Coins - 1964 Mint
Set
The 1964 mint set included the new Kennedy half dollar coins, one from Denver and one from Philadelphia. The
1964 mint set included ten coins with six of them containing 90% silver - the two dimes, two quarters and two half
dollars.
The ten coins, five from the Philadelphia mint and five from the Denver mint, fit in two
pliofilm sleeves inside a white envelope.
For the 1964 mint set, the US Mint placed the uncirculated coins in a plain white envelope. In the lower left
corner, "1964 — U. C." identifies the set. The upper left corner shows the address of the United States Assay
Office in San Francisco (the mint).
1964 Mint Set Package
The two pliofilm sleeves holding the coins were sandwiched between two pieces of cardstock inside the
envelope.
1964 Mint Set Uncirculated Coins
The red edged pliofilm contains the five coins minted in Denver and includes a token printed with red ink
identifying the mint. The other pliofilm edged in blue includes the five coins minted in
Philadelphia with a blue printed token.
The mint set's pliofilm sleeves hold the uncirculated coins in their individual compartments,
but the loose compartments allow the coins to rotate freely.
The coins' reverse images can be readily seen through the clear pliofilm. The tokens identifying
the mints have the same printing on the front and the back.
The red printed token in the 1964 mint set identifies that sleeve as "Uncirculated Coins of Denver
Mint Distributed by U.S. Mint."
Similarly, the blue printed token in the blue edged pliofilm sleeve shows "Uncirculated Coins of
Philadelphia Mint Distributed by U.S. Mint."
1964 Mint Set Coins and Metals
The 1964 Mint Set's uncirculated coins contained the following metals:
Penny: 95% copper; 5% zinc
Nickel: 75% copper; 25% nickel
Dime: 90% silver; 10% copper (0.07234 troy ounce of pure silver)
Quarter: 90% silver; 10% copper (0.18084 troy ounce of pure silver)
Half Dollar: 90% silver; 10% silver (0.36169 troy ounce of pure silver)
Each pliofilm sleeve contains 0.61487 troy ounce of pure silver with the total of both sleeves' six 90% silver
coins equal to 1.22974 troy ounces of silver.
Click on Mint Set Population to view the contents of the sets
through the years. Take a look at the overall Mint Set page to see how the values
compare among the sets.
1964 Mint Set Year - News about Coins and the US Mint
(note: the below links to newspapers open in a new window)
White Proposes New US Mint In North Idaho
Lewiston Morning Tribune - Jan 8, 1964
Representative White of Idaho announced that he would introduce a bill to authorize a new mint in Shoshone County,
a silver mining area. The extreme shortage of silver coins in general and silver dollars in particular, White said,
"indicates a required need for additional coinage."
Coin Shortage Poses Serious Problem For US Mint
Lewiston Morning Tribune - Mar 21, 1964
The Director of the US Mint has asked Congress for additional funding to run the mint operations around the clock.
The coin shortage is so severe that the mint cannot keep up with their current production schedule. Population
growth, coin-operated economy (e.g., vending machines) and coin hoarding, to name a few, contributed to the coin
shortage problem.
Stop Coining Silver Dollars, House Solons Instruct US Mint
Lewiston Morning Tribune - Mar 21, 1964
The House Appropriations Committee directed the US Mint to focus on the minor coins, the penny through the half
dollar, for which there is no paper equivalent. The committee refused to approve funds to support the silver dollar
production. In addition, the committee suggested the existing silver dollars be melted.
US Mint Discontinues Sale of New Coin Sets
The Milwaukee Journal - May 8, 1964
After receiving about one million orders since May 1, the US Mint announced they were cutting off orders for the
1964 uncirculated mint sets. The expect the new Kennedy half dollar spurred the demand for the sets. This is the
first time the mint has stopped taking orders for mint sets.
Silver Situation a 'Mess'
Eugene Register-Guard - Sep 15, 1964
At the American Mining Congress, one of Colorado's senators claimed that Americans may soon be melting their silver
coins and selling the silver bullion. With the increasing silver price, melting may start soon. As a result, he has
suggested that the Treasury mint coins of low silver content in 20, 30 and 70-cent denominations and stockpile
large supplies of silver for defense needs.
US Mint Output Rises
Spring Hope Enterprise - Sep 17, 1964
The mint increased production to yield an annual level of seven billion coins, not quite twice the previous level
of 4.3 billion coins. In addition, the mint will be installing 60 additional coinage presses to bring the annual
rate to over nine billion. To help prevent coin hoarding, the mint will continue to use dies with "1964" dates
after January 1, 1965.
Piggy-Bank Bust Urged by US Mint
Lodi News-Sentinel - Oct 14, 1964
Though the mint is producing 20 million coins per day, the coin shortage will continue through the holiday season.
The mint and the American Bankers Association began a nationwide campaign to get the public to turn in their
coins.
Silver Dollar's Demise Linked to Coin Shortage
Spokane Daily Chronicle - Dec 29, 1964
Treasury Department officials announced they have no plans to mint more of the silver dollars, which are in demand
in the western states, until the current coin shortage is over. The production of silver dollars is also impacted
by the government's reduced silver supply this year. The silver situation has the Treasury looking at reducing the
silver content in the circulating coinage or excluding it altogether.
The 1964 Mint Set year included news about the shortage of coins and the changes in silver.
|