Do you realize just how important mintage figures are? Some of you know the following stats, but just what do they say? Mintage Figures "Lincoln Head Cents (no errors): 1) 1909-S V.D.B. 484,000 2) 1931-S 866,000 3) 1914-D 1,193,000 4) 1909-S 1,825,000 5) 1924-D 2,520,000 6) 1975-S 2,845,450 (How many of these do you have?) That's right. The 1975-S Cent has the 6th lowest mintage. Another thing, it was available only in Proof sets. Any individuals offered for sale were removed from Proof sets. That means there are less than 2,845,450 1975 Proof sets available (How many 1975 Proof sets have you salted away?). Just thought you'd like to know... Clinker
Sorry, but your numbers are wrong. You missed several: #5 1998-S 2,086,507 (#6 1924-D 2,520,000) #7 1996-S 2,525,265 #8 1997-S 2,796,678 #9 1995-S 2,797,481 (#10 1975-S 2,845,450)
what about some the late 30's proofs sets made 1936 says 3,837 mintage of proof sets could this be the lowest if your also counting proofs ?? Snowman
If you are looking at proofs only, 1909 - 1916 mintages were from 1100 to 4100. 1936 had the lowest mintage since at 5569. The difference he is trying to point out is that every proof prior to 1975 had a circulating version of the same coin. Although there were only 5569 proofs made in 1936, there were 309,632,000 made for circulation. Beginning in 1975, proofs were made in San Francisco and there are no circulating version of that coin. 2,XXX,XXX is the entire mintage of that coin. BTW, I noticed that clinker said Neither the 1975 not the dates I added are wheat cents. The last wheat cent was made in 1958 (ignoring the 1959 of dubious authenticity).
It's crazy how the 1931-S is a lot lower than 1914-D and yet the '31-S is more easily obtainable than the '14-D.
To rim's cents Neither the 1975 not the dates I added are wheat cents. The last wheat cent was made in 1958 (ignoring the 1959 of dubious authenticity).[/quote] A mistake on my part limiting Cents to "Wheat Heads. reverses" It should have encompassed all Lincoln Head Cents. Was just trying to bring the low mintage of the 1975-S to your attention. Clinker
To Steve 1914-D coins weren't saved by the roll when they were released in 1914, but many rolls of 1931-S cents were as were the 1831-S nickels. Clinker
Your are sort of right, clinker. Actually, the 31-S was saved by the bag. There were 2 collectors in the Pittsburgh, Pa. area who heard that there were very few cents minted in SF. They wrote around to all of the Fed. Res. banks and finally located 2 bags at the Seattle bank and bought both. 2 bags may not sound like much today, but that is over 1% of the total production. I met one of them ~1970 (sorry, don't remember the name). He told me that they sold a few rolls early on at $1.00 per roll. By the mid 40's, they were getting $1.00 per coin when they needed some cash. I do not have the proof, but my assumption is that is the main reason that the 31-S unc is comparably cheap.
rlm: I agree with your story. In fact it has been written about many times, not those two individuals particularly, but many collectors (hoarders?) saved the 1931 S at the time when the mintage became known. Many, many were saved, kind of like the 1950 D Jefferson, that is why they are so hard to find in circs, and easier to find in uncs. In fact the 1950 D is relatively scarce in circ, but common in unc.
Ah well, that's very interesting! And I guess it makes sense. I should thank them personally because who knows how much harder it could've been to get those otherwise. Thanks for clarifying, too bad nobody did that with the '14-D
