The Walt Disney World Resort in central Florida near Orlando has just announced plans it is participating in a pilot program with the US Mint. Under this program, several merchandise and dining locations will now be giving back US Native American $1 coins instead of dollar bills as change.

"Our participation in the circulation pilot is part of a continued commitment to environmentality," states Thomas Smith (Social Media Director, Disney Parks) in the official blog about the launch of the program. "The coin is an environmentally responsible choice — it’s recyclable and lasts decades longer than paper bills."

Dollar coins are not a new idea in American coinage. The US Mint has been producing one version or another off and on since 1794. Some familiar examples that you may recall are the Seated Liberty Dollars, the Morgan Dollars, the Peace Dollars and the Eisenhower Dollars. Read the rest of this entry »

The latest US Mint figures show weekly sales more than doubled for the 2008 Annual Uncirculated Dollar Set, which includes the 2008-W Uncirculated Silver Eagle. Driving them higher is the fact that the set is the only way to buy an uncirculated Silver Eagle from the US Mint this year, following the 2009 Eagle cancellations.

Sales increased by 2,180 to total 81,088. The numbers are not exactly eye-popping, but considering weekly sales had trended between 600-900 during the last several months, with more toward the bottom end, it certainly represents extra interest. Read the rest of this entry »

The 2009 Silver Eagle coin cancellations sting many collectors the most following yesterday’s US Mint announcement that it would not offer several long awaited and anticipated 2009 products.

For many weeks now, collector questions, concerns and worry increased about the possibility of this very thing happening — especially to the proof Silver Eagle. The thought of forever having a gapping hole in a 23-year old collection is severely disappointing, but now a reality.

Of interesting note, there is still a means to buy an uncirculated 2008-dated American Silver Eagle directly from the US Mint. One is included in the 2008 US Mint Annual Uncirculated Dollar Set for $37.95. Read the rest of this entry »

James K. Polk Presidential $1 Coin Covers will be available Thursday, Oct. 1 at 12:00 noon (ET), the United States Mint announced in a press statement Monday.

These 40,000 limited edition covers include two James K. Polk Presidential dollars that were struck on the first day of minting.

One dollar is from the Mint’s Denver facility and was produced on June 15, 2009. The other is from Philadelphia and was minted on June 1, 2009.

The Presidential $1 coin covers are priced at $14.95, plus $4.95 for standard shipping and handling. No household order limits are in place. Read the rest of this entry »

James K. Polk and Sarah Polk Presidential Dollar & First Spouse Medal Sets launched Thursday at noon ET and are available at the United States Mint Web site for a price of $8.95, plus shipping and handling.

Marking the fourth issue of the product series this year and the twelfth since it began in 2007, the set includes an uncirculated James K. Polk Presidential Dollar and a 1/15 inch Sarah Polk Bronze Medal.

The two are mounted within an attractive "durable plastic card enhanced with beautiful representations of the President and first spouse’s portraits, with issuance information on the back."

US Mint sales figures for this year’s sets, as illustrated in the table below, are stronger than individual First Spouse Gold Coins, but less than bags and rolls of the Presidential Dollars. Read the rest of this entry »

In less than two weeks, James K. Polk Presidential dollar rolls shot past this year’s William Henry Harrison and John Tyler same roll sales.

The US Mint launched the Polk rolls Thursday, Aug. 20. As of Sunday, Aug. 30, collectors purchased a total of 31,915 Philadelphia rolls and 30,920 Denver rolls.

By contrast, the first two 2009 rolls of Harrison and Tyler dollars reached 30,000 from each Mint facility. Is this a fair comparison? No. Unlike prior Presidential roll offerings and the latest Polk $1 rolls, the Mint stopped selling each when they reached the 30,000 figure. Read the rest of this entry »

John and Julia Tyler Presidential $1 Coin & First Spouse Medal Sets were launched Tuesday at noon ET by the United States Mint for $8.95 each, plus shipping and handling.

Included for the price is an uncirculated Tyler Presidential Dollar and a 1/15 inch Julia Tyler Bronze Medal. The set is the third released this year and the eleventh since the offerings began in 2007.

The two are mounted within an attractive "durable plastic card enhanced with beautiful representations of the President and first spouse’s portraits, with issuance information on the back." Read the rest of this entry »

James K. Polk Presidential $1 Coins and dollar rolls are now available following their ceremonial launch Thursday by the US Mint at Polk’s ancestral home in Columbia, Tenn.

"The James K. Polk Presidential $1 Coin is the 11th in the United States Mint’s Presidential $1 Coin Program," United States Mint Deputy Director Andy Brunhart told the crowd. "It is my great privilege to present the coin to the Nation."

Polk is probably best known for his support and actions relating to Manifest Destiny, which was the belief that the US had the right to expand throughout North America. In following this belief, Polk annexed the area now known as Oregon and Washington from Great Britain. He also waged war with Mexico and won California and New Mexico through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Read the rest of this entry »

The US Mint on Friday launched the 18-coin 2009 Silver Proof Set for $52.95. The annual set is a favorite with collectors, highlighted by the no longer available 2008 Silver Proof Set with sales of 774,874 as of Sunday.

The 2009 set is actually $8 more than last year’s offering, but it also includes an additional silver quarter and four bicentennial 2009 Lincoln cents specially struck in 95% copper, 3% zinc and 2% tin — the same alloy used in the original 1909 penny.

Similar to the fast-selling 2009 clad proof set that was issued by the Mint in June, the silver set contains collector proof versions of circulating 2009 coinage. All coins bear the "S" mint mark denoting they were minted at the United States Mint in San Francisco. Additionally, the dime, half-dollar, and six quarters are struck in lustrous 90 percent silver. The set has an intrinsic silver value of $19.99 at Friday’s silver spot price of $13.16 an ounce. Read the rest of this entry »

With the US Mint announcing the upcoming 2009 US Mint Silver Proof Set launch, coin collectors are reminded of the still available — but for a short time only — 2008 Silver Proof Set.

For marketing focus and to avoid confusion, the US Mint generally ends the sale of prior year proof sets immediately before new year replacements are issued.

The 2009 silver set goes on sale Friday at noon ET so expect the Mint to pull the 2008 set from its online store before then — likely Friday morning.

Demand has been strong for the 14-coin proof offering, although easing of late to around 2,000-3,000 sold per week. In total, collectors have purchased 774,874 sets between its release on Aug. 26, 2008 through to Sunday, July 12. Read the rest of this entry »