US Mint 2010 Annual Coin Production Rises 79.6%, Mintages Near 6.4 Billion

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2010 Jefferson NickelUS Mint annual coin production shot higher in 2010 after circulating coin mintages plunged to the lowest point in decades during the previous year.

2010 levels were still significantly lower than those from 2008, however, when the American recession began to earnestly kick-in and cut the demand for circulating change.

The United States Mint produced nearly 6.4 billion coins for circulation last year, marking an increase of more than 2.8 billion, or 79.6 percent, over the 3.548 billion coins minted in 2009.

2009 vs. 2010 Annual Coin Production

2010 Unit Gain / Loss 2010 % Gain / Loss
Lincoln Cents 1,656,830,000 70.4%
Jefferson Nickels 403,920,000 466.2%
Roosevelt Dimes 973,000,000 666.4%
Quarters -186,920,000 -35.0%
Kennedy Half Dollars -300,000 -7.9%
Native American $1 9,520,000 13.4%
Presidential $1s -30,940,000 -8.8%
Total 2,825,110,000 79.6%

 

Perhaps the biggest revelation for the year is the mintage drop for 2010 America the Beautiful Quarters® as compared to 2009 DC & US Territories Quarters. Coin production also declined for Kennedy Half Dollar and Presidential $1 coins, but those changes as well as the coins with gains are easier to quantify.

Production of smaller coins — the penny through quarter — is driven entirely by economic demand. While all coins suffered mintage declines in 2009, the US Mint stopped producing nickels and dimes for most of the year as the Federal Reserve did not place new orders for them. Their production figures fell to levels not seen in decades. It makes sense that those two denominations could be most affected when coinage demand picks up, as it did.

For several years, half dollars have not been placed into circulation but instead sold directly by the US Mint in rolls and bags to coin collectors. Ted Kennedy’s passing on August 25, 2009, drew worldwide attention to the Kennedy family history and collector demand for the 50c pieces increased slightly during the year as a result. In 2010, Kennedy Half Dollar production returned toward their 2008 level.

Dollar coins are more variable and their mintages are not strictly determined by transactional needs around the nation. For example, whether there is demand for them or not, current law requires that not less than 20% of the total number of $1 coins minted each year be Native American $1’s.

On a monthly basis, production in December was the slowest of the year. This is typical as the US Mint during the final month of any year is transitioning to produce newly dated inventory for the next year. As a larger example, the Mint reported no gains during December 2009.

Coin Production by Month

January February March April May
218.41 M 194.40 M 384.42 M 451.96 M 657.22 M

 

June July August September October November December
918.94 M 772.08 M 743.78 M 690.02 M 730.22 M 531.46 M 80.200 M

 

The total number of Lincoln cents struck in Philadelphia was actually cut by 6.8 million in the latest round of figures. That is an infrequent event. The biggest gainers in December were cents from Denver, rising by 64.4 million.

December US Mint 2010 Coin Production

Denver Philadelphia Total
Lincoln Cents 64,400,000 -6,800,000 57,600,000
Jefferson Nickels 3,360,000 0 3,360,000
Roosevelt Dimes 13,500,000 0 13,500,000
2010 Quarters 0 0 0
Kennedy Half Dollars 0 0 0
Native American $1s 5,740,000 0 5,740,000
Presidential Dollars 0 0 0
Total 87,000,000 -6,800,000 80,200,000

 

As the above table highlights, the US Mint in Philadelphia was inactive for 2010 coinage in December. For reference, the following table breaks out the mintage figures by coin design and denomination.

2010 Annual Coin Production by Design

Denver Philadelphia 2010 Total
Lincoln Cents 2,047,200,000 1,963,630,000 4,010,830,000
Jefferson Nickels 229,920,000 260,640,000 490,560,000
Roosevelt Dimes 562,000,000 557,000,000 1,119,000,000
Hot Springs National Park Quarters 34,000,000 35,600,000 69,600,000
Yellowstone National Park Quarters 34,800,000 33,600,000 68,400,000
Yosemite National Park Quarters 34,800,000 35,200,000 70,000,000
Grand Canyon National Park 35,400,000 34,800,000 70,200,000
Mount Hood Park Quarters 34,400,000 34,400,000 68,800,000
Kennedy Half Dollars 1,700,000 1,800,000 3,500,000
Native American $1 48,720,000 32,060,000 80,780,000
Fillmore Presidential $1 36,960,000 37,520,000 74,480,000
Pierce Presidential $1 38,360,000 38,220,000 76,580,000
Buchanan Presidential $1 36,540,000 36,820,000 73,360,000
Lincoln Presidential $1 48,020,000 49,000,000 97,020,000

 

The US Mint has not officially stated the ending mintages for the 2010 America the Beautiful Quarters, still indicating the final results will be "issued in January 2011." However, the above quarter figures have remained unchanged for a second straight month.

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Clyde McDowell

How many Kennedy silver proof coins were minted in 2009, 2010, and 2011?