Not Only Does His Highness Zinke Have A Flag..He Has His Own Coin

[Me.]

Wait till 45 finds out, he'll want a coin too. Coin can be viewed at link. And how much did this cost us?

“He has commissioned commemorative coins with his name on them to give to staff and visitors, but the cost to taxpayers is unclear. Zinke's predecessors and some other Cabinet secretaries have coins bearing agency seals, but not personalized ones.”

http://www.sltrib.com/news/nation-world/2017/10/13/wheres-zinke-the-interior-secretarys-special-flag-offers-clues/

[The_jackalope]

1. "Don't take any Zinke nickels..." nt

[blondebanshee]

2. Where did these people come from?

absolutely revolting!

[procon]

3. It might not be a new or unusual thing, but just an obscure tradition...

That's long past its expiration date. I can be OK with a president handing out a coin as a little token of commemoration to special visitors, but not the rest of the gang.

Military and Presidential Challenge Coins

It's a customary tradition for military commanders and government officials to present challenge coins to guests that visit as a symbol of welcoming and honorary membership. Our own U.S. Presidents, including Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama, have all presented coins to foreign guests, diplomats, and military members throughout the years. In the White House Gift Shop, here you will find a variety of White House, Presidential, Air Force One, Military, and Washington DC challenge and commemorative coins specially priced for affordable collection, display, or gift giving to family, friends, diplomats, and as memorable gifts for large groups.

It is also a longstanding military tradition for the President of the United States as Commander in Chief to tuck away a special challenge coins via a secret handshake challenge coin exchange. A challenge coin from the U.S. President is prized among all other coins.

For nearly 70 years, the White House Gift Shop, Est. 1946 has been the design originator of uniquely affordable Presidential, White House, Air Force One coins as well as coins honoring Military members of the Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, Department of Defense, and agencies located on the Pentagon complex.

These commemorative items are preferred gifts for meaningful events, friendship exchanges, and have been presented by the President of the United States, Department Secretaries, Military, State Department diplomats, and in recent years by civilians in an honored tradition.

https://www.whitehousegiftshop.com/President-Military-Coins-s/2192.htm

[Me.]

4. THe Difference Is...He has Personalized His

"He has commissioned commemorative coins with his name on them to give to staff and visitors, but the cost to taxpayers is unclear. Zinke's predecessors and some other Cabinet secretaries have coins bearing agency seals, but not personalized ones"

[haele]

5. Depending on size and quality, commemorative coins can cost from $2 - $10 apeice.

$2.00 is pretty much the base price purchasing a bronze coin the size of a half dollar of varying thickness (1/2 dollar sizes is the most common commemorative coin size) with a single side engraved design from the manufacturer and including shipping.
It doesn't include any treatments such as double die (different design on each side), embossing the design (as in a raised or sculpted design vice just a design cut into the bronze surface), embossed lettering, edge treatment (raised, milled, or engraved edges), special finishes (antiqued, burnished), enamel, cut outs - moving pieces.

When my father died in 2011, I shopped around, used my military discount, and ended up spending $600+ for 50 1.5 mil embossed double die coins with a simple milled edge used at his memorial service as a take-away token for those who came and to give to the CO and Chaplin of the ship that his ashes went out on. That's what's considered a typical "challenge coin" or commemorative command coin amongst veterans and his fellow goat locker staff.
I'm sure the cost is higher now, even those a department might get out of the Federal Catalog for special events.

So, depending on how many he's commissioned, he could be billing taxpayers a couple thousand dollars for something his department hands out to visitors and "staff" with his personal name on it, just like a petty Potentate instead of a leader proud of his department.

A leader - hell, even a manager - is not an owner of the organization under his or her command. I don't think Zinke or anyone else Drumpf "appointed" understands they're supposed to be more than just a mob boss staking out turf.
As a taxpayer and being familiar with government agencies, I have no problems with challenge or commemorative coins for the department or agency. But personalized tokens?
That's a form of pride that should be paid for by the guy who's being paid craploads of money just to sit around playing with his nameplate that has a title on it, schmooze with corporations over lunches and golf, and makes decisions by throwing darts to at policies and strategies developed the people who do the real work under him.

Haele

[Me.]

6. Agreed

These people are a real problem and all those thousands add up.

[Vinca]

7. A coin? A fucking coin?? What's next . . . an ermine cape and a scepter??

[Thor_MN]

8. How can Trump suffer another narcissist of this magnitude?

[Me.]

9. That What I'm Wondering

It may've all been flying under the radar with everything else that's going on but sooner or later he's going to catch on to King Ryan and then the kaboom will lower that flag.