Brian,

I believe there is a theory out & about as to poor design of coinage and 
the decadance and collapse of older civilizations.

Frm Ezra Pounds Cantos (he was obsessive in his fascination over the 
objects of money & their relationship to culture -- as an economist he 
may be half baked but he is certainly fascinating) there is something to 
the effect that an Emperor wanted his people to raise fatter pigs and so 
had fatter than usual pigs stamped on their coins. Folks looked at the 
coins and in turn got the impression that fatter pigs were better and 
began to breed their pigs to be fatter. Regardless if it is historically 
correct or not I always consider that this is a lesson in Basic 
Marketing 101... if you want to put forth an idea or a brand then 
replicate it over and over multiple times in obvious places that are so 
obvious that they are under the radar of a person's attention.

I agree the State coins are cool. When I get Georgia it makes me 
remember that we have states plus it makes me feel like I have a 
relationship w/ Georgia... similar to when I see a Georgia license plate 
on a car. The coin does not make me think that it is out of place, 
though seeing a Georgia plate in NY State makes me immediatly think that 
the driver is probably lost and/or they are saving on their car insurance.

I would prefer NASCAR coins.

Half topless lady liberty... reminds me of the visionary Ashcroft.

][<

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