I agree we've had some beautiful designs in the past. I think the
"Mercury" dime is my favorite.
But don't other countries produce wonderful modern designs? Does anyone
think a contemporary look would gain acceptance by the public?
(People tend to view many new designs as "funny money" or, in the case
of the Presidential dollars, "tokens".)
The two new obverses of the Jefferson nickel, the reverses of the 2009
cents and Native American dollars are all good contemporary designs.
I have no problem with Liberty on our coins, but we shouldn't just
recycle the same designs as in the past.
Paul
We might if we want to keep people feeling secure and comfortable with their
country's coins. A change now to modern design interpretations might get
the public wondering if the new coins are as "good" as the familiar ones
they replaced. As an old fart, I would prefer receiving the classic designs
in change. It's likely though that the opinions of younger set will
prevail.
There's truth to that. When the French did their 100 old francs = 1 new
franc exchange at the launching of the Fifth Republic, they brought back the
classic "semeuse" design that had been popular before World War I. So many
of the young farts were killed in the two world wars that all that was left
were the old ones.
James of Flatulent Days Gone By