Question About Circulating Vs Uncirculated Coins?

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Author	Replies: 5 / Views: 2,054
ghostrider Pillar of the Community United States 1116 Posts	Posted 12/20/2012 11:46 am I just realizes that the mint it taking reservations on the 2013 ATB coins and was going to reserve a couple of ATB coin sets and was wondering what the real difference (beside price) for their circulating and uncirculated coin sets. Is the quality of one better than the other? Is the mint trying make a couple of bucks by calling one an uncirculated coin set? Can someone really tell the difference between them, or it is just really the same coins packaged differently? Report this Post to the Staff

baysinger626 Pillar of the Community United States 950 Posts	Posted 12/20/2012 1:34 pm From what I understand they are the same up until the point where the mint packages them. the other ones go to a third party (like Brinks or String & sons) to be rolled. the extra processing can cause more damage but all are still technically uncirculated. If you are lucky enough to find complete rolls of new coins at the bank you can get yor set that way and get a premium selling them on ebay. Report this Post to the Staff
jbuck Moderator United States 187702 Posts	Posted 12/20/2012 2:14 pm Handling is only part of the difference. Uncirculated coins, like those found in the annual mint sets, are indeed minted separately from the regular business strikes. The circulation sets are built with coins minted from the normal business run. Quote: uncirculated The term "uncirculated" may have three different meanings when applied to a coin. First, it can refer to the particular manufacturing process by which a coin is made. Second, it can be used as a grade when referring to a coin's degree of preservation and quality of the strike. Or third, "uncirculated" can point to the fact that a coin has not been used in everyday commerce. At the United States Mint, we use the term uncirculated when referring to the special coining process used to make the coin, which gives it a satin finish. Uncirculated coins are manufactured using the same process as circulating coins, but with quality enhancements such as slightly higher coining force, early strikes from dies, special cleaning after stamping, and special packaging. Uncirculated coins may vary to some degree because of blemishes, toning, or slight imperfections. http://www.usmint.gov/about_the_min...uncirculated The part about satin finish no longer applies, but the rest of it is certainly true (slightly higher coining force, early strikes from dies, special cleaning after stamping, and special packaging). Coin Collector Since 1978 Avatar Old Avatar 7070 Eisenhower Australia Canada World CCF Members on eBay CCF eBay Search Engine Report this Post to the Staff
baysinger626 Pillar of the Community United States 950 Posts	Posted 12/20/2012 3:18 pm Good to know! Thanks Jbuck! Report this Post to the Staff
Bizybackson Pillar of the Community United States 1817 Posts	Posted 12/20/2012 4:39 pm To add to jbuck's description, what the Mint designated as "uncirculated" is the speed of the coining press is slightly lower than for coining coins for commerce, as the stamping mechanism is given a higher PSI for more high relief details that are sharper than circulation coins. Other than that, they are handled the same in the mint, after coining, they fall into a hopper and then sorted into different packaging types for numismatic sale. And yes, they are generally minted before the circulation ready coins. It is very confusing terminology especially in the secondary market between different kinds of 'uncirculated' coins. Report this Post to the Staff
ghostrider Pillar of the Community United States 1116 Posts	Posted 12/20/2012 8:10 pm Thanks for the clarity of the information presented. Now I have to go back to the mint's website to see which coin set I set up as a reserved item. Without looking right now I can guanantee that I did it wrong but will correct it. Thanks Report this Post to the Staff
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