When these abominations first appeared I hated them rather like contrived commemoratives. However as I'm getting older I'm getting more mellow and relaxed. (I haven't killed anyone since 'nam) I think they have their own appeal and it's a great way for a young collector to be inspired by what a high grade coin can look like. Numismatically they have the value of a coat button, I don't own one, don't want to own one but I was tempted by the 1933 penny :)
What concerns me is that almost every example I see for sale is misleading in the extreme. The "coins" can't be worth more than a dollar yet they are being offered for $20 upwards with descriptions such as "Pattern proof" implying that these were designs produced hundreds of years ago by the mint rather than mass produced in a modern factory last week.
Non illegitimis carborundum est. Excellent advice for all coins.
Make Numismatics Great Again!
