U.S. Mint circulating coin production is down across the board based on a current pace that should see about 10.1 billion coins minted in 2008. That compares to 14.4 billion coins issued in 2007 and over 15 billion in years 2006 and 2005. In fact, at the current rate, 2008 coin output will end at its lowest level in at least the last ten years.

The Mint’s first release of production figures for 2008 reported 3.2 billion coins struck through April. The newest figures indicated 6.7 billion coins were minted through August, or about 842 million coins on average per month. The comparison charts shown below provide the best visual evidence of the declines at both Mint facilities in Denver and Philadelphia.

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The United Sates Mint released a press statement today officially — or at least more publicly — announcing the release of their 2008 American Eagle Platinum Uncirculated Coins. Today was not their first day of sale. The Mint began accepting orders for the 99.95 percent pure platinum coins on July 1 at noon.

The 2008 platinum coin’s reverse features the final design in the three-year series entitled, “The Foundations of American Democracy.” (See images and initial CoinNews availability article.) The ending to the design series alone is worth the Mint’s press announcement, even though delayed.

Platinum down in price, proof coins no longer listed

While the price of London platinum was $2,075 an ounce when the Mint started offering the coins, platinum has since dropped by $182 to today’s close of $1,893 per ounce. The coin prices have remained unchanged since July 1, most likely making a buying decision harder for many collectors.

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US Mint Director Ed Moy revealed the design and a prototype of the commemorative Louis Braille Bicentennial coin at the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) annual convention in Dallas, TX on July 2.

Local Dallas NBC5 News was on hand to report on the ceremony and has released their video coverage, which is included below.

The 1 minute and 22 second video is short, but offers a unique perspective with a few comments from leaders and the public in addition to several Braille coin design close ups.

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Louis Braille commemorative silver $1 coins design images and a prototype of its readable Braille reverse were unveiled today by U.S. Mint Director Moy at the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) annual convention in Dallas, Texas. 400,000 commemorative silver coins will be issued in 2009 in both proof and uncirculated versions to honor the bicentennial birth and achievements of Louis Braille.

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Uncirculated 2008 American Eagle Platinum Coins were launched today by the U.S. Mint. These 99.95 percent pure platinum coins for collectors bears the "W" mint mark, indicating they were minted at the Mint’s West Point facility.

Like their proof counterparts, each coin depicts the final Judicial Branch design from the three-year series entitled The Foundations of American Democracy.

The 2008 platinum coins come in bullions sizes of one ounce, one-half ounce, one-quarter ounce and one-tenth ounce. There is also a four-coin set available that includes each coin size.

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The United States Mint announced today that Mint Director Ed Moy will unveil the commemorative 2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar coin design in Dallas, TX on Wednesday morning, July 2, 2008.

The ceremony at AT&T Plaza at the American Airlines Center in Dallas will open the National Federation of the Blind’s 2008 National Convention, an organization dedicated to improving blind people’s lives and recipient of $10 surcharges collected for each Braille commemorative coin sale.

The 400,000 limited issue proof and uncirculated $1 silver dollars will be the first Braille readable coin in the U.S., and honors the bicentennial of the birth of Louis Braille — an extraordinary person and the creator of the Braille reading and writing system for those who are blind or have vision loss.

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Circulating US coins are produced by the United Sates Mint facilities in Denver and Philadelphia. Most everyone is familiar with the "P" and "D" mintmarks on daily pocket change. Those are simply letter indicators for where the coins were minted, Denver or Philadelphia.

But did you know what location is responsible for minting the most coins? Or, whether the Mint is producing less or more circulating change these days?

For the first question, a quick assumption could be that Denver and Philadelphia mint circulating coins at an even rate. That is not always so.

For the second question, although the Mint issues billions of coins each year at an absolutely amazing rate, the demand for them has been falling by billions and billions compared to the late 90s and early 2000s.

While the population is increasing, transactions through plastic — credit cards and the like — are as well.

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