July 11th, 2010
The preliminary mintage for the Yellowstone National Park Quarter has recently been provided by the United States Mint. This is the second coin in the new America the Beautiful Quarters Program.
There were 34.8 million coins produced at the Denver Mint and 33.6 million coins produced at the Philadelphia Mint. This makes the total production across both facilities 68.4 million. The US Mint does caution that this is a preliminary figure. If time and resources allow, the US Mint seems to be able to restart production of coins previous releases as long as it is still the current calendar year.
Interestingly, this amount comes in above the production level for the first release of the year. The Hot Springs Quarter mintage was a combined 59.6 million. This breaks the streak of continually declining quarter mintages that has been in place for more than a year.
Does this signify a change in trend or an aberration? Will Hot Springs be the low mintage coin for the series?
July 9th, 2010
In the last month, the United States Mint has produced the first circulation strike 2010 Jefferson Nickels at the Denver Mint.
The first Philadelphia strike coins came in April 2010, when a scant 1.68 million were produced. At the time, it appeared that there might be a chance of coming in below the extremely low production totals experienced for the 2009 Jefferson Nickels. However, now it seems relatively certain that the low levels of the prior year will be surpassed.
Through June 30, 2010, the US Mint has now produced 76.08 million of the 2010-P Jefferson Nickels. This is already above last year's total annual production of 39.84 million.
At Denver, production has been 36.24 million so far. This entire amount was minted in June. The prior year total remains slightly higher at 46.8 million coins.
Both 2010-P and 2010-D nickels have already been reported in the channels of circulation.
June 6th, 2010
The 2010 American Buffalo Gold Proof Coin went on sale at the United States Mint on June 3, 2010. This will mark the fifth year that collectible versions of the 24 karat gold coin have been offered.
Back in 2006, the bullion series debuted and the US Mint also offered a one ounce proof version of the coin. The same offerings were available in 2007. For 2008, the US Mint greatly expanded the number of collectible offerings by including collectible uncirculated versions and fractional versions of the coin. Although sales were low, these coins have now appreciated in value substantially. Last year, the Mint reverted once again to only offering the one ounce bullion and one ounce proof coin.
The 2010 Proof Gold Buffalo is offered without a household ordering limit and without an established maximum mintage level. The pricing for the coins is $1,510. This price is now nearly double the price of the 2006 Proof Gold Buffalo, which was offered at $800. The increase, of course, is attributable to the higher price of gold.
June 4th, 2010
The US Mint just released the 2010 Jane Pierce First Spouse Coins, which honor the wife of President Franklin Pierce, the 14th President of the United States. This is the fifteenth release in the broader series since one preceding President had a first and second wife.
The First Spouse Gold Coin series hasn't really resonated with collectors. Some have attributed this to the subject matter, others to the high price tag. The latest coins to go on sale cost $779 for proof versions and $766 for uncirculated versions. The initial releases of the series were actualy priced at $429.95 and $410.95, but the rising cost of gold has caused pricing to be adjusted.
While it will take a strong stomach or wallet to see the series through to the end, it might pay off in the long run. After 2007, sales for First Spouse coins declined substantially, resulting in extremely low mintage levels. Historically, unpopular coins with low mintages have eventually found an audience and price appreciation after the low mintages added a new allure. Will this series prove the same, or provide the first exception?
June 3rd, 2010
The United States Mint recently provided the final production figures for the Franklin Pierce Dollar. This coin is the fourteenth release of the Presidential Dollar coin series, which began back in 2007.
The final production figures came in at 38,220,000 coins from the Philadelphia Mint and 38,360,00 coins from the Denver Mint. This makes for a combined circulating coin production total of 76,580,000.
Interestingly, this marks a slight increase from the production levels of the previous Millard Fillmore Dollar. This may or may not be a turning point for the series.
Since 2007, the general trend for mintages has been down. After producing 340 million George Washington Dollars, figures rapidly fell for the remaining releases that year. During 2008 and 2009, mintages continued to move generally downward, but there were a few blips upward interspersed. Will the Franklin Pierce Dollar turn out to be another blip, or the start of a longer stabilization or upturn in production?
