Thursday, December 16, 2010

Mint >> November 2010

Mint total for Jan-Nov 2010 have been released:

1cent = 3.95323 B
5cents = 487.2 M
10cents = 1.1055 B
25cents = 347.0 M
50cents = 3.5 M
1dollar = 396.48 M (including 75.04 M native american dollars)

Isolating the November 2010 quantities:

1cent = 344.0 M
5cents = 72.96 M
10cents = 114.5 M
25cents = none
50cents = none
1dollar = none

That's right, the Mint did not strike a single coin over 10 cents during November 2010.

This is the lowest monthly mintage for both pennies and dimes since April 2010.

Maybe the Mint is starting their usual December fallow period early this year.

I still find it amazing how few quarters they've made in 2010. All other circulating denominations have seen major production gains compared to 2009. For quarters, the 2010 mintage is 65% of what it was in 2009, and keep in mind 2009 was only 21% of 2008. We are two weeks away from the closing of the year, and I've only seen one National Parks quarter in my change. The intent of the National Parks series was to raise awareness of the parks across the country (and to raise seignorage revenue for the Treasury), but if they don't step up the mintage of quarters soon, nobody will see these coins. These low mintages defeat the purpose of the program, don't they? Then again, the Mint can't just ramp up quarter production without corresponding demand, lest they sit in bank vaults like dollar coins, waiting to be circulated someday. Is it possible that state quarters were produced in such quantity as to meet commercial demand years after the program ended? Time will tell.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Mint >> October 2010

Mint production data for Jan-Oct 2010:

1cent = 3.60923 B
5cents = 414.24 M
10cents = 991.0 M
25cents = 347.0 M
50cents = 3.5 M
1dollar = 396.48 M (including 75.04 M Native dollars)

Isolating the October 2010 values:

1cent = 424.0 M
5cents = 84.0 M
10cents = 135.5 M
25cents = 68.0 M
50cents = none
1dollar = 17.92 M (all Presidents)

I still find it amazing that nickel mintages this year are still exceeding quarter mintages. That is unbelievable! That hasn't happened since 1992, and not by this margin.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

BEP >> August 2010

BEP totals for August 2010 are here:
http://www.bep.treas.gov/images/MPR_August2010.pdf

$1 = 115.2 M
$2 = none
$5 = none
$10 = none
$20 = 166.4 M
$50 = none
$100 = 166.4 M
Average value per note = $46.73

Most one dollar bills since January.

Seventeenth consecutive month without $10 or $50 notes.

Mint >> September 2010

Mint production totals for Jan-Sep 2010:

1cent: 3.18523 B
5cents: 330.24 M
10cents: 855.5 M
25cents: 278.2 M
50cents: 3.5 M
1dollar: 378.56 M (including 75.04 M Native American dollars)

Isolating the September 2010 data:

1cent: 427.6 M
5cents: 84.72 M
10cents: 130.5 M
25cents: 10.8 M
50 cents: none
1dollar: 36.4 M (all Presidents)

WHERE ARE THE QUARTERS?!?

Mint >> August 2010

Mintages for Jan-August 2010 are released:

1cent = 2.75763 B
5cents = 245.52 M
10cents = 725.0 M
25cents = 267.4 M
50cents = 3.5 M
1dollar = 342.16 M (including 75.04 M native dollars)

Isolating the August 2010 numbers:

1cent = 450.8 M
5cents = 53.28 M
10cents = 139.0 M
25cents = 58.0 M
50cents = none
1dollar = 42.7 M (all Presidents)

July's production levels were maintained in August. Cents, nickels, and dimes are continuing at production levels higher than the early part of the year, though not as strong as their peak in June. This is also true for the mint output overall. Quarters and dollars gained a little bit in August.

Where are the quarters? Quarters are the workhorse of US coinage, with high demand and interest. Yet, 2009 and estimated 2010 quarter mintages combined are less than half of the lowest of the state quarter yearly mintages (2003). I am very surprised that quarter mintages have not yet returned to 1-billion-plus mintages, and it looks like 2011 won't be that year either. The country is still awash in state quarters, based on what I see in my change.

