Читать книгу A Guide Book of United States Coins 2021 - R.S. Yeoman - Страница 14

Collectors are cautioned that Mint reports are not always reliable for estimating the rarities of coins. In the early years of the Mint, dies of previous years were often used until they became worn or broken. It should also be emphasized that certain quantities reported, particularly for gold and silver, cover the number of coins struck and have no reference to the quantity that actually reached circulation. Many issues were deposited in the Treasury as backing for paper currency and were later melted.

Gold coins struck before August 1, 1834, are rare today, because from 1821 onward (and at times before 1821), the gold in the coins was worth more than their face values, so they were struck as bullion and traded at a premium above face value.

The quantities reported by the Mint of three-dollar gold pieces from 1873 to 1877 and half cents from 1832 to 1835 are subject to doubt.

Coinage figures shown for 1964 through 1966 are for coins bearing those dates. Some of them were struck in more than one year and at various mints, both with and without mintmarks. In recent years, mintage figures reported by the Mint have been revised several times and remain uncertain as to precise amounts.

Mintage quantities are shown adjacent to each date throughout this book. Figures shown in italic are estimates based on the most accurate information available. Exact mintage figures for most pre-1878 Proof minor coins, and most pre-1860 silver and gold coins, are not known. Listed figures are occasionally revised when new information becomes available. Proof totals are shown in parentheses and are not included with coins made for circulation.