1956 US Coins: Values & Mintages

How many coins were made in 1956

Counting the circulation issues on this page, US mints struck 1,918,550,640 coins dated 1956 across 9 issues. That is 76% more than in 1955 (1,089,579,543). In 1957 the figure rose to 1,932,170,240.

It was the biggest year since 1946.

By mint: Denver 1,305,773,640 (68%, up from 654,863,000) and Philadelphia 612,777,000 (32%, up from 371,596,543).

Those coins held about 30,961,990 troy ounces of pure silver.

1956 coins by denomination

Cents: 1,518,946,100 struck in 2 circulation issues of the Lincoln Wheat Cent, up 62% on 1955. The scarcest is the 1956 (420,745,000) and the most plentiful the 1956-D (1,098,201,100).

Nickels: 102,438,940 struck in 2 circulation issues of the Jefferson Nickel, up 24% on 1955. The scarcest is the 1956 (35,216,000) and the most plentiful the 1956-D (67,222,940).

Dimes: 216,655,100 struck in 2 circulation issues of the Roosevelt Dime, up 382% on 1955. The scarcest is the 1956-D (108,015,100) and the most plentiful the 1956 (108,640,000).

Quarters: 76,478,500 struck in 2 circulation issues of the Washington Quarter, up 258% on 1955. The scarcest is the 1956-D (32,334,500) and the most plentiful the 1956 (44,144,000).

Half Dollars: 4,032,000 struck in 1 circulation issue of the Franklin Half Dollar, up 61% on 1955.

Every 1956 circulation issue at a glance

• 1956 Franklin Half Dollar: 4,032,000 struck, 6th lowest of 35 in the series, up from 2,498,181 in 1955.
• 1956-D Washington Quarter: 32,334,500 struck, 51st lowest of 144 in the series, up from 3,182,400 in 1955.
• 1956 Jefferson Nickel: 35,216,000 struck, 27th lowest of 146 in the series, up from 7,888,000 in 1955.
• 1956 Washington Quarter: 44,144,000 struck, 63rd lowest of 144 in the series, up from 18,180,181 in 1955.
• 1956-D Jefferson Nickel: 67,222,940 struck, 47th lowest of 146 in the series, similar to 1955.
• 1956-D Roosevelt Dime: 108,015,100 struck, 34th lowest of 168 in the series, up from 13,959,000 in 1955.
• 1956 Roosevelt Dime: 108,640,000 struck, 35th lowest of 168 in the series, up from 12,450,181 in 1955.
• 1956 Lincoln Wheat Cent: 420,745,000 struck, more than 89% of the series' 140 issues, up from 330,580,000 in 1955.
• 1956-D Lincoln Wheat Cent: 1,098,201,100 struck, more than 99% of the series' 140 issues, up from 563,257,500 in 1955.

Lincoln Wheat Cent: Postwar bronze, the 1955 doubled die and the final wheat cents

Bronze returned in 1947 and proof sets resumed in 1950. Postwar output kept climbing until Denver exceeded one billion cents for the first time in 1956. San Francisco struck its last wheat cents in 1955, ending S mint mark cents until 1968, which led many people to hoard the 1955-S.

The 1955 doubled die obverse is the most famous variety of this era. A misaligned hub impression doubled the date and lettering. Roughly 20,000 coins reached circulation, many through cigarette vending machines in New England. Also look for the 1956-D/D repunched mint mark and the rare 1958 doubled die obverse, with only a few known. The Lincoln Memorial reverse replaced the wheat ears in 1959, so 1958 was the last year of the wheat design. Uncirculated red coins from this era are abundant.

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Jefferson Nickel: Coin shortage years and no mint marks

Output grew rapidly through the late 1950s and early 1960s, led by Denver, which struck more than 280 million in 1962. A nationwide coin shortage in the early 1960s, blamed on vending machines, hoarding and a booming economy, led the Mint to strike more than 2.8 billion nickels dated 1964, with production of that date continuing into 1965.

From 1965 to 1967 the Mint removed mint marks from all coins to discourage hoarding. Special Mint Sets with satin finish coins replaced proof sets. In 1966 Felix Schlag's initials, FS, were added below the bust, more than 25 years after his design first appeared. Coins from this era are abundant and rarely carry a premium unless they show full steps, a strong proof-like finish or a notable error.

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Roosevelt Dime: Rising output and the last silver dimes

From 1956 only Philadelphia and Denver struck dimes for circulation and their combined output climbed almost every year. Denver passed 200 million in 1960 and reached about 421 million in 1963 as vending machines, a growing population and a national coin shortage drove demand. The 1958 Philadelphia issue of about 31.9 million is the smallest of these years.

The 1964 dimes broke every record, with more than 2.2 billion struck at the two mints. Rising silver prices led the Treasury to keep striking coins dated 1964 well into 1965 so that hoarders could not single out a final silver date. Proof dimes from the Philadelphia sets of these years are plentiful, though a 1960 proof with a doubled die obverse is a known variety. Every dime of the era is 90 percent silver, so even worn pieces are collected for their metal.

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Washington Quarter: Postwar silver to the end

Production slowed after the war. San Francisco made no quarters in 1949 and struck its last S-marked circulating quarters in 1954. The 1955-D, at 3,182,400, is the lowest mintage of these years. The 1958 Philadelphia run of 6,360,000 is also low. The 1950-D/S and 1950-S/D varieties show one mint mark punched over another and are the best known varieties of the period.

Mintages rose through the late 1950s and early 1960s, then exploded in 1964 when more than 1.26 billion were struck at Philadelphia and Denver. Quarters dated 1964 continued to be made into 1966 to frustrate hoarders. Proofs resumed in 1950 and topped one million in most years from 1957. Every quarter of these years is 90 percent silver and weighs 6.25 grams. Worn examples still turn up in old jars and are usually sold for their silver.

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Franklin Half Dollar: Philadelphia and Denver only

From 1956 only Philadelphia and Denver made Franklin halves. Denver skipped 1956 entirely. The 1956 Philadelphia coin (4,701,384) and the 1958 Philadelphia coin (4,917,652) are the low mintages of the period, while Denver struck from about 13 to 24 million a year from 1957.

Proof sales rose quickly in these years and passed one million sets in 1957, so proof Franklins of the late 1950s are common. Two different reverse hubs were used on 1956 proofs. Specialists separate them by the eagle's feathers. Strike quality on business strikes varies widely. Check the lower bell lines under good light before assuming a coin is fully struck. Uncirculated rolls of these years were saved, so bag marks rather than wear are the usual problem.

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