My predictions for 2010 final mintages: 4 billion cents, 375 million nickels, 1 billion dimes, 4 billion quarters, and 500 million dollars... 6.5 billion coins total. This is an 80% gain over 2009, but still only 65% of 2008's mintages.

BEP >> July 2010

BEP production for July 2010:

$1 = 89.6 M
$2 = none
$5 = none
$10 = none
$20 = 179.2 M
$50 = none
$100 = 169.6 M
Average value per note: $47.07

Sixteenth consecutive month without $10 or $50 bills.

Mint >> July 2010

Mintages for Jan-July 2010 are released:

1cent = 2.30683 B
5cents = 192.24 M
10cents = 586.0 M
25cents = 209.4 M
50cents = 3.5 M
1dollar = 299.46 M (including 75.04 M native dollars)

Isolating the July 2010 numbers:

1cent = 455.6 M
5cents = 79.92 M
10cents = 180.0 M
25cents = 32.2 M
50cents = none
1dollar = 24.36 M (all Presidents)

Most dimes in a month since August 2007!

Where are all the quarters? Dime mintages have recovered, but not quarters. Even nickels have been outpacing quarters in June and July. Are people dumping lots of state quarters back into the system?

Total 2010 mintages have now passed the 2009 annual total.

BEP >> June 2010

BEP production for June 2010:

$1 = 96.0 M
$2 = none
$5 = 96.0 M
$10 = none
$20 = 172.8 M
$50 = none
$100 = 179.2 M
Average value per note: $40.35

Fifteenth consecutive month without $10 or $50 bills.

Mint >> June 2010

Mint production for Jan-Mune 2010:

1cent = 1.85123 B
5cents = 112.32 M
10cents = 406.0 M
25cents = 177.2 M
50cents = 3.5 M
1dollar = 275.1 M (including 75.04 million Native dollars)

Isolating the June totals alone:

1cent = 585.2 M
5cents = 83.04 M
10cents = 146.5 M
25cents = 53.8 M
50cents = none
1dollar = 50.4 M (49 million Presidents, 1.4 million Natives)

Most cents in a month since September 2008.

Most nickels in a month since August 2007!

Most dimes in a month since October 2008.

Most quarters in a month since August 2009.

Largest total mintage output in a month since November 2008.

I find it odd that quarters, one of the most commonly seen and used coins in everyday transactions, has the lowest mintage level of the four smallest denomination coins.

BEP >> May 2010

BEP production for May 2010:

$1 = 89.6 M
$2 = none
$5 = 96.0 M
$10 = none
$20 = 160.0 M
$50 = none
$100 = 204.8 M
Average value per note: $44.06

Fourteenth consecutive month without $10 or $50 bills.

Most $100 bills since November 2009.

The effects of a heavy recession are reflecting in the FY2010 production figures. Small value bills and low usage bills aren't wearing out or being replaced, while large value bills are being heavily printed. The last four months have been the lowest production months for $1 bills in the last eight years. Bills with lower usage in circulation, like $5s , $10s and $50s, are not wearing out from use, so there is little demand for new replacement notes. Large bills like $20s and $100s have been heavily reprinted, reflecting higher demand for them both at home and abroad. Perhaps it's foreign demand for reserve greenbacks. Perhaps it's the fallback to cash now that credit card usage is down. Perhaps it's just good old inflation.

BEP >> April 2010

BEP production for April 2010:

$1 = 96.0 M
$2 = none
$5 = 96.0 M
$10 = none
$20 = 140.8 M
$50 = none
$100 = 176.0 M
Average value per note: $41.26

First three-month streak of $5 bills since early 2008.

Thirteenth consecutive month without $10 or $50 bills.

Fewest $20 bills since November 2009.

Most $100 bills since November 2009.

