Coins - 1986 Mint
Set
A white and tan envelope with red, white and blue stripes held the ten uncirculated coins of the 1986 mint set
with five coins from Denver and five from Philadelphia. The five coins from each mint were the Kennedy
half dollar, Washington quarter, Roosevelt dime, Jefferson nickel and Lincoln penny.
The 1986 Mint Set had a tan color across the bottom of the envelope on which "1986 Uncirculated Coin Set" was
written in an ornate script. In addition, "United States Mint" and "With D and P Mint Marks" helped identify the
contents of the mint set. The top of the envelope was white with red, white and blue stripes separating the top and
bottom colors on the envelope.
1986 Mint Set Package
The style of envelope changed slightly with the back closure being straight across. The Treasury Department's
seal for the US Mint is centered across the back of the envelope.
Like the previous year, the 1986 mint set contained ten uncirculated coins - five each in two pliofilm
sleeves, an insert describing the uncirculated coin set and the coins' history along with a
card that described the coins' specifications. The card also helped protect the coins in the
envelope.
1986 Mint Set Uncirculated Coins
The red-edged pliofilm on the left includes the Denver minted coins with the blue-edged sleeve on the right
holds the Philadelphia uncirculated coins. The sixth compartment in each sleeve holds a token identifying the
mint that produced the coins.
Looking much like a penny, the token's obverse image shows "Uncirculated" and "Denver" around the
rim with "D" in the middle for the coins minted in Denver.
Similarly, the token in the blue, Philadelphia pliofilm shows "Uncirculated" and
"Philadelphia" with "P" in the middle.
The sealed compartments prevent the coins from rubbing against each other, but the loose packaging
allows the coins to move freely.
Flipping the sleeves over, the coins' reverse images can be seen through the clear pliofilm.
Both of the identifying tokens have the same reverse image which includes the US Mint
seal.
1986 Mint Set Insert and Certificate of Authenticity
The front of the insert in the 1986 mint set shows the presidential images on each of the five uncirculated
coins and shows the two tokens for the Denver and Philadelphia mints. The insert is titled, "Facts about your 1986
uncirculated coin set."
The insert in the 1986 mint set describes the minting process for the uncirculated coins and provides
a brief history of each of the five coins.
The back of the folded insert shows the Treasury Department's seal for the United States Mint on a
plain white background.
The "Specifications - 1986 Uncirculated Coin Set" card details the artists, the size, the metals and
the weight of the five uncirculated coins in the mint set.
Larger images of the 1986 insert show the contents
of the insert and the coin specifications with more detail.
1986 Mint Set Coins and Metals
The coins of the 1986 Mint Set contained the following metals:
Penny: copper-plated zinc, 2.5% copper; 97.5% zinc
Nickel: 25% nickel; 75% copper
Dime: 91.67% copper; 8.33% nickel
Quarter: 91.67% copper; 8.33% nickel
Half Dollar: 91.67% copper; 8.33% nickel
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.
1986 Mint Set Year - News about Coins and the US Mint
(note: the below links to newspapers open in a new window)
US Mint makes more than coins
The Vindicator - May 25, 1986
In addition to coins, the US Mint makes medals including Treasury medals recognizing the service of the Secretary
of the Treasury. These medals continue to be available, not sold-out like collectible coins, even the first
Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton's, medal can be purchased from the Mint. The obverse contains the
Secretary's portrait and the reverse shows the seal over two eagles.
Sales of special Liberty coins have been brisk
Observer-Reporter - Jun 8, 1986
Various banks and retail stores report increased sales of the commemorative Liberty coins as the 100th anniversary
of the statue nears. The $5 gold coin rapidly sold out much earlier. Now, the silver dollar and cupronickel half
dollar coins are selling quickly. A portion of the sales price goes to the restoration of the Statue of Liberty and
the Ellis Island museum.
US Mint put frosting on Liberty's cake
The Vindicator - Aug 3, 1986
The Statue of Liberty's birthday celebration is over. The sales of the commemorative coins from the US Mint
contributed more than $40 million from domestic sales and another $1.3 million from international sales. The US
Mint's sales efforts were not without difficulties. It seems the process to accept credit card orders was not
ready. Credit card orders were set aside in favor of check orders. Since the Mint received many more orders than
the coins produced, these credit card orders were returned unfulfilled.
Gold coin sales soar on first day
The Pittsburgh Press - Oct 21, 1986
The American Eagle is flying high and the US Mint couldn't be happier. For the first time in over half a century,
the US Mint is producing a general circulation gold coin which went on sale yesterday with the demand exceeding
expectations. The Director of the Mint hopes to capture the $1 billion spent last year to purchase foreign gold
coins.
Demand forces US to halt gold coin sales
The Pittsburgh Press - Oct 22, 1986
The Treasury Department suspended sales of the new American Eagle gold coins until they can produce more to catch
up to the greater than expected demand. After the first day of sales, the Mint ran out of the coins.
Sales of US Gold Coins Quickly Top 1 Million Mark
Ocala Star-Banner - Nov 18, 1986
At its fifth weekly auction, the US Mint sold all but 3 percent of the gold coins offered. Since first offered on
October 20, the US Mint has sold 1.03 million ounces of gold in the form of American Gold Eagle coins. Due to the
demand, the Mint only offers these coins to dealers one day per week.
US Mint starts silver rush with new coins
The Day - Nov 24, 1986
The US Mint just began offering the American Silver Eagle coins, and like the gold coins, sold out of their 1.4
million coins on the first day. They plan to produce five million of the silver dollars by the end of the year. The
American Silver Eagles will be available from various dealers at a retail price between $6.50 and $8.50.
The 1986 Mint Set Year included news of successes with the Liberty commemorative coins, the gold American Eagle
coins and the new American Silver Eagle coins.
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