Coins - 1994 Mint
Set
A pale blue envelope held the 1994 mint set and showed images of the five coins and two mint tokens on the
front. The mint set contained ten uncirculated coins, five from Denver and five from Philadelphia. The five
uncirculated coins were the Kennedy half dollar, Washington quarter, Roosevelt dime, Jefferson nickel and
Lincoln penny.
On the 1994 mint set envelope the five coins and two mint tokens appear to have been tossed diagonally across
the front. Along the top of the envelope in red letters, the mint set is identified by "The 1994 United States Mint
Uncirculated Coin Set." In the lower left corner, "with P and D mint marks" alerts the collector that the
uncirculated coins in the mint set come from both the Denver and Philadelphia mints.
1994 Mint Set Package
The back of the mint set envelope is a simple pale blue with no further identifying design or text.
The contents of the 1994 mint set include the two clear sleeves holding the uncirculated coins
and mint tokens, an informational insert about the mint set and a reorder form on a separate card.
1994 Mint Set Uncirculated Coins
The uncirculated coins on the left come from the Denver mint as noted by the red edges and the "D" mint token.
The blue edges and the "P" mint token identify the coins on the right as being from Philadelphia.
In a close-up view, the Denver mint token simply shows "Uncirculated" and "Denver" around
the rim with a large "D" in the middle on its obverse.
The Philadelphia mint token, like the one from Denver, shows "Uncirculated" and
"Philadelphia" around the edge and a large "P" in the middle.
Each clear sleeve contains six sealed compartments to hold and protect the five coins and the one
mint token. The six separate sections prevent the coins from rubbing against each other but
allow the uncirculated coins to move freely within each space.
Each sleeve is clear - front and back. Turning the sleeves over shows the reverse images
of the uncirculated coins.
Both of the mint tokens have the same reverse image which includes the Treasury
Department's seal for the US Mint.
1994 Mint Set Insert and Certificate of Authenticity
The front of the informational insert looks almost, but not quite, the same as the front of the 1994 mint
set.
Inside the folded insert, the US Mint's message about the 1994 mint is the same as the previous year's
mint set, except the year was changed from "1993" to "1994." The color and font size are different, but the
words are the same.
In blue font, the back of the folded insert is titled "Specifications — 1994
Uncirculated Coin Set." The coin specifications include the artists, the size, the metals and the
weight of the five uncirculated coins in the mint set shown in a blue grid on a light
blue background.
To make obtaining more 1994 mint sets easy and to increase overall sales, the US Mint
included a reorder form on a separate card. (Note: this card is no longer valid, but it helps cushion the
coins in the envelope.)
The opposite side of the card advises how to complete the order form and where to
send the form and the payment for the mint sets.
Larger images of the 1994 mint set insert show
the contents of the insert and the coin specifications with more detail.
1994 Mint Set Coins and Metals
The coins of the 1994 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 mint
set values compare among the sets across the years.
1994 Mint Set Year - News about Coins and the US Mint
(note: the below links to newspapers open in a new window)
Soccer coin drew more design entries than imagined
The Vindicator - Jan 30, 1994
Many consider the World Cup Soccer event this summer will be a non-event. Along those same lines, the US Mint's
judging panel for the designs of the commemorative World Cup coins did not expect many entries. They were surprised
to find over 1400 entries submitted by more than 1200 artists. The panel had just eight hours to review and judge
the 1400+ entries.
Russian-recycled nickel used in US coins
Beaver County Times - Feb 16, 1994
An Iowa metals recycler obtained nickel scraps from a Russian processing plant. This nickel was in turn sold to the
US Mint. Though legislation requires the US Mint to purchase the metal in the US, the origin of the metal can be
global since the US has very little nickel mining activity.
Cent of a problem has yet to roll into Toledo Area
Toledo Blade - Jun 9, 1994
Penny shortages exist in Columbus and Cincinnati but have not appeared in Toledo yet. The Fifth Third Bank in
Cincinnati is asking customers to bring in their pennies to help with the shortage. The Federal Reserve Bank in
Cleveland said that 132 billion pennies were in circulation in 1990, the US Mint has added 30 to 40 billion more
for 1991 through 1993.
Sale of coins to raise money to save two Jefferson homes
The Free Lance-Star - Jun 28, 1994
While the custodians of Jefferson's homes - Monticello and Poplar Forest - utilize the $6 million raised by the
sales of the commemorative coins, the US Mint continues to search for Jefferson's coin collection. He collected
coins on his travels abroad. He gave the coins to Benjamin Franklin's Philosopher's Society, but in 1967, the coins
were sold to an antiques dealer in Philadelphia. He died leaving very few records and no trace has been found of
the coins.
Penny hoarding causes shortage
Bangor Daily News - Jun 30, 1994
The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston began rationing pennies. People place their pennies in jars rather than carry
them, and the hoarding problem is compounded by banks refusing to accept loose pennies - only rolled coins.
Meanwhile, the US Mint is operating at full capacity with 80% of its production dedicated to pennies.
Commemorative silver dollar sale
The Gridley Herald - Aug 3, 1994
On July 29, the US Mint began selling three commemorative silver dollars recognizing American veterans. Surcharges
from the coins will provide funds to three specific veterans memorial projects. At $10 per coin, the surcharges
could bring as much as $410 million. The proceeds will help repair the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, create a memorial
for American military women and establish a national POW museum in Andersonville, Georgia.
US Mint unveils record series of commemorative Olympic coins
The Albany Herald - Oct 28, 1994
Organizers for the Atlanta Olympic Games say that the Olympic coins to be available from the US Mint next year will
be the largest series ever produced by the mint. The 16-coin series includes four $5 gold coins, eight $1 silver
coins and four cupronickel half dollar coins. The coins will be available from the US Mint and at branches of
Nationsbank, a sponsor of the games.
The 1994 Mint Set Year included news of a new penny shortage, the design of the soccer
commemorative and a variety of other commemorative coins.
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