Commemorative Coin - Significance of Non-circulating Commemoratives

Significance of Non-circulating Commemoratives

Coin collectors are often divided on the relative merits of non circulating legal tender. Many countries issue large quantities of non circulating legal tender purely as a profit making exercise. The events that these coins commemorate are often chosen based on a perceived market, rather than events of significance to the country. Detractors comment that circulating coins are intended to showcase the culture of the country which issues them, and therefore have historical interest. Proponents will point out that non circulating coins are often used to showcase the art form and technology of minting. Technology developed for non circulating coins has moved to circulation issues - coloured coins were first issued as non circulating legal tender, but Canada has recently issued coloured commemorative coins into (albeit limited) circulation.