Mint doubles output in March
The U.S. Mint nearly doubled its rate of cent production in the month of March and the first of the America the Beautiful quarters came rolling off the coining presses as well.
Cent production at Philadelphia rose from 84 million in February to 128.8 million pieces in March while Denver cent output zoomed from 78.8 million to 165.2 million cents.
The combined total of 294 million cents compares to 162.8 million in February and 115.23 million in January.
With a clearly rising level of output, perhaps collectors will not have near the difficulty in finding 2010 cents in change as compared to the 2009.
If the current rate of output holds, more than 3.2 billion cents will be produced this year as compared to 2.354 billion cents last year. With just one design in 2010, this will further augment a sense of plentifulness in change.
Though the quarter output in March was tiny, the 23.4 million Philadelphia production and 19 million Denver total represents a 42.4 million coin down payment on the new 56-design program running through 2021.
No nickels or dimes were produced in March, leaving the 19 million dimes from Philadelphia unchanged from February.
In fact no nickels have been produced in 2010, indicating a lack of demand for the five-cent piece.
Native American dollar production dropped in March to 8.26 million pieces from Philadelphia. None was struck in Denver.
On the other hand production of Presidential dollars resumed in March after a Feburary break. Philadelphia cranked out 18.34 million dollar coins and Denver a somewhat higher 21.42 million Presidential pieces.
Overall in March, U.S. Mint coin production rose to 384.42 million pieces from 194.4 million in Feburary and 218.41 million in January.
More Resources:
• Subscribe to our Coin Price Guide, buy Coin Books & Coin Folders and join the NumisMaster VIP Program
• 2010 U.S. Coin Digest, The Complete Guide to Current Market Values, 8th ed.
• State Quarters Deluxe Folder By Warmans
• Standard Guide to Small-Size U.S. Paper Money, 1928 to Date
