We all know what happened last year with the mintage totals; they were the lowest in 40 years for the dime and nickel and lower than usual for cents and quarters. The reason many gave is that the economy was bad, and people turned in their coins from their homes. Couple that with the fact that Coinstar machines are not only all over the place, but they have been advertising that they are free if you request coupons. Many banks don't need to order coins because so many people are turning them in. We still have not seen a single business strike of a 2009 D dime or nickel. They are stored at the fed because there are plenty of coins to go around. With ecomonic conditions the same, and with coinstar, and with so many coins at the Fed yet to be released, won't the mintage totals for 2010 be low as well? Might they be lower than last years? What do you think? Bob <--------just thinking about stuff 'cause I'm bored today
I've got to believe that 2010 mintages will be low, perhaps lower than 2009. In '09 we had the publicity around the cent and quarter special issues. The quarter program continues but with virtually all of '09's production still not circulating I can't believe the Fed's coinage orders will be large enough to draw everything from inventory as well as any significant 2010 production. JMHO
I will probably be in the minority on this but think the mintages will be higher in 2010 than 2009 for certain denominations. I think the US Mint will likely produce a ton of the new Lincoln cents and also increased numbers of quarters to introduce the National Parks program. As far as nickels and dimes, I am guessing at least the same mintage as last year but maybe a bit higher. Not that we will see any of them before the 2009 nickels and dimes are finally released. All speculation, though. TC
I'm guessing cent, nickel, dime are all lower. The cent because the '09 was the biggest year in 50 years (4 ceremonies vs. 1 this year), and '10 will not be as interesting, therefore hand out the '09. Same reasoning on the nickel and dime. If they don't need those for circulation, why produce more than '09? They need to keep employees busy at the mint, thus they need to produce something. I wonder how many Mint employees have been laid off?
I agree with TOPCAT on the mint cranking out higher numbers to promote the new coins in some denominations. I think the pesidential coins may go down tough considering collectors are the only ones remotely intrested in them. I believe that it will be slow to get your hands on any of the new coins unless special ordered because I agree that most banks are getting more than adequate amounts of coins dumped on them by the public every payday. JMO
My personal belief is that the mintages will be a bit higher than last year's for nickels and dimes. Lincoln cents will be about the same, except they will all be one design (so they won't be quite as hard to come by). Quarters I'd have to guess will be considerably higher, as the mint tries to promote the new theme. And lastly, I think they will reduce the amount of president dollars being produced, but not nearly as much as they should.
Since we are all speculating here, my speculation is that the mintages will be significantly lower, and some issues will only be made in proofs and uncirculated sets, such as the dimes, nickels and half dollars
What good would cranking out more do and how would that promote the new coins if the Fed still has plenty on hand and so doesn't order or distribute them? As for the idea that they would produce more quarters to promote the new series, how would the people get them? The banks are not being allow to order boxes of them like they could the state quarters. That means they won't come out until all the old quarters are dispersed. And since the Fed doesn't need them they won't be ordering them.
New quarter designs and one of the most collected coin programs in numismatics history and you assume the numbers will fall and they will not be distributed? hmm intresting concept
Why do you believe (some of you) that nickel and dime production will go up? It seems if in January of 2010 no one has seen ANY of the D mint dimes and nickels (business strike), that they wouldn't need to produce many this year due to lack of orders for them. It should be interesting!!!! And, I hope I'm the first to find them.....but lightning never strikes twice........
For the most part the reasons for the mintages to be less this year appear to be fairly good, but most of the reasons for the mintages to be up also sound pretty good. So I guess that means I have no idea what will happen. So I will say what I think will happen. The quarter production for the year will exceed '09 but the cent will be less. Nickel and dime will remain about the same. Or it could be the opposite for all or part what I posted. One thing for sure I would think is dollar coin production will go down. We have more than what we know what to do with.
I forgot to make a prediction about the Presidential Dollars. I think 2010 mintages will likely match or be slightly lower than 2009. They have to make them of course by law. Watch out for Abe. That one is going to be a quick sell out and may also light a spark in the program. TC
The reason lightning never seems to strike the same place twice is the place isn't there any more after the first strike.
I believe mintage totals will remain about the same, possibly lower. Living in south Florida, our extremely robust economy has nosedived. What used to be a rate of 2-3% unemployment has risen to 11.8% statewide. Florida is a user-fee/sales tax dominated state and tax collections are way down. The state budget must be cut $6 billion. Property values have fallen 55% and the reduced property taxes collected each year has caused a huge retraction in local governments. An example of lower mintage levels will be in dollar coins, both presidential and native american, and will total less than 100 million minted, approximately 20 million per design. As an observation, the number of private transactions I complete in coins only are dramatically higher and I have accumulated a great deal of change that I will have to spend in the next month or so to pay a bill.
Could it be that currency has become nearly obsolete? I pay for most things on-line or with a debit or credit card. I rarely need money unless I'm playing poker or buying a beer at the Elks Club. The younger generation is probably using money less than me. Is it going the way of the dinosaur?
