and taught me a lesson about loyalty.

For many years, starting in 1969 when my Dad ordered me my first proof set, I have been a loyal customer of the U.S. Mint accumulating proof sets, mint sets, Bicentennial 3 Coin sets, and just about every other numismatic product they made available. Much of this was motivated by the desire for completeness but some of this was also motivated by a sense that my purchases from the Mint would be, somehow, appreciated and eventually rewarded with great coinage.

I remember being so thrilled in 1981 when the first word started breaking in the Numismatic Press about the 1982 Commemorative Washington Half Dollar. I had collected some of the first generation Commemoratives so the very idea that the Mint would resume production of Commemorative Halves was a dream come true.

The Washington Half was not a bad design but it certainly didn't have the classic feel of the earlier Commemorative Coins, but hope springs eternal and I thought the new renaissance had begun. I eagerly bought the LA Olympics issues, the Statue of Liberty Issues, etc. etc. until I had purchased at least one Commemorative from every year up until last year. Now, I must admit, I wised up somewhere about 1998 and started buying from dealers for much lower prices than the Mint issue price.

But my loyalty to the Mint was finally shattered by the sheer unrelenting ordinariness of their designs. Here's an example, take a look at the detail and artistry of the 1925 Stone Mountain, 1936 Gettysburg, and 1937 Antietem Halves, and compare them to the artistry and detail exhibited in the 1995 Civil War Half, Dollar, and Five Dollar Gold. I think you'll agree with me that the 1995 designs are cookie cutter boring in comparison. Here are some more examples, 1918 Lincoln/Illinois compared to 2009 Lincoln Bicentennial or 1926 Oregon Trail compared to 2004 Lewis and Clark, in each case the former is much better than the latter. Until the Mint infuses true artistry back into their designs, they have lost me as a customer.

Funny how the Government almost always disappoints. Happy Collecting everyone.

Malcolm

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