Mint output up by 40 percent

This article was originally printed in the latest issue of Numismatic News.
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Coinage production at the U.S. Mint took another leap higher in June, rising almost 40 percent from the month of May, which had been up 45 percent from April.

Total June coinage output by the Denver and Philadelphia Mints combined approached one billion pieces at 918,940,000 coins.

In the wave of production, the Denver Mint struck its first 2010 nickels. This had been the last denomination and mint sitting at zero production in the May report. Denver’s output for the month of June totaled 36,240,000 nickels.

Philadelphia struck 46,800,000 nickels in June, bringing its 2010 total to 76,080,000.

Cent production registered strong gains at both Denver and Philadelphia for a combined increase of 43 percent from the month of May. Denver churned out 296 million cents while Philadelphia nearly matched it at 289.2 million pieces.

June dime production lifted the 2010-D and 2010-P coins out of the realm of any potential scarcity. Denver’s June total of 82 million dimes brought its annual total to 186.5 million coins. Philadelphia cranked out 64.5 million coins to bring its 2010 run to 219.5 million dimes.

Modest totals of quarters were struck in June. Denver registered 24.6 million coins and Philadelphia 29.2 million quarters.

Quarter output from both mints combined has now reached 177.2 million pieces.

No half dollars were struck in June and Golden dollar production was limited to 1.4 million coins at Denver.

Presidential dollar duties were evenly divided at 24.5 million each from the two mints.

The June numbers bring 2010 production overall to more than 2.8 billion coins.

In calendar year 2009, just over 3.5 billion coins were produced for the entire year. This total will be easily surpassed by next report if the Mint’s output in July equals June’s.

If the Mint maintains the June pace, total 2010 coin production will exceed 8.3 billion coins, but that is still well below 2008’s 10.1 billion coins.

Cent output, if maintained at the present pace, would finish the year at almost 5.4 billion coins, more than double last year’s figure with just one reverse design as compared to four issued in 2009.

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