US Mint Circulating Coin Production June 2012

New circulating coin production figures are available from the United States Mint. These figures cover production at the Philadelphia and Denver Mints through the end of June 2012. Additional Presidential Dollars were struck at the Denver Mint to fulfill the growing demand from collectors. America the Beautiful Quarters had a curious downward revision from last month’s figures.

During the month of June 2012, circulating coin production reached 975.59 million. This is up from 819.86 million in the prior month and up from 903.06 million in the year ago period. Nearly all production took place for cents, nickels, and dimes.

A breakdown of production by denomination and mint facility is included below. The first number column represents the total production for June 2012, while the second column represents total production for the year to date.

2012 US Mint Coin Production Figures
June 2012 YTD 2012
Lincoln Cent – Denver 321.20 M 1,475.60 M
Lincoln Cent – Phil. 310.40 M 1,647.20 M
Jefferson Nickel – Denver 70.56 M 323.28 M
Jefferson Nickel – Phil. 51.04 M 283.12 M
Roosevelt Dime – Denver 101.00 M 445.00 M
Roosevelt Dime – Phil. 123.50 M 454.00 M
Quarters – Denver (5.19 M) 63.81 M
Quarters – Phil. 0 72.60 M
Kennedy Half – Denver 0 1.70 M
Kennedy Half – Phil. 0 1.80 M
Native Am Dollar – Denver 0 2.80 M
Native Am Dollar – Phil. 0 2.80 M
Pres Dollar – Denver 3.08 M 15.96 M
Pres Dollar – Phil. 0 27.88 M
Total 975.59 4,817.55 M

Since we are at the halfway point of the year, I thought it would be worthwhile to run a comparison of the circulating coin production figures from the first half of 2012  compared to the figures from the first half of 2011.

2012 US Mint Coin Production Figures
First Half 2012 First Half 2011 Change
Lincoln Cent – Denver 1,475.60 M 1,252.94 M 17.77%
Lincoln Cent – Phil. 1,647.20 M 1,151.20 M 43.09%
Jefferson Nickel – Denver 323.28 M 276.96 M 16.72%
Jefferson Nickel – Phil. 283.12 M 211.20 M 34.05%
Roosevelt Dime – Denver 445.00 M 393.00 M 13.23%
Roosevelt Dime – Phil. 454.00 M 425.00 M 6.82%
Quarters – Denver 63.81 M 92.20 M -30.79%
Quarters – Phil. 72.60 M 91.60 M -20.74%
Kennedy Half – Denver 1.70 M 1.70 M 0.00%
Kennedy Half – Phil. 1.80 M 1.75 M 2.86%
Native Am Dollar – Denver 2.80 M 18.06 M -84.50%
Native Am Dollar – Phil. 2.80 M 9.66 M -71.01%
Pres Dollar – Denver 15.96 M 97.58 M -83.64%
Pres Dollar – Phil. 27.88 M 100.66 M -72.30%
Total 4,817.55 M 4,124.01 M 16.82%

As can be seen above, production levels for both the cent and nickel have increased by the largest percentages compared to the prior year. The already low production levels for quarters declined further. Production of $1 coins is down significantly since the denomination is no longer being produced for circulation but only to fulfill collector demand.

From the standpoint of seigniorage generation, the shift in coin production is perilous. As I have explored earlier this year, the US Mint is being forced to produce its two most unprofitable denominations in greater numbers, while severely curtailing production of the most profitable denomination. The higher production levels for cents and nickels are driven by orders from Federal Reserve Banks, while the reduced production of $1 coins follows the decision announced by Vice President Biden and Treasury Secretary Geithner.

A breakdown of year to date 2012 coin production by design is indicated below. As mentioned in the past, the US Mint has reserved the right to re-start production of any design within the calendar year.

2012 US Mint Coin Production by Design
Denver Phil. Total
El Yunque Quarter 25.00 M 25.80 M 50.80 M
Chaco Culture Quarter 22.00 M 22.00 M 44.00 M
Acadia Quarter 21.606 M 24.80 M 46.406 M
Arthur Dollar 4.06 M 6.02 M 10.08 M
Cleveland Dollar 3.78 M 5.46 M 9.24 M
Harrison Dollar 4.20 M 5.682 M 9.882 M
Cleveland (2) Dollar 3.92 M 10.722 M 14.642 M

Compared to the prior month, the Denver Acadia Quarters have seen a reduction of 394 thousand. These quarter figures do not tie with the overall production levels in the main table, so some more adjustments may be seen next month.

