US Mint Sales: Proof Sets Soar, Braille Dollars Plunge, Rail Splitters...
Gold Unchanged as Dollar Rallies Late, Silver Rises
First Man on the Moon Anniversary Coins
Gold Gains on Dollar Fall, Silver Advances
PNG Files Amicus Brief in 1933 Double Eagles Case
Numismatic News: Gold Coin Values, War Pennies, Liberty Dollars
Soaring 2009 US Mint Proof Set Sales
2009 US Mint Proof Set sales were on fire during their inaugural launch week.
While the annual sets are always exceedingly popular, the latest one took the Mint by storm. Amazingly, 437,178 of the sets were sold from Monday, June 1, to Sunday, June 7.
The high volume was not without consequences. Most collectors who ordered during the opening hours needed a booster shot of patience.
Purchasing the proof coins online was like waiting for store doors to open on Black Friday morning. But much worse for the Mint, tens of thousands of collectors were trying to rush through their store front in a matter of hours. The jam caused long wait times and forced the Mint to briefly shut down online sales to... dare we say, reboot?
2010 Lincoln Cent Design Thoughts
For the last few months, the Commission of Fine Arts and the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee have been volleying between each other and the sculptor-engravers at the US Mint over the design of the reverse for the 2010 Lincoln Cent. Based on what is being reported one thing is clear, the designs are somewhat less than stellar.
Ok... they stink!
According to Public Law 145-109 Section 303 states, "[the] design on the reverse of the 1-cent coins issued after December 31, 2009, shall bear an image emblematic of President Lincoln's preservation of the United States of America as a single and united country."
While the mandate sounds simple, there is a catch: Lincoln only caught a glimpse of a united country. Prior to Gen. Robert E. Lee's surrender on April 9, 1865, Lincoln visited Richmond after it was taken by Union troops. Lincoln was greeted as a conquering hero by newly freed slaves on his way to visit the Confederate capital.
Gold, Silver Fall for Second Day as Dollar Rallies
Lincoln Cent Production Rises in May, Dime and Nickel Mintages Unchanged
Several coins received a fair share of attention in May while others were simply ignored, the latest US Mint production figures reveal. Nearly 300 million additional Lincoln Rail Splitter Cents were struck. Dime, nickel and half-dollar production remained flat. Guam quarters emerged for the first time and Native American $1 coins were minted in abundance.
Coin Production Totals by US Mint Facility - May Only
| Denver | Philadelphia | Total | |
| Lincoln Formative Years Cent | 154,400,000 | 126,800,000 | 281,200,000 |
| Guam Quarter | 42,600,000 | 45,000,000 | 87,600,000 |
| Native American $1 | 20,020,000 | 11,900,000 | 31,920,000 |
| Tyler Presidential $1 | 0 | -1,680,000 | -1,680,000 |
| Total | 217,020,000 | 182,020,000 | 399,040,000 |
There is no surprise in the skip over of Kennedy half dollars in the production tables. Public demand for the 50 cent pieces has never been high. Shocking, of course, are the missing Jefferson Nickels and Roosevelt Dimes. But then that is old news as the Mint forewarned of their stoppage in April (see CoinNews article: US Mint Halts 2009 Nickel and Dimes Production.)
