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Replies: 7 / Views: 1,000 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1283 Posts |
Why doesn't any of the mints ever make a short run anymore? You know, like the 09-S VDB, 1932 Quarters, etc.
It would be nice if us collectors can go on a circulation hunt for modern, short run coins. I think those things are a thing of the past :(
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2443 Posts |
Shhhh! Don't give them anymore ideas.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1173 Posts |
I suppose it never happens anymore because the sheer number of coins minted each year in each denomination has grown so huge that there is never a "short run." That's one of the reasons, I suppose, for the ever growing interest in modern era error coins...something we can look for in our pocket change.
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Moderator
 United States
187702 Posts |
We have not changed our designs in a long time. With change, comes a potential controversy and opportunity for a short-run. Example, the 09/09S LHC with "VDB" caused a furry and was changed mid-stream. You also had a run of the previous design ( IHC) for part of that year! "Mistakes" like this were handled hastily back in the day, today I think the mint would rather melt the "mistakes" than release a short-run. We have been running debased coins out of two mints at a consistent capacity for over forty years now. No major material shortage or catastrophe to affect output. The mint seems to know better than to short-run anything to avoid the risk of hoarding and shortages! IMHO, technology has come a long way to ensure the mint always has what it needs to crank up the capacity to keep pace with our growing population! With 300+ million people in the US, the demand for coinage will always be high, meaning the output target will never be set so low again.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
62064 Posts |
Commemoratives are lower minted coins. But little interest is found in them. If there were high interest in them the prices would go up real high as most are lower then 500,000 some of them that 10,000 coins minted. If a peak interest would spike on them, the numbers for some collections would be very limited as for examples that you could buy in any grade. Maybe an overlooked area or maybe the interest will continue, un-interested?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
560 Posts |
I agree with what has been said by others so far. The large number of coins in each denomination minted each year make short series a thing of the past. That said, the relative abundance of some circulation strikes is quite low (79D half) and these could lead to "modern key" dates/mints. Check out mycrob's thread on the Kennedy series. Another possibility is looking for condition rarities or "full detail" coins in circulation (e.g., 5 or 6 step nickels).
The other avenue is to look to the commemorative series as coop suggests. Proof coins and special issues (97W dime) are another area where mintages are low and in 100 years coins in higher grades may be rare.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Try to understand that many of the low mintage coins were made for many reasons. Some during a war where materials for coins just not available. Some low mintages from a new coin introduction and tne Mint not sure how it would work out. Remember the 2 or 3 cent coins. Then also note the population difference from say the 1932 Quarter compared to todays population of our country. We now have sell over 300,000,000 people in the USA. So proportion wise a coin made in 1932 such as the quarter at hundreds of thousands was not that low a Mintage back then compared to a population of much, much less. Also, you must remember that back then coin collectors didn't hoard tons of coins like today so a large production of any coins was just not required. Example is when I was a kid there were Liberty Head Quarters, Standing Liberty quarters and even an occational Sitting Liberty Quarter in circulation. Most people didn't think of them as worth more than a quarter and probably never would be worth anything. Who Knew, HUH? Way back when I was a kid if you even had a quarter, you were rich so how could anyone collect such things.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
764 Posts |
2007 SACs (which were intended for circulation) could be considered a short mintage because we all know the popularity of dollar coins in the US is so great. 
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Replies: 7 / Views: 1,000 |
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