Maybe it's just me, but I wish circulating coins were minted at the San Francisco mint. Do you think regular circulating coins will ever be minted there again? It's kinda neat to see older Jefferson nickles from the 70's with the "S" mintmark and other earlier coins. David
Yeah David, there seems to be so little to look for in pocket change now days. I remember when half dollars circulated and silver was still given back as change for a dollar. We can still find S-MM cents and nickels, but we really have to look hard.
It used to be really exciting for me in Boston to get any S mint coin. Of course, they usually had no premium, but they were rare in my neck of the woods. I suppose in California a "no mintmark" coin was an oddity.
It was great for collectors to get regular circulating coins from all three mints and I hope those days come back. David
It may not be the same, but there are millions of S mint proofs in circulation and I've even heard reports of S silver proofs being found. There have been some W mint dimes found and I've heard a few reports of '82 NMM dimes turning up. The P's and D's don't get nearly the attention they deserve.
I'd like to see them put "W's" on the cents that are minted in West Point!! Also, does anyone know why there are no P's on the Philly Lincoln cents??? All the other Philly coins have P's now!!
i found a 1969-s quarter in change years ago and stuck it away because i was so surprised to get it. it's not a proof or frosted, but in maybe au condition....were 1969-s quarters made for circulation? i wish i could find a w dime in change! i'd do my happy dance if i did
The last coin struck for circulation at the SF Mint was the '58 cent. Most of the other denominations had their last S year before that. So since it has been over 40 yrs - I highly doubt we will ever see SF strike coins for circulation again. Any coin with an S mint mark after '58 - is a Proof. Prior to 1980 - none of the Philly coins had a mint mark - except for the war nickels. As to why the cent still does not - I don't know if anybody does know for sure. But my guess is tradition - it's the last one.
From what I have seen, there were some "S" cents and nickels in the late 60's thru the mid 70's that were struck for circulation. David
The SanFancisco mint also struck cents and quarters through the mid-'60's without a mintmark. West point struck quarters in the late '70's early '80's with no mint mark.
nds - you're right - they did strike some cents and nickels in the '60s & '70s with an S mint mark. I had to check the Red Book Guess I better quit trusting my memory Now clad - only the ones with mint marks count. Unless of course the Mint issued a COA
Well, the only way that would happen is if someone broke up the 1996 Mint Sets and spent the 96-W Dime!! Not impossible, though, I've heard stories of proof-only coins showing up in circulation, likely from thieves breaking up stolen coin collections and spending the coins!!
Yeah, the last year for circulated SF Lincolns was 1974. When the 1975 Proof Sets came out, that was the first year the SF cent was proof only, and singles went as high as $25. Of course, things settled down and a 75-S proof cent can now be had for about $2!!!
Yeah, rbm, I have found 2 proof nickels in circulation, as well as a proof dollar that wasn't really in that bad of shape for being in circulation, you'd figure someone would notice it before it reached my hands.
