The one being promoted on national television (and newspapers) is cheaper
but it is struck with a layer of gold on a cheap base metal planchet which is of 39 mm "silver round size" -- far too large to fit into a "type set" or $20 gold piece album.
The price of the nationally advertised version is cheaper
because the materials are cheap and the tooling and planchet size being used
for it are of the industry standard for silver rounds
(and other base metal 39 mm medals).
No custom tooling, except for the dies, was produced.
When you cut corners and use cheap materials and conform to existing tooling
that is of the wrong size -- the product reflects it!
If it doesn't fit into an album -- what good is it?
The nationally advertised version is also being struck in huge numbers!
Although the mintages are stated to be low, if you read the "fine print,"
you will notice they are stated to be low for specific "editions" being offered.
Not stated in the ads is that many "editions" are being struck!
Each "edition" of the nationally advertised version only differs
from other "editions" (of the exact same coin) by a different letter
(or series of letters) that prefixes the serial number machined
into the reverse of each coin!
While the nationally advertised version does not show the
legally required word, "COPY," on the coin in it's ads -- what
it really delivers is a coin with a huge, ugly, long cartouche
which contains the word "COPY" alongside the
coin's alphanumerical serial number!
We stock these too!!! yes these are a lot larger
The other competitor-coin is actually quite interesting as it is
struck on a 2 oz. gold plated silver planchet (marked "COPY .999 Silver" on
the reverse). While this one ought to be of interest to silver round collectors,
it is obviously over twice the diameter of the genuine item and not suitable
for a coin album or the average collector wishing to capture
some semblance of the real thing.
R O Mint's version is struck with expensive custom tooling to produce
this one coin in order to assure the collector that it looks real and will
fit into a coin album.
R O Mint's placement of the legally required word, COPY,
is inconspicuously located on the reverse.
There is no cumbersome statement of purity or pointless,
alphanumerical serial numbers to clutter the reverse.
The R O Mint version is struck on pure silver which is layered
with a double-thickness of pure gold so that the coin has "wearing qualities" and
can be placed into a gold bezel and worn as a jewelry item for many years
to come without wearing out if that option is so desired.
