American coin production slowed in May 2012, breaking a streak of two consecutive monthly increases. Amounts were down but variety was up. New U.S. Mint circulating production figures disclosed activity across the widest range of coins this year.
Of particular note to coin collectors, mintages for the Acadia quarter and each of the four 2012 Presidential dollars were either updated or revealed for the first time.
As for the overall production tempo, the U.S. Mint delivered 819.86 million coins for circulation in May. That marks a 4.4% downturn from the prior month but a modest pick-up of 1.5% from the same time a year ago. The monthly coin production total also ranks as the fourth highest in the past 12 months and helped in maintaining the quickest pace for a year since the Great Recession.
2011-2012 May Coin Production Figures / Mintages
| Month | Mintages | Rank |
| May 2012 | 819.86 M | 4 |
| April 2012 | 858.04 M | 2 |
| March 2012 | 781.70 M | 8 |
| February 2012 | 579.86 M | 12 |
| January 2012 | 802.50 M | 7 |
| December 2011 | 431.78 M | 13 |
| November 2011 | 715.96 M | 9 |
| October 2011 | 690.66 M | 10 |
| September 2011 | 811.42 M | 5 |
| August 2011 | 604.54 M | 11 |
| July 2011 | 821.98 M | 3 |
| June 2011 | 903.06 M | 1 |
| May 2011 | 807.41 M | 6 |
While coin production levels increased 72.5% for Presidential dollars and America the Beautiful quarters were minted for the first time since March, the drop-off in May was the culmination of fewer Lincoln cents (-9.2%), Jefferson nickels (-2.3%) and Roosevelt dimes (-24.3%). Still, these three lowest denominated coins accounted for 91.8% of the bureau’s entire monthly production. The Lincoln cent led them all at 65.1%.
U.S. Mint facilities in Philadelphia and in Denver are responsible for producing all coins for American circulation. A breakdown of the two mints and the number coins each struck follows.
US Mint Circulating Coin Production in May 2012
| Denver | Philadelphia | Total | |
| Lincoln Cents | 305,600,000 | 228,000,000 | 533,600,000 |
| Jefferson Nickels | 65,520,000 | 38,400,000 | 103,920,000 |
| Roosevelt Dimes | 73,500,000 | 42,000,000 | 115,500,000 |
| 2012 ATB Quarters | 22,000,000 | 24,800,000 | 46,800,000 |
| Kennedy Half Dollars | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Native American $1s | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Presidential Dollars | 5,880,000 | 14,160,000 | 20,040,000 |
| Total | 472,500,000 | 347,360,000 | 819,860,000 |
As the table above illustrates, the Denver Mint was busier for a third consecutive month with 472.5 million coins. Philadelphia’s output totaled 347.36 million coins.
Acadia Quarter Mintages
Reported for the first time by the U.S. Mint is the Acadia National Park Quarter mintages. The new strike is the thirteenth released in the America the Beautiful Quarters series and the third of 2012.
Splits for the Acadia quarter are 22 million from Denver and 24.8 million from Philadelphia for a combined total of 46.8 million. That is 2.8 million above the prior Chaco Culture National Historical Park Quarter, which maintains its mintage scarcity title.
More of the already released 2012-dated quarters can be produced, but it seems unlikely. The U.S. Mint has only gone back once to produce more of a design since the America the Beautiful Quarters series was introduced in 2010.
2012 Presidential Dollar Mintages
Now that $1 coins are not released into circulation but only produced to meet the demand of collectors, coin production figures for this year’s Presidential dollars have been extremely fluid.
April’s report showed mintages of 6.86 million, 6.72 million and 7.14 million for the first three 2012 dollars honoring former Presidents Chester A. Arthur, Grover Cleveland’s first term and Benjamin Harrison. Those amounts are now at 8.82 million, 8.12 million and 9.882 million.
Offered for the first time are second term Grover Cleveland Presidential dollar mintages. Denver coined $1’s are at 3.22 million and Philadelphia produced $1’s are at 10.722 million for a combined total of 13.942 million. The Philadelphia amount is certainly an outlier in this case.
True, based on product sales figures, rolls, bags and boxes of $1 coins from Philadelphia have enjoyed greater support from collectors. Denver has struck 12.88 million Presidential $1 coins so far this year while Philadelphia has more than doubled that amount at 40.76 million. The 2012-P Cleveland dollar mintage just appears too high based on current demand levels.
US Mint 2012 Coin Production / Mintages by Design
| Denver | Philadelphia | 2012 Total | |
| Lincoln Cents | 1,154,400,000 | 1,336,800,000 | 2,491,200,000 |
| Jefferson Nickels | 252,720,000 | 232,080,000 | 484,800,000 |
| Roosevelt Dimes | 344,000,000 | 330,500,000 | 674,500,000 |
| El Yunque Quarter | 25,000,000 | 25,800,000 | 50,800,000 |
| Chaco Culture Quarter | 22,000,000 | 22,000,000 | 44,000,000 |
| Acadia Quarter | 22,000,000 | 24,800,000 | 46,800,000 |
| Hawai’i Quarter | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Denali Quarter | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kennedy Half Dollars | 1,700,000 | 1,800,000 | 3,500,000 |
| Native American $1 | 2,800,000 | 2,800,000 | 5,600,000 |
| Arthur Presidential $1 | 2,800,000 | 6,020,000 | 8,820,000 |
| Cleveland (1st Term) Presidential $1 | 2,660,000 | 5,460,000 | 8,120,000 |
| Harrison Presidential $1 | 4,200,000 | 5,682,000 | 9,882,000 |
| Cleveland (2nd Term) Presidential $1 | 3,220,000 | 10,722,000 | 13,942,000 |
| Total | 1,837,500,000 | 2,004,464,000 | 3,841,964,000 |
Through the first five months in 2012, circulating coin production has reached 3.841964 billion coins. In contrast, 3.22095 billion coins were minted for American circulation during the same time in 2011.
Current coin production figures are based on data aggregated from the U.S. Mint page: http://www.usmint.gov/about_the_mint/?action=coin_production.
How many of the “S” mint El yunque,Chaco, and Acadia Quarters are to be produced. Thanks.