The State of Alaska has, by statute, created an annual art contest. The winning entry is used on the Official Alaska State Medallion. This medallion has become prized as a collectible. One must wonder why other governments have not modeled similar contests and the ensuing medallions. It is a great way for a government to generate some income other than taxation, and has little risk of bringing a loss about.
This is a wonderful way for a government to support the arts, and the minting of the annual medallions that evolves makes some interesting promotional pieces for the region. In addition, if the minting is done within the state, or other governmental division where states do not exist, there is employment to some residents that will result from the minting and sale of the commemorative pieces.
Although these medallions are not technically coins, there is an appeal to coin collectors in that there is an official decree made by an entity of authority.
There are many positives with no apparent negative, so I cannot understand why this is not emulated by other governing units.
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Comments
Very interesting! You mentioned many positives and no apparent negative. We have similar situation in Slovenia. Our coins are relatively rare and unknown, but we could make them an alternative to Vatican's collections. Unfortunately there is no vision behind the program and the distributor even closed the list of subscribers which guaranteed each subscriber to have 30 days, when new coin waits for him, so with each new issue collectors risk to stay without a coin. I think we all need more of entrepreneurial spirit in this area!
The rules of the contest do not specify wildlife, but it has been the recurring theme.
blackspanielgallery, This is a charming way to track what wildlife abounds or needs protection in Alaska. It's interesting that in the middle of all that specificity, only one is general: Alaskan wildlife.
There is a site that has all of the images, but I did not have the rights to copy from it. The one shown is the Alaska Seal side of the Puffins, medallion, which my small coin Ebay store sold years ago. I kept the image.
This is the first I have heard of these medallions, but what a nice idea it is! Some of the ones from past years are just gorgeous/
There are older ones that come to about $300, but the newer ones are not quite so high. I would look to the source, the Alaska Mint. Still, they are high. Mintage in any given year varies, and is set by demand. Only once, I believe, has the mintage exceeded 10,000, and many are much fewer. Currently the Alaska Mint is selling the proof-like coins, and last week the price was $39 for the silver one ounce ones. I believe that is the current price, but I was really checking on the 2016 design for the article.
I think it's a wonderful initiative. I see the coins are rather expensive (close to $100). How many coins do they mint in any given year?
I am surprised at how few some of these were made. I once read some two ounce silver medallions had less than twenty made.
I would think a country would not enter into such a minting since it could easily design a real coin, but in your part of the world a county might take up the idea.
What a lovely article and excellent idea. I like how the coin has to pertain to Alaska ; that makes it more meaningful.
The year by year account of what has been used is very interesting. I was unaware that Puffins were pertinent to Alaska and have no idea what a Ptarmigan is . :)