Hi Ben - gorgeous coins - there are numerous foreign coins sets that are very attractive and have great eye appeal. But, I can't start going down that rabbit hole. One set I did buy that was inexpensive is a 1960s Mexican uncirculated set. I don't know why but I like that set. Maybe because when I was about 10 years or so old I would go the the Valley National Bank and get foreign coins directly from the teller - one very nice man named Bill Vernay was especially nice to me and helped me with coins. He was elderly so I am guessing he may have passes on. But hey - Bill if you see thus post I really appreciated you - you went out of your way to make collecting fun. May you rest in peace that I still remember you 60 years later. Thanks Ben
What is 'off putting' about coins of this type for me is the fact that their designs resemble simplistic saturday morning cartoon illustrations. Like the 'Care Bears' or some other Hannah Barbara linear, sans shading, nuance, or detail, coloring book caricatures. Frankly, a fair number of U.S. coins seem to be following this same design trend, with even the portraiture looking rather amateurish/devoid of subtlety and fine detail. Where is the artistry, composition, naturalism and fine line work? Seems that is primarily only acomplished now days on U.S. coins when the mint is copying older work by St. Gaudens, Longacre,Weinman, A. Francisci, Morgan etc. In fact much 20th century coinage (the Kennedy 1/2 seems like a very early example) looks sort of uninspired, simplistic and mediocre at best, compared to earlier work done by the afore mentioned true artists/masters. And those Pandas? They're just screaming to be colorized with primary, 'paint by numbers' paints, or bright 'kitchy ' easter egg pastels, maybe even slightly outside of those oversized coloring book outlines! Yeah, thanks for showing these issues Ben, I'm sure that series, and others of a similar' junior readers books' aesthetic like them, from around the world, have their fans. It seems like just another symptom of the broader trend of a societal dumbing down, widespread proliferation of adults with childrens appetites and sensibilities, and acceptance of mediocrity and half-assness in general. Thanks. No Pandas wanted here. But again I appreciate your postings.
