US Mint Halts 2009 Nickels and Dimes Production
The United States Mint has halted production of circulating 2009 Jefferson nickels and 2009 Roosevelt dimes for the rest of this year, according to the latest issue of Coin World. As the dime and nickel production graphs show, the stoppage creates historic, staggering low mintages for the two coins — levels not seen since the 50s.
Coin Word’s Paul Gilkes reports the US Mint made the announcement on April 23, and included details of a scale back in producing for other circulating coins, like the three remaining 2009 Lincoln Pennies.
It’s not that the public or collectors dislike the new coins. Quite the opposite, in fact. Collector demand for 2009 circulating coinage is exceptionally high. It’s all about the recession. It has, by itself, significantly eroded demand for new coins in every day transactions.
Why? In addition to buying less, consumers as a whole no longer hoard loose change at home. They spend or cash it in, replenishing circulating supplies to such an extent that coin inventories at banks have climbed. Banks, in turn, cut Federal Reserve orders for new coin shipments. Federal Reserve banks do the same to the Mint, which is then forced to slash production.
Electronic transactions has already cut into demand for circulating coins over the last several years. The latest news from the Mint, however, overshadows how drastic demand for coins has been affected due solely to the recession.
Using the latest Mint circulating coin production figures for 2009 Jefferson nickels, 39.36 million from Denver and 39.84 million from Philadelphia were struck, for a total of 79.20 million coins. In contrast, 640.6 million nickels were minted last year. That is an astonishing 87.6 percent reduction. The last time a U.S. nickel had such a low combined mintage was in 1951.
Jefferson Nickel Production by Mint Facility (1999-2009)
The picture is very similar for 2009 Roosevelt dimes. 49.50 million in Denver and 96.50 million in Philadelphia were struck, for a total of 146 million coins. In contrast, 1.05 billion circulating dimes were minted last year. That is a 86.1 percent reduction. The combined mintage level has not been this low for the dime since 1955.
Roosevelt Dime Production by Mint Facility (1999-2009)
Finding circulating 2009 nickels and dimes will become a priority for many collectors, as their comparative scarcity is extremely attractive. The task may be quite difficult, however. To date, finding 2009 coinage has been a challenge. And unlike other circulating coins, the Mint does not directly sell the nickel and dime in bags or rolls to collectors.
[Editor's update: 2009 nickel and dime production figures were updated to include totals to the very end of April, which the Mint released on May 1. The original article posting had tallies up to April 29.]
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April 30th, 2009 at 7:56 am
This is frustrating. I have not found a single 2009 coin in circulation yet.
April 30th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
I have only found the DC quarters at a Carl’s Jr. and I bought a roll off them. Its the only time I’ve seen 2009 coins in circulation.
April 30th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
I got 3 2009 Lincoln log cabin pennies in change in Palm Springs back in March (at a Starbucks). Other than that, no 2009’s. I also got a 2009 DC quarter from a vending machine in Portland Oregon.
May 1st, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Same expereience here.
The US Mint also recently cancelled my confirmed backorder of pennies that I purchased before they cut off sales
May 5th, 2009 at 10:13 pm
If any sort of financial sanity and reality prevailed at the US Mint, and with American coins and currency in general, we would have decades ago stopped minting those pathetically USELESS cents, and more recently given up on five cents and dimes as well. Just keeping even with inflation since the 1930’s, when the cent was our lowest denomination coin, we would have the quarter as our lowest value coin today, given the dollar has lost 95% of its purchasing power since then.
In addition, we would have long ago stopped printing dollar bills (which as a merchant I HATE!), and fives and tens as well, replacing them with coins.
Why does this obvious fact of our depreciating dollar and its impact on circulating coins and bills never seem to get any attention?
May 27th, 2009 at 8:29 am
Even if there’s a recession and people aren’t using them they still should make enough for collectors. And if there was a small amount made why aren’t any listed on ebay?
June 9th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
Where are all the 2009-D Roosevelt dimes? I’ve seen quite a few 2009-P Roosevelt dimes on ebay but not a single 2009-D yet. The production numbers for the 2009-D are 49,500,000 so where are they all?
July 7th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
I have 5 pennies where lincoln sits on a log, two Guam quarters, and 1 Puerto Rico quarter. Thats all I have and seen for 2009 coins.
July 18th, 2009 at 9:51 am
2009 Jeff Nickels production is listed as about 38M each for Phila and Denver. I have obtained one from the Phila mint but haven’t
heard/seen anything concerning the Denver mint. Has the Denver mint
actually minted the 2009-D nickel? If so, does anyone know the release date?
July 20th, 2009 at 7:50 am
The only way that I can see to get 2009 dimes and nickels from both mints is to purchase the uncirculated coin set from the US Mint. At $27.95 this sounds like a bargain compared to what the 2009 dimes and nickels have been selling for on ebay.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:56 pm
I would suggest that you go to a few local banks or ones that you have accounts with and ask for the coins you are looking for. You may even find a roll or two of the 2009’s that you are looking for!!