Friday, June 11, 2010

Mint >> May 2010

Mint production for Jan-May 2010:

1cent = 1.26603 B
5cents = 29.28 M
10cents = 259.5 M
25cents = 123.4 M
50cents = 3.5 M
1dollar = 224.7 M (including 73.64 Native dollars)

Just the May 2010 totals:

1cent = 409.2 M
5cents = 27.6 M
10cents = 146.0 M
25cents = 46.0 M
50cents = none
1dollar = 28.42 M (840,000 are Presidents, the rest are Natives)
Average value per coin = $0.0785

Many denominations saw mintage quantities not seen in the last year or two, when the recession became obvious:
* Most cents since November 2008.
* Most nickels since February 2009.
* Most dimes since October 2008.
* Most quarters since October 2009.
* Largest monthly output quantity since November 2008, 18 months ago!

All 2010 nickels struck thus far have been produced in Philadelphia, none in Denver.

Also, almost all the dollar coins struck in May were Native dollars, not Presidents. Is the Native series more popular?

Cents, dimes, and dollars are poised to pass their 2009 mintages totals, while nickels and quarters may fall under it. The Mint's output in 2010 will likely increase over 2009's totals, but may still be under the 1966 output and will still be half of 2008's output or less.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Mint: April 2010

Mint production totals for Jan-April 2010 have been released:

1cent = 856.83 M
5cents = 1.68 M
10cents = 113.5 M
25cents = 77.4 M
50cents = 3.5 M
1dollar = 196.28 M (including 46.06 M Native dollars)

Isolating the April data:

1cent = 284.8 M
5cents = 1.68 M
10cents = 94.5 M
25cents = 35.0 M
50cents = none
1dollar = 35.98 M (all Presidents)

First nickels produced since July 2009, ending an eight-month nickel production stoppage.

Most dimes produced in one month since October 2008!

Most overall coins in one month since November 2008.

April 2010 was the first month that the Mint produced coins for five out of six denomenations since April 2009.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Mint: March 2010

US Mint production totals for Jan-March 2010 are released:

1cent = 572.03 M
5cents = none
10cents = 19.0 M
25cents = 42.4 M
50cents = 3.5 M
1dollar = 160.3 M (including 46.06 M Native dollars)


Isolating the March 2010 data:

1cent = 294.0 M
5cents = none
10cents = none
25cents = 42.4 M
50cents = none
1dollar = 48.02 M (including 8.26 M Native dollars)


Most cents in a month since October 2009.

Eighth consecutive months without nickels.

First quarters produced since November 2009.

Most coins overall in a single month since February 2009.

One out of every five 2010 coins is a dollar coin, so far.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Mint: February 2010

Mint data for Jan-Feb 2010 is here:

1cent = 278.03 M
5cents = none
10cents = 19.0 M
25cents = none
50cents = 3.5 M
1dollar = 112.28 M (including 37.8 M Native American dollars)

Isolating the February numbers:

1cent = 162.8 M
5cents = none
10cents = 19.0 M
25cents = none
50cents = none
1dollar = 12.6 M (all Native American dollars)
Average value per coin: $0.083

Biggest month for cents since October 2009.

Seventh consecutive months without any nickels.

First minting of dimes since April 2010, ending a nine month suspension! All the new dimes were struck in Philadelphia.

Third month without quarters. The America the Beautiful quarters aren't scheduled for release until April 2010, so they have time to strike them.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Mint: January 2010

MINT's January 2010 totals are here:

1cent: 115.23 M
5cents: none
10cents: none
25cents: none
50cents: 3.5 M
1dollar: 99.68 M (including 25.2 M Native American dollars)
TOTAL COINS: 218.41 M
Average value per coin: $0.470

The month's mintages are split nearly evenly between cents and dollars, with what is probably the year's only half dollars minted on the side.

This is the sixth consecutive month without nickels, and the ninth consecutive month without dimes. Will the Mint resume nickel and dime production before 2010 ends? Maybe. If they don't, it will be the first year that either denometation was skipped since 1933.

No quarters this month, since the National Park series designs are still in development and the first coin, Hot Springs, won't launch until April. Expect quarters to be struck over the next few months.

