Which coins have a higher proof mintage than non-proof?

kranky

Proof coins are generally considered to be minted in "limited quantities". But the 1987-P and 1987-D Kennedys have a smaller mintage than the 1987-S proofs of that year. Same goes for the 1970-D Kennedy business strikes vs. the 1970-S proof version (there were no 1970-P Kennedys). Those two cases are because the business strikes were available only as part of the Uncirculated Mint sets.

I don't know what the mintage of the 1996-W Roosevelt is compared to the 1996-S proof, but it may be another example.

Any other occurrences of that situation that you know of?

beelzebud

Certain dates of 3 cent Nickels I believe.

Bill

Russ

Kranky,

Technically, there were more business strike Kennedy's in '87 than there were proofs since both mints were running. 1970, though, proof mintage does total more than business strike mintage.

When one considers that in 1970, there were none minted for regular distribution, proofs exceeded business strikes, total combined was low by modern standards, and it was the last year of silver clad, it becomes a very interesting coin. Second only to the 1964, the 1970 is my favorite.

Russ, NCNE

dorkkarl

agree w/ 3c-nickels.

K S

cladking

There are many dozens of examples going back many years. There are the '73
and '81 dollars, the '96-W dime, and lots of the modern commems. Interestingly
the number of survivors for most modern coins is far greater in proof. They may
have made only three or four million of the proofs, but these coins were cared for
and always had a premium so attrition rates have mostly remained under 2% per
year. The business strikes were merely dumped in circulation so the coins had at-
trition rates approaching 40% for uncirculated coins in the first few years of their
lives. Mint set production is typically much lower than proof set production and the
mint sets have not always had a premium. These coins were not very actively col-
lected so attrition rates on mint sets has also been quite high. Proof circulation
coinage probably out numbers unc by more than 10 to 1 in the 1965-1998 era if
the cents are not included.

(Also excluding coins still in mint sets which aren't in a collection.)

CarlWohlforth

I purchased an 1878 twenty cent proof. Mintage 600 with no business strikes. The 1877 and 1876-CC are also proof only years for the twenty centers. There may be other denominations where this happened, but I am not familiar with them.

Trime

A Lot of examples but what comes first to mind are a number of 3C nickels and some 3 cent silvers. Failed denominations. Even when MS struck in greater amounts the MS were also melted and the proofs hoarded.

Russ

Adding to the proof only years; the 1873 Two Cent piece.

Russ, NCNE

kranky

I wasn't considering issues that were proof-only, or commems. The Kennedy examples got me to thinking about it because, even though the business strikes were issued only in mint sets, they were regular circulating designs.

Placid

81-s Sba. Only issued in mint sets.

boiler78

The only instances where circulation strike mintages exceeded proof mintages on pre 1900 coinage (that I am aware of ) are the 3cn coins dated 1883, 1884, and 1885.

JLW

kranky,
I love your signature line, any calls from Hollywood yet?
Joe

nwcs

A 2003 crapagawea may be the same thing. Only in proof/mint sets

kranky

JLW, I'm not waiting by the phone for Hollywood to call. Let me put it this way - I have a great face for radio.

dorkkarl

for coins where the proof mintage exceeds bus. strikes, are they all "tough" coins? them danged 3c-nickel business strikes from 1882-1887 are plumb-near impossible, but you can get proofs any day of the week.

K S