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FUTURE OF U.S. COINAGEDick also pointed out an article from the September 10, 2002 issue of The New York Times. The article discusses collector attitudes toward new coin designs. Dick writes: "The thought that comes to me is: numismatics does not speak with a unified voice. Ask a dozen numismatists and you get a dozen different viewpoints. And I am not satisfied with any statement the American Numismatic Association states (which should be the voice for all of us in the field). Should not a study be made of the future of coins and what denominations are required before we start squabbling about whose portrait should appear on them? Personally, I see dropping both the cent and the nickel in a future economy. But I believe coins should be struck in one, five, ten and twenty dollar denominations with dime and half dollar fractional denominations. I suggest coins be created in the same denominations as paper money, and the portraits for these new coins should be the same person (not necessarily the same portrait -- it is a different kind of art -- that the notes bear! Quarters? Souvenirs of the future!" Here are a few excerpts from the article by Lynette Clemetson, headlined "Penny in Their Thoughts: Two Camps Debate New Look for Coins": "Change is good. But changing change, as the United States Mint is finding out, may prove to be tricky business. The mint wants to make over America's pocket change, replacing Thomas Jefferson's beloved Monticello from the nickel with an image of Lewis and Clark's expedition, and possibly retiring Abraham Lincoln from the penny and Franklin D. Roosevelt from the dime. Traditionalist's are reluctant. But coin collectors are cheering. After all, they are the ones who got the debate rolling, arguing that the United States' coins are boring." "Some coin collectors have advocated redesigns that eliminate presidents altogether, in favor of thematic depictions of liberty and history. "I'm not trying to put down dead dignitaries, but the public wants to see something new to stimulate pride and interest, not just in coins, but in history," said Fred Weinberg, former president of the Professional Numismatists Guild, which represents more than 300 coin dealers around the world. "In the coin fraternity, this is hot news." The idea has drawn a chilly response from presidential supporters. The redesign report was originally released a year ago, in August 2001, but became the focus of debate this summer when officials at the Treasury Department put forth preliminary plans for a new nickel that would replace Monticello with a Lewis and Clark design. The suggestion stirred the outrage of Virginians. Representative Eric Cantor, Republican of Virginia, with support of other Virginia lawmakers and Monticello enthusiasts, introduced and pushed through legislation in the House that would allow for a temporary three-year commemorative redesign, provided that Monticello return to the coin in 2006."Wayne Homren, Editor The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization promoting numismatic literature. See our web site at coinbooks.org. To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor at this address: whomren@gmail.com To subscribe go to: https://my.binhost.com/lists/listinfo/esylum All Rights Reserved. NBS Home Page Contact the NBS webmaster 
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