http://allcoincollection.com/blog Mon, 10 Oct 2011 18:50:16 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://allcoincollection.com/blog/coin-collection-facts-about-coins/ http://allcoincollection.com/blog/coin-collection-facts-about-coins/#comments Sun, 15 Mar 2009 01:09:58 +0000 Admin http://allcoincollection.com/blog/?p=3 There are approximately $8 billion worth of coins circulating in the U.S. today. In the past 30 years, the U.S. Mint, who is responsible for designing and producing the nation’s coins, has minted over 300 billion coins, worth about $15 billion!
Since its creation in 1792, the U.S. Mint has grown into a large enterprise with more than $1 billion in annual revenues and 2,200 employees. It is by far the world’s largest manufacturer of coins and medals, producing coins not only for the U.S. but on behalf of several other countries as well.
It can be interesting to know how coins are minted. In order to make coins, the U.S. Mint purchases strips of metal (rolled into coils) in the proper dimensions and thicknesses.
Zinc metal strips coated with copper plating are used to make pennies. Strips used for nickels are comprised of a 75% copper, 25% nickel metal alloy. Dimes, quarters, half-dollars and dollar coins are produced of strips consisting of three metallic layers fused together. The outer layers of these strips are comprised of the same alloy as that used for nickels with the third (core) layer being comprised of copper.
The first step in the coin making process involves the feeding of the metal strips through what is known as a “blanking” press. This press punches out cut round discs (blanks) about the same size as the finished coin. These blanks are then heated in a furnace to soften them. Subsequently, the softened blanks are placed in rotating barrels of chemical solutions to clean and polish the metal. The cleaned and shiny blanks are then washed and dried.
Next, the blanks are sorted to remove any defective ones and the rest are put through an “upsetting” mill which raises a rim around their edges. The rimmed blanks then go to the coining or stamping press where upper and lower dies stamp the designs and inscriptions on both sides of the coin simultaneously. At this point, the blanks become genuine U.S. coins.
Finally, the finished coins are mechanically counted and placed into large canvas bags for shipment to the Federal Reserve Banks. From there they are shipped to local banks on an as-needed basis.

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