The most passive support item should not be the one that gives the most gold, at least not by the margin it current does (I see ancient coin users easily have 2x the gold generated than spelltheifs or targons by mid game).
Yes, it has the worst stats of the 3 but it also has probably the best upgrade (bonus MS for allies). Its gold gen maybe shouldn't be as weak as it was but it should be nowhere what it is now.
Keep in mind that quite a few of those supports currently, who are running gold coin, often are running gold generation runes as well (especially if they are trendy Janna, Soraka, Sona or Lulu players). That is gold quints and gold seals - usually with armor reds and AP blues.
Also, keep in mind that if you are using gold coin, you are usually forced to be in lane, often dependant on your adc's ability to farm properly - so during that point in time, yes you are earning some gold. However, you lose coin when you roam, go warding or are forced into the jungle by callous teammates. By the end of the game, actually, if you compare the wealth generated with those carrying spellthief or Targons, it's usually comparable.
Coin gives so much gold because it give shit stats and the quest reward is the weakest out of the 3.
I get Coin, get it to 650 gold, then sell it for another support item.
Agreed. Talisman isn't a terrible item either, even for tanks since it has Raptor's Cloak in the buildpath.
Its gold generation relies on other allies' ability to CS, as ive stated in a post, so despite being the only gold generation tool with no inhibitors (spellthief) or cooldown (shield), its actually quite equal to other tools
You give up laning power in exchange for more gold. Sounds like a fair trade in this early game meta. It should remain the highest gold income.
relic gives tankyness and an ability to heal on supports who dont typically heal or have a very good one(leona, blitz), spellthiefs gives ap which boosts dmg/utility, coin needs something.
