Coin Blog

Yesterday was the official circulation release date of the latest coin in the American the Beautiful Quarters Program featuring Yosemite National Park. The US Mint offered bags and rolls of quarters for sale to coincide with the release.

The Yosemite National Park Quarter features a depiction of the famous rock formation El Capitan, which is located within the park. This monolith of granite rises more than 3,000 feet into the air and is an impressive site for park visitors and a challenge for climbers. The design for the coin was created by Joseph Menna and sculpted by Phebe Hemphill.

The US Mint offered their standard array of products for the quarter, which include 100-coin bags from either the Philadelphia or Denver Mint facility or a two roll set, containing 40-coin rolls from either facility. The bags are priced at $35.95 each and the roll sets are priced at $32.95. Separately, the US Mint offers bulk bags of 200,000 quarters, but these will cost the prospective buyer $51,500 each!

Later this week, the official launch ceremony will be held at Yosemite National Park on July 29, 2010 at 11:00 AM PT. The event will take place at the Valley Visitor's Center, Yosemite Village Loop.

Some collectors were already half prepared for another disappointment, but it appears that there is now a stronger possibility that the United States Mint might issue the 2010 Proof Silver Eagle.

The United States Mint was forced to end sales of the 2008 Proof Silver Eagle early and cancel the 2009 Proof Silver Eagle as a consequence of the heavy demand for precious metals bullion coins. Under the current law authorizing the production of American Gold and Silver Eagles, the US Mint is required to produce the bullion versions of the coins in quantities sufficient to meet full public demand. Because they were not accomplishing this, they sourced all precious metals blanks to the production of bullion coins, leaving proof coins out in the cold. Unfortunately, there was no requirement to produce the collectible versions of the coins.

As it stands, a subcommittee of the House of Representatives is apparently considering an amendment to existing law, which would allow the US Mint to produce collector coins despite not being able to meet public demand. Obviously, the best solution would be to acquire more blanks, but at least the US Mint won't have their hands tied legally any longer.

If the current law can be amended, the US Mint has stated that they could produce 830,000 Proof and Uncirculated Silver Eagles before year end, assuming they get started by September.

The United States Mint released the 2010 Kennedy Half Dollar on January 29, 2010. The Kennedy Half Dollar series began in 1964, although since 2002, the coins have not bee issued for circulation. Rather, a limited number of coins has been produced to satisfy the demand from coin collectors.

The US Mint is selling the 2010 Kennedy Halves packaged in either two roll sets of 200-coin bags. The two roll sets contain one 20-coin roll with the "P" mint mark and one 20-coin roll with the "D" mint mark. These sets are priced at $32.95. The 200-coin bags contain 100 coins for each mint mark. These bags are priced at $130.95.

Since I have collected the series for many years, I pick up a few of the US Mint's two roll sets each year. Although I have heard that the quality of the coins often varies, the rolls I opened last year yielded a few examples that graded MS67 at NGC.

Later in the year, the US Mint will release satin finish versions of the 2009-P&D Kennedy Half Dollar in the uncirculated mint set and clad proof and 90% silver proof versions of the 2009-S Kennedy Half Dollar in the annual proof sets.

The second commemorative coin program of 2010 will be issued for American Veterans who became disabled for life. Their enormous personal sacrifices made for their country will be honored with a silver dollar commemorative coin.

The 2010 American Veterans Disabled for Life Silver Dollar has an obverse design which features the legs and boots of three veterans. One is noticeably on crutches. An inscription above reads "They Stood Up for Us". The reverse of the coin features a wreath of oak leaves and branches with a forget me not flower at the base. The central inscription reads "Take this moment to honor our disabled defenders of freedom."

The 90% silver dollar coins will be issued in a maximum quantity of 350,000. A surcharge added to the cost of the coins will be for the construction of the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial in Washington DC. The coins are expected to go on sale at the US Min in February 2010.

This year the United States Mint will have two different commemorative coin programs. One of them will celebrate the centennial of the founding of the Boy Scouts of America. A silver dollar will be issued with a maximum mintage of 350,000 coins.

The 2010 Boy Scouts Centennial Silver Dollar features an obverse design of three scouts saluting. This includes one cub scout, one boy scout, and one female venturer. The inclusion of the female has frankly caused confusion for many people at first glance since the topic of the coin is the Boy Scouts. The female is part of the venturing program, which allows both males and females to join. The reverse of the coin features the universal logo of the Boy Scouts of America.

The coins will be minted in proof and uncirculated with a composition of 90% silver and 10% copper. The maximum mintage is 350,000 coins. The expected release date is March 2010.