeal dollar. No offense meant to Cream of Wheat or Oatmeal lovers. How about the Cherrios cent being the Cream of Wheat cent. That could be confusing, but cool if it actually was wheat cent.

    I think I need another cup of coffee.
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  • CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 32,896 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>To be honest I don't think it matters what its called but its over hyped in my book.

    The design difference is so subtle ...

    But each to there own. >>



    Well, obviously I am prejudiced in this matter, but I saw the pattern reverse in the middle of October of 1999, and was able to tell from memory that the design had been changed when I saw a regular issue coin in January of 2000, but that's just the way i am.

    TD
    Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
  • CoinHuskerCoinHusker Posts: 5,033 ✭✭✭
    Did I miss something? A coin that can help lower your cholesterol? I'm all for it! image

    How many do I have to eat? I guess it doesn't matter, these too shall pass.




    image
    Collecting coins, medals and currency featuring "The Sower"
  • RWBRWB Posts: 8,082
    Accentuated Tail Feathers"

    Or: Accented Tail; Feather Butt; New Feathers; Wide Tail; White Tail; Loofa... Well, the name should be descriptive
  • DNADaveDNADave Posts: 7,309 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I hate Cheerio Dollar Threads.

    About 2003 I decided to hoard them from Ebay, but then decided I need to control my collecting and that $50 was too much to pay for a novelty. Instead, I went with Mel Wacks counterstamps which I still like, but the decision was bad in hindsight.

    I normally buy about 10-20 of things like that before I'm happy.
  • GemineyeGemineye Posts: 5,374


    << <i>I believe the name to be totally appropriate. It tells a story and identifies a specific coin variety. We have the 'bugs bunny Franklin', the speared bison etc, etc., which are, in my opinion, much worse sobriquets. Cheers, RickO >>


    image.......I should'a ate Cheerios instead of Frosted Flakes back then.....image
    ......Larry........image
  • HussuloHussulo Posts: 2,953 ✭✭✭
    Just a follow up to my previous post.

    I didn't mean to sound harsh about the coin and I'm sure it has brought many new collectors to the hobby but personally I cant understand the value people put on them. Same as I don't understand what some people will pay for modern MS70 coins.

    There are several truly rare Colonial coin types for example (less then 30 known) that do show more of a design difference and are rarer yet sell for the fraction of the price of a Cheerios Dollar.

    Again I realise its about supply and demand but I'm sure publicity has something to do with it.

    Similarly over here in the UK not long ago the Royal Mint issued an undated 20 pence coin by "mistake".
    It has the obverse of the old 20 pence and reverse of the new 20 pence. So say it may have been a cleaver ploy to get Joe public to check their change. Either way it was all over the papers and news and I'm sure it has brought new collectors into the hobby so its been good for the hobby, but the mint estimate there were probably 100,000 struck. It has became a modern "rarity" and carries an unlikely premium for the amount struck.
  • jmski52jmski52 Posts: 23,306 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Interested in Cheerios Dollars now, are you?image

    Why is a Gobrecht Dollar called a Gobrecht Dollar and not a Flying Eagle Dollar?
    Q: Are You Printing Money? Bernanke: Not Literally

    I knew it would happen.
  • savoyspecialsavoyspecial Posts: 7,316 ✭✭✭✭
    >>Why is a Gobrecht Dollar called a Gobrecht Dollar and not a Flying Eagle Dollar?>>



    the 'flying eagle' is on the reverse of the coin and typically a coin is not named by its reverse design (wheat cent doesnt count---it is still a Lincoln cent first and foremost)

    www.brunkauctions.com

  • crypto79crypto79 Posts: 8,623
    I think it is what it is because people are desperate for a modern true rarity and not just a little, one off coin. That being said if it was a seated liberty quarter with that kind of similar difference and rarity it would not be worth nearly as much as you don't have to make up keys for people to fight($$$$) over.
  • cladkingcladking Posts: 28,813 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>i think a corny name helps


    (think Superbird) >>




    Yeah, maybe if they came in something like Corn Pops everything would be different.

    It is pretty frightening to think that for every cheeerios dollar at least one box of Cheerios were sold. image
    tempus fugit extra philosophiam.

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