Gold Coin mintage questions

I knwo it varies by series and denominations but in $2.50 gold pieces what is the magic number that makes the coin a low mintage? and same for 5,10 and 20
just wondering
and same goes for what makes a coin a high mintage
just wondering
and same goes for what makes a coin a high mintage
Founder of the NDCCA. *WAM Count : 025. *NDCCA Database Count : 2,610. *You suck 6/24/10.
In memory of Tiggar 5/21/1994 - 5/28/2010 




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Comments
Example:
The 1883 $3 has a mintage of 900 circulation strikes and a PCGS population of 149 coins, 78 greater than MS-60.
The 1858 $3 has a mintage of 2133 circulation strikes and a PCGS population of 86 coins, 9 greater than MS-60..
Which coin is more desirable/scarce/valuable?
Here's what "The Comprehensive Catalog and Encyclopedia of US Coins" by "The Editors of Coin World" says in its intro to the gold coin section:
Mint reports show that by June 30, 1954, of 174.1 million double eagles minted, 67.9 million (or 39%) had been melted by the Mint; of 57.7 million eagles, 21.4 million (or 37%) had been melted; of 78.9 million half eagles, 27.5 million (or 35%) had been melted; of 20.4 million quarter eagles, 3.1 million (15%) had been melted.
For Three Dollar pieces, only 1% was melted by the Mint; for Gold Dollars, about 1.5% was melted by the Mint.
Obviously, these figures don't take into account private meltings - It is currently estimated that survivorship for pre-1834 gold coins is about 1% of the mintage; for 1834-1865, perhaps up to 5% of the coins minted still survive.
Check out the Southern Gold Society