The Coin Collecting Den

The Mint has released production figures for circulating coins through November 2009. Total production for the month was only 76.06 million coins, a decrease of nearly 80% from October and the lowest production in years.

These figures include the final mintages for the Zachary Taylor Presidential Dollar and the Northern Mariana Islands quarter. Only Lincoln cents, Presidential Dollars, and NMI quarters were produced during November. Cents and dollars were produced at the Philadelphia Mint, while the Denver Mint produced cents and quarters.

The table below shows coin production for both November and year to date.

November 2009 US Mint Coin Production Figures

Three denominations (Lincoln cents, Presidential dollars, quarters) featured multiple reverse designs that rotated over the course of the year. The table below breaks down the total production figures for the year by reverse design. Of note: It has not yet been confirmed if production of the Lincoln cent Presidency design has ended, so the table only lists totals for the first three Lincoln cent designs. By subtracting the totals for these first three designs from the totals through November given above, possible mintages for the Presidency Cent come in at 198.00 million Denver Mint coins and 129.60 million Philadelphia Mint coins, assuming no further production in December. These totals are substantially less than the first three designs.

The Mint has unveiled the images that will become the 2010 Presidential dollar coins. The four presidents, Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce, James Buchannon, and Abraham Lincoln will be released in three month increments throughout the year. The obverse designs on the Millard Fillmore and Abraham Lincoln Presidential $1 Coins are by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Don Everhart; the obverse design on the Franklin Pierce Presidential $1 Coin is by United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program Master Designer Susan Gamble; and the obverse design for the James Buchanan Presidential $1 Coin is by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Phebe Hemphill.

The Mint will be releasing the fourth and final Lincoln Bicentennial penny on Thursday, November 12. The design commemorates Lincoln’s presidency in Washington, D.C.

Two roll sets will be available at 12:00pm on November 12 for $8.95. The set includes one 50 coin roll from the Philadelphia Mint with no mint mark, and one roll from the Denver Mint with the “D” mint mark. Orders are limited to five per household.

The Presidency design is the fourth and final of the Lincoln Bicentennial series, with the previous designs commemorating Lincoln’s birth and early childhood in Kentucky, formative years in Indiana, and professional life in Illinois.

The 2009 American Buffalo Gold Proof coin went on sale yesterday, October 29. Based on the average price of gold for the period being $1,050.28, the coins were priced at $1,360 each, with no order limits or announced mintage limit. The current spot price of gold is $1,037.50, which could mean a price drop of $50 is in the future for this coin. No sales figures will be out for at least a few days, but since the Mint’s site didn’t crash the way it did with the launch of the Lincoln Chronicles set, it’s safe to say the demand has been more moderate. This may be due to the previously mentioned possibility of a price drop if the price of gold stays below $1,050 per ounce. It may also be due to the lack of a mintage limit, which could mean enough coins will be produced to fill the market demand and reduce the value of the coin in the secondary market. Time will tell!

So I checked the mail Friday, and to my surprise there was a box from the Mint! I was not expecting anything so soon, as my order still showed as “processing” as late as Wednesday and was listed as shipping 10/31/09 when I ordered on the 14th. It was a great surprise! I took some pictures of the unboxing, check them out after the jump!

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Well, after crashing the Mint’s web site when sales started Thursday, as of Friday evening, the Mint is showing that they have received at least 50,000 orders for the Lincoln Chronicles set. Anyone still interested in ordering can still get in on the wait list and hope others cancel, or check out the already busy ebay scene!

Today at 12:00pm Eastern, the US Mint will release the eagerly awaited Lincoln Coin & Chronicles set. The set includes:

• One 2009 Abraham Lincoln Commemorative Proof Silver Dollar
• Four proof 95% copper cents featuring the four different 2009 reverse designs
• Reproduction photograph of Abraham Lincoln
• Reproduction of the Gettysburg Address in Lincoln’s handwriting
• Certificate of Authenticity

All in a leather-like tri-fold case with a slip cover. Production of the set is limited to 50,000 pieces, representing the last 50,000 Lincoln silver dollars out of the otherwise sold-out total production of 500,000. The price will be $55.95 and sales will be limited to one per household for the first 30 days of availability, though it seems unlikely this won’t sell out well before that point.