1959 US Coins: Values & Mintages

US coinage in 1959

The Lincoln Memorial reverse replaced the wheat ears on the cent to mark the 150th anniversary of Lincoln's birth.

New this year: the Lincoln Memorial Cent.

How many coins were made in 1959

Counting the circulation issues on this page, US mints struck 2,433,853,012 coins dated 1959 across 10 issues. That is 60% more than in 1958 (1,519,779,332). In 1960 the figure rose to 2,802,241,716.

It was the biggest year since 1944.

By mint: Denver 1,680,526,012 (69%, up from 1,207,854,332) and Philadelphia 753,327,000 (31%, up from 311,925,000).

Those coins held about 40,731,597 troy ounces of pure silver.

1959 coins by denomination

Cents: 1,889,475,000 struck in 2 circulation issues of the Lincoln Memorial Cent, up 79% on 1958. The scarcest is the 1959 (609,715,000) and the most plentiful the 1959-D (1,279,760,000).

Nickels: 187,986,240 struck in 2 circulation issues of the Jefferson Nickel, up 1.4% on 1958. The scarcest is the 1959 (27,248,000) and the most plentiful the 1959-D (160,738,240).

Dimes: 250,699,790 struck in 2 circulation issues of the Roosevelt Dime, up 49% on 1958. The scarcest is the 1959 (85,780,000) and the most plentiful the 1959-D (164,919,790).

Quarters: 86,438,232 struck in 2 circulation issues of the Washington Quarter, up 2.3% on 1958. The scarcest is the 1959 (24,384,000) and the most plentiful the 1959-D (62,054,232).

Half Dollars: 19,253,750 struck in 2 circulation issues of the Franklin Half Dollar, down 31% on 1958. The scarcest is the 1959 (6,200,000) and the most plentiful the 1959-D (13,053,750).

Every 1959 circulation issue at a glance

• 1959 Franklin Half Dollar: 6,200,000 struck, 15th lowest of 35 in the series, up from 4,042,000 in 1958.
• 1959-D Franklin Half Dollar: 13,053,750 struck, more than 59% of the series' 35 issues, down from 23,962,412 in 1958.
• 1959 Washington Quarter: 24,384,000 struck, 47th lowest of 144 in the series, up from 6,360,000 in 1958.
• 1959 Jefferson Nickel: 27,248,000 struck, 21st lowest of 146 in the series, up from 17,088,000 in 1958.
• 1959-D Washington Quarter: 62,054,232 struck, 69th lowest of 144 in the series, down from 78,124,900 in 1958.
• 1959 Roosevelt Dime: 85,780,000 struck, 28th lowest of 168 in the series, up from 31,910,000 in 1958.
• 1959-D Jefferson Nickel: 160,738,240 struck, 66th lowest of 146 in the series, similar to 1958.
• 1959-D Roosevelt Dime: 164,919,790 struck, 46th lowest of 168 in the series, similar to 1958.
• 1959 Lincoln Memorial Cent: 609,715,000 struck, 10th lowest of 104 in the series.
• 1959-D Lincoln Memorial Cent: 1,279,760,000 struck, 17th lowest of 104 in the series.

Lincoln Memorial Cent: The Memorial reverse and the coin shortage

For the 150th anniversary of Lincoln's birth, Frank Gasparro's Lincoln Memorial reverse replaced the wheat ears in 1959. A tiny statue of Lincoln is visible inside the building, so the cent shows his likeness on both sides. Mintages climbed above a billion at Denver every year of this era.

The main variety is the 1960 small date and large date. The Mint changed the date punch early in the year. Philadelphia small date coins are the scarcer issue. The 1960-D also has a small date over large date variety. A nationwide coin shortage in the early 1960s, blamed on vending machines and hoarding of silver coins, led the Mint to keep striking cents dated 1964 into 1965. Proofs were struck at Philadelphia through 1964. Red uncirculated coins are plentiful.

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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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