Products and Coin Programs

The United States Mint does not receive tax dollars to operate its business. Instead, it covers all costs through product sales. We monitor costs constantly and may make price adjustments that reflect price changes in materials, production, and shipping. The updated prices for our annual sets reflect these changes and it allows the Mint to continue producing high-quality products for collectors.

The United States Mint works on a cost-recovery basis and our goal is to provide the best quality numismatic products while keeping prices as low as practicable.  Unfortunately, due to rising material and labor costs, the United States Mint has raised prices on numismatic clad products.

The four-year American Women Quarters (AWQ) Program expired at the end of 2025, and products are no longer available for purchase directly from the United States Mint.  The Mint is focusing its efforts on promoting and selling the once-in-a-lifetime coins and coin products celebrating our Nation’s Semiquincentennial, America’s 250^th birthday.

The United States Mint imposes household order limits on our products to ensure that we provide fair purchase opportunities to the broadest audience possible. Household order limits for standard products are typically lifted 24 hours after they go on sale. The limits for non-standard products are typically lifted 14 days after they are on sale. As we monitor our products, limits may be implemented, adjusted, or removed at our discretion.

A Reverse Proof (RP) coin is a coin that features an inverted proof finish. Only the background is frosted, and all other design elements are polished to the same mirror-like finish. An Enhanced Reverse Proof (ERP) has the same frosted background as the RP, but different design finishes. The ERP has multiple polished and frosted finishes assigned to different isolated design elements, where the RP has only a single mirror like polished finish on the design. The selective polishing and frosting of the design elements of the ERP dramatically enhances the visual impact of the design.

Reverse Proof

• On the obverse, the background is frosted. The entire design and text are polished.
• On the reverse, the background is frosted. The entire design and text are polished.

Enhanced Reverse Proof

On the obverse, LIBERTY, In God We Trust, the date, sun, sandals, stars, white stripes, and the border, all have a polished finish. The skin, blouse and laurel all have a light finish. The mountains, red stripes, and field on the flag all have a Light+ finish. The ground has a standard level frost.

On the reverse of the coin, all of the text, the stars, the field and outer stripes of the shield, and the border are polished. The Eagle has a light finish. The arrows, laurel, and banner have a Light+ finish. The shield border, and the inner stripes on the shield have a heavy frosting.

The background on both sides of the coin have a heavy frosted finish. All these enhancements— unique to this Enhanced American Eagle Silver Reverse Proof coin—add sharp definition to the designs.

Back Order: When products are in “Back Order” status, this means that the product is available for sale, however there is no inventory in stock and a future ship date is displayed on our website. Products in this status can still be ordered online or through the Customer Contact Center.

Currently Unavailable: Currently Unavailable products have no remaining inventory in our warehouse and no additional production is scheduled. Additional inventory may be produced or become available. If so, customers who opt to receive an email or text message notice will receive any back-in-stock messages we send related to the product.

Sold Out: Products in “Sold Out” status are no longer in stock in our warehouses and are no longer available for sale. Products in this status will be removed from the website shortly after they have sold out.

If you have any questions – please reach out to our Customer Contact Center. Their contact information can be found on our customer service page.

Gift boxes are not available for all items due to size and shape; however, these items may be gift wrapped. Coin bags and other large, bulky or heavy products will not be gift boxed or gift wrapped.

Gift boxes are available for international orders. These items are not exempt from being searched by customs officials. The United States Mint cannot guarantee that your gift box will remain intact for international shipments.

Coin dealers and grading services may use these terms in varying ways. Some base their use on the dates appearing on United States Mint product packaging or packing slips, or on the dates of product releases or ceremonial coin strike events.

Consumers should carefully review the following information along with each dealer’s or grading service’s definition of “first strike” or “first release” when considering purchasing coins with these designations.

The United States Mint has not designated any coins or products as “first strikes” or “first releases,” nor do we track the order in which we mint coins during their production. The United States Mint strives to produce coins of consistently high quality throughout the course of production.

