one of u boys go get me some bubbly so we can celebrate The U.S. Mint isn't about to tell its workers in Philadelphia and Denver to take a six-month vacation, but it could judging from the coin demand target it is aiming for in 2009. The Federal Reserve System has placed orders for just 3 billion coins in 2009, down over 70 percent from the 2008 production level of 10.1 billion. With approximately 1.2 billion coins struck already in the first three months of the year, that leaves eight months into which to divide production of just 1.8 billion coins. In the year 2000 the Mint was striking more than that per month. The Mint says it will build a coin inventory, but unless the Treasury plans to stockpile the current commemorative Lincoln cents as it once did Morgan silver dollars, with its current business approach, it is hard to envisage the Mint going too far beyond projected coin needs. Current workers, though, will embark on a six-month productivity maintenance effort that will assure future capacity. The Mint will also undertake capital improvements and maintenance that would be difficult to do with presses operating at a more normal pace. read more here http://www.numismaster.com/ta/numis/Article.jsp?ad=article&ArticleId=6642
This will put additional fuel on the "fire" that the 2009 business strikes will become "key dates", "modern rarities", etc. etc. I expect that we will soon see listings on ebay and later on one of the cable "coin shows" that cater to the un-informed. One thing to consider, the published figures are for business strikes and not mint set strikes (proofs are a different matter altogether). I anticipate there will be at least a millon uncirculated mint sets produced in 2009 (if not more) due to the perceived demand by the public. In fact, if I was really cynical (well, I guess I am), I would think that the Mint has intentionally lowered production so they can sell more bags, rolls and specifically uncirc mint sets. Figuring there is $14.38 face in a set, and that the price as I recall is going to be around $30 - that isn't a bad markup at all. This with their need to do maintenance on their facilities as well makes it a win - win situation for the Mint.