The Denver Chester Arthur Dollars increased by 1.26 million, the Denver Grover Cleveland first term Dollars rose by 1.12 million, and the Denver Grover Cleveland second term Dollars rose by 700 thousand.

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Comments

  1. yeling says

    i wonder why still producing so many cent?. we need more quarters. instead the mint producing less.

  2. Mint News Blog says

    At least some production was taking place in May, I don’t have details on the exact dates.

  3. Mint News Blog says

    Mattarch – Figures for those are not provided in the US Mint’s reporting. Earlier indications were for an initial mintage of 1.4 million per design. Additional production may take place based on demand.

  4. RLP says

    “The primary mission of the United States Mint is to manufacture and distribute circulating coins, precious metals and collectible coins, and national medals to meet the needs of the United States.”

    Per the Mints mission statement above “NEEDs” is defined differently than how the audience of collectors, dealers etc. might describe the term. Massive quantities of pennies take a one way trip from circulation to a box, bag, jar, or drawer. Aside from fulfilling sales tax levies they no longer have any real purchasing role. In part this involuntary hoarding supports/requires more cent production by the mint.

    Quarters on the other hand have become the default coin of choice for vending machines, highway toll booths, parking meters etc. Their purchasing role remains intact (for now at least) thus, they re-circulate readily. Combining durability, re-circulation with millions of Statehood coins of the last decade, fewer new quarters are required to support commerce needs (the Mints key mission). Hence, the reduced production of ATB series. Somewhat ironic respective to collectors, lower mintage numbers but harder to find.

    You can’t have it both ways.

  5. says

    The increase in cent and nickel production has got to be killing the Mint. They are going to take a big hit from this. I would have expected quarter production to have at least stabilized but the numbers just keep dropping.

    Michael,

    What’s up with the “negative” 5.19M Denver quarter figure? Did they have to melt some down?

  6. Mint News Blog says

    I don’t have any information on why the adjustment was made. There has been one other instance where a negative adjustment was made in these figures- I think December 2010. I never saw an explanation for that one either.

  7. Brad says

    Cleveland,

    Maybe the delay on the sales report is due to the Mint having a hard time keeping up with counting all of the SF Silver Eagle set cancellations! 🙂

  8. Fosnock says

    @merryxmasmrscrooge

    The “S” quarters are minted for collectors, and are currently limited to 1.4 million per design. The should not show up as circulating coinage.

  9. Shutter says

    Fosnock ,
    using your reasoning the dollars and halves should not be included either. They are only minted for collectors.

  10. Broooster says

    @ Fosnock, The “S” quarters are minted to demand. The 1.4 million per design mintage was scrapped. Check the U.S. Mints web page for more info if you wish.

  11. Micro says

    The “S” El Yunque quarters sales are reported in the “Numismatic” sales report. At least they have been so far.

  12. Dan says

    Has anyone heard anything about the latest attempt to change the composition of the Penny and/or Nickel ? I know there was talk about it, but I haven’t seen anything lately.

  13. ClevelandRocks says

    @Samuel: SF #’s are taken from 7/6, not updated since by the Mint.
    Sets not selling for much mark-up in aftermarket, this is good news.
    I want my 2 sets to have value, but happy flippers will not make out as well as they may have thought. I think there may be lower (continued) demand than there was after the ’06 offering. We really will have to wait a while to see what will happen. A lot will have to do with spot silver price I think.
    On the topic of silver, I think the silver annual sets are overpriced. And the clads are duds as usual. I may stop collecting annual sets for the first time.

  14. fosnock says

    @ Shutter – Its not my reasoning

    @Broooster – Thanks for the reminder on the mintage non-limit

  15. Mint News Blog says

    Dan- There is a study due to Congress near the end of this year, within which recommendations may be provided for composition changes. Then it will still be up to Congress to pass a law to accomplish any change.

  16. george glazener says

    Dan;
    How about an impact resistant plastic compound? It’s getting where our money isn’t worth a damn anyway…

    I think we used to call them tiddly winks.

  17. merryxmasmrscrooge says

    Arthur’s portrait would look good on a bottle of scotch,
    Cleveland’s on a bottle of burbon
    and Harrison on mash wiskey or cigars
    In the 1880-90s men were men.

  18. merryxmasmrscrooge says

    Fosnock

    yes they will. the old man down my street does pretty well, so buys ’em from the Mint and sometimes mixes the atb quarters with the regular to boost business, he also mixes in the S. you wouldn’t believe all the kids who come in there…

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