Our strict quality controls assure that coins of this caliber are produced from each die set throughout its useful life. Our manufacturing facilities use a die set as long as the quality of resulting coins meets United States Mint standards and then replace the dies, continually changing sets throughout the production process. This means that coins may be minted from new die sets at any point and at multiple times while production of a coin is ongoing, not just the first day or at the beginning of production.

United States Mint products are not individually numbered and we do not keep track of the order or date of minting of individual coins. Any dates on shipping boxes are strictly for quality control and accounting purposes at the United States Mint. The date on the box represents the date that the box was packed, verified and sealed, and the date of packaging does not necessarily correlate with the date of manufacture. The date on shipping labels and packing slips for coins that are sent directly to United States Mint customers from our fulfillment center is the date the item was packed and shipped by the fulfillment center. The other numbers on the shipping label and packing slip are used for tracking the order and for quality control.

In 2020, the United States Mint issued its first colorized coins as part of the Basketball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Program. Many private businesses purchase genuine U.S. coins and colorize them. The most common colorization techniques involve painting an enamel finish on the coin or applying a holographic or superimposed image to the coin.

Does the United States Mint produce or sell colorized coins?

In 2020, the United States Mint issued its first colorized coins as part of the Basketball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Program. The United States Mint has never produced or sold colorized coins or coins that feature a holographic or superimposed image.

Does the United States Mint produce or sell gold- or silver-plated coins?

No. The United States Mint has never produced or sold gold- or silver-plated coins.

Does a business need permission from the U.S. Government to colorize U.S. coins?

Businesses do not need the U.S. Government’s permission to colorize genuine United States coins unless the U.S. Government owns a copyright in the coin design in question.

Does a business need permission from the U.S. Government to plate U.S. coins in gold, silver or other precious metals?

Businesses do not need the U.S. Government’s permission to plate (layer) genuine United States coins in gold, silver or other precious metals.

Are colorized coins or plated coins considered to be a good numismatic investment?

The United States Mint does not comment on coin-grading issues or on a colorized coin’s or plated coin’s current or future value as a collectible item. If you like a colorized coin or plated coin because of the way it looks, then you may want to add it to your collection. If you are primarily concerned about the long-term investment value of a colorized coin or plated coin, then you should contact a reputable coin dealer or coin grading service before you purchase the coin.

Is a “bimetallic” coin the same as a colorized or plated coin?

No. As the name implies, a bimetallic coin is manufactured using two separate components of different metals. In modern bimetallic coins, the center component is usually made from one metal, while the outer component consists of a totally different metal. In the past, the United States Mint produced a bimetallic coin—the 2000 Library of Congress Commemorative Bimetallic Ten Dollar Coin. This commemorative coin was manufactured using both .9995 platinum and .9167 gold.

What is the United States Mint’s position on the practice of colorizing or plating U.S. coins?

The United States Mint does not encourage or support the alteration of coins after they have been issued. Congress itself mandates by statute the themes, images, and inscriptions that appear on a particular coin. Businesses that choose to sell colorized or plated coins are expected to ensure that they do not violate U.S. trademark and copyright laws or false and deceptive advertising laws.

Each year a small number of foreign governments issue coins with designs that feature subjects from United States culture and history, such as U.S. Presidents and the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Few, if any, of these coins, appear to be marketed within the country that issued them. It is important to note that even if they are denominated as “dollars,” they are not designed or manufactured by the United States Mint, and they are not legal tender in the U.S. They are promoted by private businesses in the U.S. for sale through newspaper, television and web advertisements.

Is it permissible for foreign governments to use images of U.S. Presidents, Civil War heroes, and other images drawn from American culture on foreign coins that they market in the United States?

Yes, it is permissible for foreign governments to use images drawn from American culture on their coins marketed abroad or in the United States. In some cases, foreign governments have adopted the term “dollar” as their unit of currency (e.g., Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Liberia), so consumers may see non-United States coins advertised featuring dollar denominations. As sovereign authorities, foreign governments may coin their own money and market their coins in the United States.