As with 2009, the Mint's fascination with dollar coins continues. The elevated mintages of the Presidential series suggests that demand is being propped up by collector interest, despite the negative opinions of the series in the coin media.

Mint: 2009 Year in Review

Mint: 2009 Year in Review

1cent: 2.354 B
5cents: 86.64 M
10cents: 146.0 M
25cents: 533.92 M
50cents: 3.80 M
1dollar: 423.64 M (including 71.26 M Native American dollars)
TOTAL QTY: 3.548 B

Fewest cents struck since 1966.
Fewest nickels and dimes struck since 1955!
Fewest quarters struck since 1977.
Fewest total coins since 1962!

One out of every eight coins dated 2009 is a dollar coin. The Presidential dollar coin series retained 87% of its mintage levels from the previous year, making it the absolute best third-year run for a small dollar. In fact, considering that the common four denominations all lost at least half their mintages from last year, the fact that the dollar coin almost maintained it's previous mintage levels speaks volumes. I'd say the President series has been a great success compared to the 90% mintage cuts in the Susan B Anthony and Sacagawea dollars' follow-up years.

Mint: December 2009

MINT's December 2009 totals are here:

THEY ARE IDENTICAL TO THE JAN-NOV 209 TOTALS!!! THE MINT DID NOT STRIKE A SINGLE COIN IN DECEMBER 2009! To my knowledge, this hasn't happened since the Great Depression.

BEP: December 2009

BEP production data for December 2009:
(http://www.bep.treas.gov/images/MPR_December2009.pdf)

$1: 217.6 M
$2: none
$5: none
$10: none
$20: 153.6 M
$50: none
$100: 64.0 M
Total QTY: 435.2 Billion!
Average Value per face: $22.26

Eighth consecutive month without $5s. Ninth consecutive month without $10s and $50s.

Fewest $100s produced, and lowest average value per bill, since September 2008.

BEP: November 2009

BEP production data for November 2009:
(http://www.bep.treas.gov/images/MPR_November2009.pdf)

$1: 339.2 M
$2: none
$5: none
$10: none
$20: 70.4 M
$50: none
$100: 214.4 M
Total QTY: 624.0 M
Average Value per face: $37.16

Seventh consecutive month without $5s. Eighth consecutive month without $10s and $50s.

Last month's spike in $20 production is followed up with a steep drop in quantity, only 21% of October's number.

BEP: October 2009

BEP production data for October 2009:
(http://www.bep.treas.gov/images/BOSRFRNP_Oct2009.pdf)

$1: 409.6 M
$2: none
$5: none
$10: none
$20: 339.2 M
$50: none
$100: 294.4 M
Total QTY: 1.0432 Billion!
Average Value per face: $35.12

Most $1s produced since August 2007.

Sixth consecutive month without $5s. Seventh consecutive month without $10s and $50s.

Most $20s produced since September 2007.

Most $100s produced, and highest total quantity of bills, in all 85 months of my records!

BEP: FY2009 in Review

BEP: FY2009 in Review

$1: 2.64 B
$2: none
$5: 384.0 M
$10: 245.6 M
$20: 729.6 M
$50: 348.8 M
$100: 1.84128 B

Fewest $1s produced since FY1983.

No $2s have been printed since FY2006.

Fewest $5s produced in all 30 years of my records!

$10 bill production was 32% of FY2008 totals, but still far above FY2007's paltry 83.2 million.

First year that $50s were printed since FY2007. FY2009 had the second highest $50 production total in the last ten years.

Most $100s produced in all 30 years of my records!

BEP: September 2009

BEP production data for September 2009:
(http://www.bep.treas.gov/images/BOSRFRNP_Sep2009.pdf)

$1: 121.6 M
$2: none
$5: none
$10: none
$20: 115.2 M
$50: none
$100: 147.2 M
Total QTY: 384.0 M
Average Value per bill: $44.65

Fewest $1 produced since January 2009.

Fifth consecutive month without $5s. Sixth consecutive month without $10s and $50s.

Most $20s produced since September 2008 (tie).

Highest average value per bill in all 84 months of my records!