US Mint September 2011 Coin Production Rises 34.2%

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2011-D Lincoln Cent
The United States Mint produced more Lincoln cents than any other coins in September

The amount of circulating coins coming out of the United States Mint surged last month, according to September coin production figures released by the government agency. The increase snaps two-straight monthly declines.

Mintages were not revealed for James Garfield Presidential dollars or Chickasaw National Recreational Area quarters, the final 2011-dated coins set to enter circulation this year. The numbers do indicate, however, that the United States Mint is busy striking the Garfield dollars which are scheduled to launch November 17.

Published Thursday by the Mint, September coin production figures accumulated to 811.42 million coins. The total was the third highest of the year and over the past 12 months. The Mint’s production output was 34.2 percent more than the previous month and 17.6 percent higher than September 2010.

Monthly US Mint Coin Production Figures / Mintages

Month Mintages Rank
September 2011 811.42 M 3
August 2011 604.54 M 9
July 2011 821.98 M 2
June 2011 903.06 M 1
May 2011 807.41 M 4
April 640.17 M 8
March 485.5 M 12
February 523.14 M 11
January 2011 764.73 M 5
December 2010 80.200 M 13
November 2010 531.46 M 10
October 2010 730.22 M 6
September 2010 690.02 M 7

 

The United States Mint struck Lincoln cents, Jefferson nickels, and Roosevelt dimes in significantly higher amounts than the prior month. The pennies accounted for 66.4 percent of the entire monthly output. The Mint also struck Presidential $1 coins after having stopped in August for the first time since February.

As has been the case since January, United States Mint presses remained silent for Kennedy half dollars. And while produced in August, quarters and Native American $1 coins were also muted in September.

Coins that are produced for circulation are all struck at the United States Mint facilities in Denver and Philadelphia. Switching roles, the Denver Mint became much more active in September with an output of 479.4 million coins against the 332.02 million coins from Philadelphia.

US Mint Circulating Coin Production September 2011

Denver Philadelphia Total
Lincoln Cents 316,400,000 222,400,000 538,800,000
Jefferson Nickels 58,800,000 42,960,000 101,760,000
Roosevelt Dimes 82,500,000 43,000,000 125,500,000
2011 Quarters 0 0 0
Kennedy Half Dollars 0 0 0
Native American $1s 0 0 0
Presidential Dollars 21,700,000 23,660,000 45,360,000
Total 479,400,000 332,020,000 811,420,000

 

The monthly production spread between both plants was the widest since January. The United States Mint through the first nine months of this year struck 6.36195 billion coins for circulation — 3.24198 billion from Denver and 3.11997 billion from Philadelphia. The level is a scant 11.16 million shy of matching the Mint’s output in 2010 of 6.37311 billion coins and is already 1.8X higher than the 3.548 billion coins minted in 2009.

Garfield $1 Mintages Not Finalized

As mentioned, collectors must wait to discover the mintages for the last 2011-dated America the Beautiful Quarter and Presidential $1 coin. The Mint did not publish finalized figures but it appears the bureau is more than half through its run of James Garfield Presidential dollars. Presidential $1 coin production advanced 45.36 million in September, with splits of 23.66 from Philadelphia and 21.7 million from Denver. Past Presidential $1 coins from this year have had mintage totals that ranged between 72.66 million and 76.02 million.

For reference, the following table summarizes the latest United States mintage figures by coin design and denomination.

YTD 2011 Coin Production by Design

Denver Philadelphia 2011 Total
Lincoln Cents 1,924,140,000 1,878,400,000 3,802,540,000
Jefferson Nickels 422,880,000 369,840,000 792,720,000
Roosevelt Dimes 611,000,000 601,000,000 1,212,000,000
Gettysburg Park Quarters 30,800,000 30,400,000 61,200,000
Glacier Park Quarters 31,200,000 30,400,000 61,600,000
Olympic Park Quarters 30,600,000 30,400,000 61,000,000
Vicksburg Quarters 33,400,000 30,800,000 64,200,000
Kennedy Half Dollars 1,700,000 1,750,000 3,450,000
Native American $1 23,100,000 11,620,000 34,720,000
Johnson Presidential $1 37,100,000 35,560,000 72,660,000
Grant Presidential $1 37,940,000 38,080,000 76,020,000
Rutherford B. Hayes $1 36,820,000 37,660,000 74,480,000

 

Coin production figures above are based on data from the United States Mint page: http://www.usmint.gov/about_the_mint/?action=coin_production.

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Munze

In the last couple of months I’ve received many more 2011 cents, nickels, and dimes in change than I had in the entire first half of the year. No quarters though. Originally I thought that the economy might be picking up a bit, but it now seems more like the Mint’s production was so low that new coins are finally needed. I’m still finding loads of older-date coins and bills in circulation which would seem to indicate people have been going through drawers, couch seams, etc. to find any extra money that was squirreled away. I’ve seen the same pattern… Read more »