Coins One Would Think Would Be Easy To Find, But Not.

Back in 2008 when the economy crashed a great many people were forced by their circumstances to "cash in" the change jars and other hoards of coins. This resulted in a glut of coinage at the Federal Reserve and there was very little need for any additional new coinage. Nickel and dime production was curtailed completely very early in the year, and the production of the cents and quarters were cut way back. (They probably would have stopped those completely as well but they had the problem that the quarters were the last year of the state/territory quarters, and the cents were the special one year only Lincoln bicentennial designs so they pretty much HAD to continue striking those.)

So all the coins that year, but especially the nickels and dimes, had unusually low mintages and they were pretty much all scooped up by hoarders hoping the low mintage would translate into a windfall some day. This means the coins will almost always be very common in MS condition, but will be scarce in actual circulation.

2005 Buffalo nickels are also a little harder to find, but they are available (except in my area). They are a little tougher than the mintage says they should be, because of once again serious hoarding. Almost 10% of the entire mintage was sold by the mint directly to collectors in rolls and bags, and many more people hoarded the ones they found in circulation. I don't know why the Buffalo nickel is so popular but it is.

You can also add to the list any half dollars after 2001 and any Sac dollars 2001 - 2008, all NA dollars after 2012, and all Presidential dollars after 2012. None of those were issued for circulation, but they do show up sometimes.

"Your options are limited there. Meow needs to come to the mainland and search, increase your chances x49."


Well,..............Cats cant swim.


But thank you all for your input, Meow will be keeping an extra cats eye out for those tough issues.

See here!
https://www.westminstercollection.c...-series.aspx

Since 2009, I've found a couple of 2009 cents in circulation, but no other 2009 coins. It's a very odd feeling, not to be able to fill up modern holes.

There are lots of dates that are getting tough in circulation. Something like a '69-D quarter or a '71-S cent are getting few and far between. Nearly two thirds of the mintage of '69 quarters are now lost through attrition and about 80% of the '71 cents. Then add in the fact that more and more people are putting together circulation sets and finding nice attractive examples that aren't cull or heavily worn can be pretty difficult.

There are numerous varieties which are exceedingly difficult to find.

Yup, search the forum for Great Coin Jar Dump 2008 to see where it has been discussed before.

Thank you all for your input. Those UK coins sure are cute. When will we in the USA have coins like that? Meow would love to see a Bugs Bunny or Sylvester the putty Cat coin in circulation. Meow has seen graded Franklin halfs called Bugs Bunny, but it just isn't the same. Ben Franklin does not even have a carrot in his hand, or mouth; In those die clashed halfs.