Artifact: When Coinages Clash

Brian Doherty from the August/September 2007 issue

 

 

In May, 20th Century Fox contracted with the Franklin Mint to add an image of a Marvel Comics superhero, the Silver Surfer, to the backs of 40,000 existing U.S. quarters and send them into the U.S. cash stream. They were meant as promotional devices for a summer movie, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.

It has become customary for Hollywood to extend the totemic power of film characters to various objects, from soft drink cups to kids’ backpacks, giving those goods a patinaof added value. But Fox and the Franklin Mint aroused the wrath of a mighty wizard even more experienced in creating perceived value by placing its stamp on an object: the U.S. Mint.

Federal officials warned the Franklin Mint that it was “breaking the law” which bars citizens from impressing upon “any coin of the United States, any business or professional card, notice, or advertisement.” This isn’t the first time the Franklin Mint has enhanced actual currency, and a spokesman tells me that after consultation with the government they don’t anticipate prosecution, despite a warning from the U.S. Mint.

The Franklin Mint and Marvel’s Surfer already have proven themselves more powerful than the U.S. government in one respect: While Washington’s seal made a coin worth only a quarter, the image of the Surfer made it worth, at press time, $72 on eBay.

Comments

|8.24.07 @ 10:52AM|#

Brian Doherty, aka The Cosmic Burning Man (unofficial herald of Galactus), swoops in to deliver the newest reason Artifact.

|8.24.07 @ 11:03AM|#

Making a quarter worth $72!

There's a trick I'd like to master!

|8.24.07 @ 11:40AM|#

So Brian,
If I understand what you're saying, and correct me if I'm wrong, What you're saying is: We need to dump the Fed and return to the Gold Standard. Right?

Rhywun|8.24.07 @ 12:35PM|#

There's a trick I'd like to master!

It doesn't look that difficult at all--just paint some tacky design on your change and find some nerds to pay you for it. Oh, and being the Franklin Mint probably helps. I doubt you'd have as much success at bribing convincing the US Mint to leave you alone.

|8.24.07 @ 12:43PM|#

Warren---While this piece on coins should be taken at face value, keep your eye out next week for the possibility of a contribution by me to reason.com that might have more to say on the matter of gold.

Jen|8.25.07 @ 6:13PM|#

Great! Looking forward to that, Brian. I have some unresolved concerns about gold. Big fan of Ms. Angela, by the way...hope to meet you guys in person sometime. Perhaps in Denver next year.