1st Official Coin Review

My wife is convinced that I am too pessimistic for my own good. Perhaps she is right. Looking back on my posts I can see that I have a tendency to dwell on the negative (despite my desire to start things off on a positive note with my initial post about the proof platinum coins). In light of this I am going to start a series of posts to "review" coin designs. Though they might not all be positive, they'll at least be a bit different from the standard numismatic frustrations I typically vent.

So without anymore delay's let's jump in and place a critical eye on this year's commemorative coin program: the American Bald Eagle.

I mentioned in the very first post of 2008 that the program had gone on sale. The three coin set was sold out rather quickly (though I can't state an exact number of days) though the coins are all still available in all finishes as of this writing. While visiting a coin shop last month I came across the half dollar and quickly became convinced that it was a necessary addition to my collection. This particular piece is a stunning example of bas relief sculpture. The obverse shows two young eagles in a nest with an unhatched egg while the reverse shows the eagle Challenger standing defiantly with an American flag in the background. Choosing a theme of a pair of young eagles was a welcome addition to typical modern depictions of the eagle (I'm specifically referencing the Kennedy half dollar, as well as the programs half eagle). It is reminiscent of the Family of Eagles reverse which is familiar to the collectors of the gold American Eagles. As the "baby" of the program (being the lowest denominated coin in the series) it is also a nice touch of humor. The reverse with Challenger is refreshing for its depiction of the eagle's bust as opposed to the entire bird giving more energy to the design.

The silver dollar is a blend of an eagle in flight (on the obverse) and a reverse that is taken from the original design of the Great Seal of The United States of America used from 1782 till 1841. I can't be overly harsh about the use of the Great Seal because the coin provides a nice means for collectors of modest means (such as myself) to acquire the design. It also has not *technically* been used on a US coin before now (as far as I know but if I am not, please let me know). The obverse reminds me of the reverse of Hermon MacNeil's Standing Liberty Quarter. In that regard, I have no qualms with the design itself other than the oddly large blank space below the word "Liberty" that throws the balance of the design off. For the record, I can see using blank space in an artistic way but here on the obverse it seems out of place. If I can find one of these for not much above what the mint is selling them for and I can part with $50 then I might pick one up but it is not high on my priority list.

Not on my priority list is the half eagle, by far the most disappointing design. (ok, a little pessimism returns) The design is so uninspired and not compelling that I am curious as to who would buy one other than someone who just wants a complete set. Let's start with the obverse. Unlike the half dollar with its depiction of baby eagles in a nest, the half eagle shows two eagles sitting on a branch where one has just landed (I assume). That's it, two eagles on a branch. But at least that's a new design. The reverse suffers from a disease that has been plaguing many mint projects of the last decade: resuseolddesigninitis. Not only was an old design used, but a really dull one at that: the reverse of the Kennedy half dollar. I guess the artists at the mint who developed this design were running out of time and used their new computer equipment to copy and paste the half dollar design onto this half eagle and call it good. This egregious use of the half dollar reverse makes the half eagle even less desirable to own as the probability of a collector already owning a copy of the design on another coin is high. This coin will only make it into my collection if 1) I already own the other two coins and desire a complete set AND 2) gold is cheap and this coin could be acquired at a small premium over spot.

Summary:
Half Dollar - 5 out of 5
Silver Dollar - 4 out of 5
Half Eagle - 2 out of 5
Three Coin Set - 3.67 out of 5