Exploring the Lowest-Mintage US Coins

1905 Barber dime. Daniel D Malone/shutterstock

What Is Coin Mintage?

Minting is the process of printing and distributing certified coins into circulation. However, “mintage” refers to the total number of pieces an authorized coin manufacturer (i.e., mint) produces.

Some pieces, like the American Silver Eagle, have millions of coins in circulation; high-scarcity coins may only have a few dozen left in existence.

What Do Collectors Consider a Low-Mintage Coin?

Classifying coins as “low-mintage” can be tricky. Several factors, such as the date of production, quality of proof, and surface design, help numismatists determine the scarcity of a piece.