Coins - 2004 Mint
Set
With the 2004 mint set and its additional nickel, the US Mint remained consistent with their coin
packaging of the 11 uncirculated coins from Denver and 11 from Philadelphia, but the paper inserts
changed.
The 2004 mint set included the first year of the Westward Journey nickels. Two nickels highlighted the 200th
anniversary of the first year of the Lewis and Clark expedition.
The 2004 mint set contained one each of the following coins from the two mints: the penny, "Peace
Medal" nickel, "Keelboat" nickel, dime, half dollar, dollar and the five state quarter coins. Separate envelopes
held the ten coins from each mint.
The two envelopes in the 2004 mint set included a red one for the coins minted in Denver and a
blue one for the Philadelphia minted coins. Within each envelope, two Mylar sleeves held the coins. One sleeve held
the five state quarters while the other held the penny, two nickels, dime, half dollar and dollar uncirculated
coins.
For the 2004 mint set, the US Mint placed images of the coins on the front of the envelope with the two
nickels prominent. Both envelopes used the same image, and the image was surrounded by the color for the mint,
red for Denver and blue for Philadelphia.
In addition, the front of each envelope includes "2004," "United States Mint," and "Uncirculated Coin
Set." The 50 State Quarters logo displays on the lower left of each envelope.
Look at how the red and blue colors identify each mint and how they make the images appear differently.
2004 Mint Set Package
Very similar to the previous year, the backs of the envelopes in the 2004 mint set
reflected the colors associated with each mint - red for Denver and blue for Philadelphia. The US Mint's web site
address on each envelope's flap shows in white against the red or blue.
In 2004, the US Mint reduced their printing costs by not including as many inserts in the 2004 mint
set. But, they remained consistent on how they packaged the coins in the two envelopes.
The picture below shows the one insert with the description of the coins and the Certificate
of Authenticity at the top, the Denver portion of the 2004 mint set on the left with its red envelope and
the Philadelphia portion in blue on the right.
The US Mint continued their colors for the Mylar edges with the regular uncirculated coins from the Denver mint
in the red-edged sleeve and the state quarters in the black-edged sleeve.
Similarly, the Philadelphia regular uncirculated coins were in blue-edged Mylar and the
uncirculated state quarters in the white-edged Mylar.
2004 Mint Set Uncirculated Coins
From the obverse (heads) view, the two Mylar sleeves in the 2004 mint set for the Denver minted
coins include the red-edge for the penny, two Westward Journey nickels, dime, half dollar and dollar
uncirculated coins. The black-edged Mylar sleeve contained the sixth set of five uncirculated state
quarters.
On the right, the dark blue-edged Mylar held the dollar, half dollar, two nickels, penny and dime uncirculated
coins from the Philadelphia mint. The white-edged sleeve contained the five uncirculated, Philadelphia-minted state
quarters.
The separately sealed spaces in each Mylar sleeve protect the uncirculated
coins from each other and from fingerprints. Each space, larger than the coin it holds, allows the
uncirculated coins to move freely while protected.
From the back, the reverse images of the uncirculated coins can be seen through their clear
Mylar protection. The Denver uncirculated coins are on the left with the Philadelphia minted coins on the
right.
2004 Mint Set Insert and Certificate of Authenticity
Earlier years contained two inserts that included the same content except for "Denver" vs. "Philadelphia."
The 2004 mint set held just one insert in the Philadelphia envelope.
The simple design for the 2004 Mint Set's Certificate of Authenticity included charcoal gray printing on a white
background.
The top of the insert discusses the coins included in the set and describes Westward Journey
nickels and the sixth year of the 50 state quarters program.
The coin specifications for the state quarters show on the bottom.
The back of the insert in the 2004 mint set shows the coin specifications of the cent,
two nickels, dime, half dollar and dollar uncirculated coins.
With the increasing acceptance of the internet and their online order process, the US Mint chose to
not include the re-order card in the 2004 mint set. This, too, helped them cut print costs.
Larger images of the 2004 mint set
insert show the contents of the insert and the coin specifications with more detail.
2004 Mint Set Coins and Metals
The coins of the 2004 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
Dollar: manganese-brass clad, 88.5% copper, 6% zinc, 3.5% manganese, 2% 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.
2004 Mint Set Year - News about Coins and the US Mint
(note: the below links to newspapers open in a new window)
US Mint selects artists to design coins
The Bryan Times - February 24, 2004
The US Mint asked two dozen artists to submit designs for a new nickel honoring the Lewis and Clark expedition. The
artists have a variety of specialties and are part of the US Mint's Artistic Fusion program.
Nickel makeover is first in 66 years
Lakeland Ledger - March 5, 2004
The new five-cent pieces honoring the 1803 Louisiana Purchase soon will be in cash registers, pockets and purses.
The back of the coin differs but the front remains the same. The US Mint has shipped millions of the coins to the
Federal Reserve banks.
Redesign a coin that's acceptable
The Argus-Press - March 11, 2004
Two members of congress just proposed a new dollar coin design, but their legislation does not correct the size
problem of mistaking the dollar coin for a quarter.
New California quarter shows Muir, Half Dome
The Union Democrat - March 30, 2004
The Governor unveiled the new California state quarter design yesterday. The new quarter includes conservationist
John Muir, a California condor and Yosemite National Park's Half Dome. The California commemorative quarter begins
circulation next year.
Quarter gets dual unveilings
StAugustine.com - April 6, 2004
The new Florida quarter will be unveiled at both the Kennedy Space Center and the Castillo de San Marcos in St.
Augustine. The new quarters will be available for purchase at the Space Center but not in St. Augustine.
Liberty Head nickel sells for $3 million
Seattle Times - May 21, 2004
A 1913 Liberty Head nickel - that shouldn't exist - sold yesterday for $3 million. It was once owned by royalty and
was featured in a 1973 "Hawaii-Five-O" episode.
New-look nickels to be unveiled
Kentucky New Era - September 14, 2004
For the first time since he was first placed on the five-cent coin in 1938, the image of Thomas Jefferson is
changing in 2005 for the second set of nickels honoring the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark
expedition.
New York AG tries to halt sales of Sept 11 coins he says are fraudulent
Boca Raton News - October 15, 2004
New York's Attorney General obtained a court order to suspend the sale of commemorative Sept 11 coins said to be
made of silver from Ground Zero. He questions the validity of their claim. Plus, he says that the coins are
promoted as being almost pure silver when in reality they are silver plated.
The coin news during the 2004 Mint Set Year included discussions of new coin designs, rare
coin sales and potential fraudulent commemoration coins.
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