A COMMENTARY BY Todd Lammers  #206

I have really enjoyed seeing the variety of encased coins that PPM is striking. ECI's new dollars has the best fit I've seen so far although the encased nickels are a very close second. The brass and bronze casements are very attractive when color contrasting metals are used.

One great thing about PPM's program is that it does not require a 1,000 piece minimum order as it's predecessors did in the encased business. Those guys charged $300.00 for a die and up to $500.00 to encase a 1,000 pieces, plus shipping. I have been told that some folks who ordered from them years back still have several pieces left undistributed. PPM's 300 piece minimum is much more reasonable and affordable. The average order, exclusive to ECI members, of 300 encased with one die is only $365.00 plus $10.00 s&h. A true bargain compared to what has gone before.

I'm especially glad to see the different coin clubs issuing their own encased. If I am right, so far PPM has struck pieces for: F.U.N., Central Arkansas Coin Club, World Bi-Metallic Collectors Club, Rockford Area Coin Club, Central Florida Coin Club, Alexandria Coin Club, Rappahannock Area Coin Club, Marion Coin Club, Havering Numismatic Society, Worthing & District Numismatic Society and Southern Idaho Coin Club. Most orders outside of F.U.N. are for around 300 pieces. As Cecil mentioned in the last newsletter, these are going to be very hard to come by for us collectors. As he said, if every ECI member would want to add one to their collection, there is not enough to go around. What prices will these command 10 years from now? I, for one, would really like to add them to my meager collection and I trust that a few will make it to eBay. Let me also mention that I have donated all my pre PPM encased to the ECI store. WHY? The answer is easy. In years to come my collection will consist of only PPM struck pieces which will be anything but common.

PPM has encased more different quarters in the last couple of years than ever encased before. This has come about in large part because of the state quarter program. ECI has been responsible for having Canadian twenty-five cents pieces as well as other Washington quarters struck for it's members; adding greatly to the numbers produced by PPM.

ECI has once again taken the lead by having the new President Washington dollar encased. Jerry told me that ECI will be encasing each new President dollar as they are issued as well as all the non-proof SBA'S and Sac's in the months to come. Fifty of the 2007P Washington dollars were struck; but according to Jerry, only 25 each of the new issues will be struck from now on. He said that it has been his experience that only the first issue or year of any new coin warrants a larger number. That's a great pity considering that we have over 340 members. Oh well, I've raised that topic before to no avail.

I heard of a statement made by one of our members that criticized the encasing of older coins in new casements. In a free society anyone can comment on anything they wish for any reason. I don't find that there is a need to condemn what another does as long that is does effect or harm a person or disturb the society at large. If those kind of encased coins don't turn your crank - then leave them be; collect what you like while allowing the rest of us the freedom to choose for ourselves. Personally, I appreciate those who encase the older coins especially the ones by ECI and find them very desirable.

I for one take no pleasure in political correctness and shun it given the opportunity.