Interesting to see the RAM can make some of world's better coins: https://www.numismaticnews.net/coin-of-the-year/2021-coty-nominees-determined
The last time I remember buying new release coins direct from the mint or the retail shops was in 1990 with the $5 1 ounce silver kookaburras. After that I wizened up a bit, and found that if I waited a while I could buy most of the new releases later on at well under issue prices, some even under spot prices. So being a bit of a cheapskate does have its benefits in the long run, as I have amassed a much larger stack than I would have if I had purchased must of my stuff through retail outlets when first released.