What a difference a year makes. Today the First Spouse gold coins for Andrew Jackson will become available to collectors.

I imagine the commencement of sales at noon Eastern time today on the Mint Web site will cause very little fuss or bother. How unlike the case when the Thomas Jefferson was offered a year ago.

Jefferson happened to be the third and last First Spouse gold coins to sellout quickly. In fact, they were the last First Spouse coins to sell out at all.

Once the novelty wears off, so does buyer interest apparently. Does this mean the Mint is offering the numismatic equivalent of the hoola hoop? Hot one minute and then forever on the margin, fondly recalled by those who remember the fad?

Could be.

Legislation for the National Parks quarter series includes provisions to make versions of the designs in five-ounce sizes three inches in diameter. Colin Bruce of the Standard Catalog of World Coins staff called these large “coins” hockey pucks many years ago.

Another piece of legislation calling for civil rights quarters has exactly the same provision for a three-inch, five-ounce silver version. How much further can the U.S. Mint take novelty in numismatics?

I am sure we will eventually find out, but we collectors may not like the answer.

Perhaps there will even be a U.S. coin for the hoola hoop. How about that?