How can I determine whether the advertised coin is a foreign coin?

Often, it is extremely difficult to tell from the advertisement whether the featured coin is of foreign origin, especially when it depicts images drawn from American culture and a “dollar” denomination. In many instances, the issuing government is noted on the reverse of the coin, but that reverse coin image is not always pictured in the advertisement.

Do businesses need permission from the United States Mint to market foreign coins?

No. Businesses do not need the United States Mint’s permission to market foreign coins in the United States. Businesses, however, are expected to observe relevant trademark laws and false and deceptive advertising laws in marketing foreign coins, and they are expected to refrain from attempting to pass off foreign coins as U.S. coins.

Are foreign coins considered to be a good numismatic investment?

The United States Mint does not comment on a foreign coin’s current or future value as a collectible item. If you are primarily concerned about the long-term investment value of a foreign coin, then you should contact a reputable coin dealer or coin grading service before you purchase the coin. Also, you may wish to learn more about the issuing country’s monetary regulations and currency exchange rate.

Some businesses produce copies or replicas of genuine U.S. coins. In many instances, the replicas are virtually identical to genuine U.S. coins. Thus, it can be extremely difficult for consumers to detect the difference prior to purchase. The Hobby Protection Act requires the word “COPY” permanently marked on all imitation coins and other numismatic items. Some businesses in China, however, produce unmarked imitations of pre-1950 United States coins and sell them on-line. In addition, some businesses sell unmarked “giant” or miniature replicas of U.S. coins.

How can I distinguish between a genuine U.S. coin and a replica?

It is often difficult to distinguish between genuine U.S. coins and replicas. The Hobby Protection Act requires that all imitation coins and other numismatic items be permanently marked with the word “COPY”.

Some businesses in China, however, produce unmarked imitations of pre-1950 United States coins and sell them online. Genuine U.S. coins feature the denomination (e.g., One Dollar), while replicas generally omit the denomination and feature a description of the product in its place, such as “giant proof” or “silver proof” or “.999 fine silver.” Because the features vary from product to product, it is very difficult to offer general guidelines in this area.

In an effort to assist consumers to discern the differences, the United States Mint provides a side-by-side comparison of a few genuine U.S. coins and their replica counterparts in our FAQ "Tips on Identifying Genuine U.S. Coins." 

How can I distinguish between advertisements for genuine U.S. coins and those for coin replicas?

Businesses that market replicas of genuine U.S. coins typically use terminology such as “copy,” “replica,” “reproduction,” “adaptation,” “tribute,” “miniature,” “magnification,” or “proof” in their advertisements to describe replica products.

To avoid counterfeiting violations, businesses often produce replicas of U.S. coins in larger diameter (e.g. 3½ inches), quarter-pound, half-pound and one-pound versions. Thus, if you see this terminology used, or this size or weight advertised, it is likely that the advertised product is a replica and is not a genuine U.S. coin.

Are replicas U.S. legal tender?

No, replicas are not legal tender. Under the U.S. Constitution, only the federal government can mint legal tender coins. Replicas of U.S. coins cannot be exchanged as legal tender or used as money.

Does a business need permission from the U.S. Government to produce replicas of U.S. coins?

Businesses do not need the U.S. Government’s permission to produce replicas of U.S. coins, unless the U.S. Government owns copyright in the coin design in question. Thus, consumers should not assume that the U.S. Government has approved or sponsored the advertised replicas. Of course, businesses are expected to ensure that their replicas do not violate U.S. counterfeiting laws.

Are coin replicas considered to be a good numismatic investment?

The United States Mint does not comment on coin grading issues or on a replica’s current or future value as a collectible item. If you like a replica because of the way it looks (e.g. magnified image), then you may want to add it to your collection. However, if you’re primarily concerned about the long-term investment value of a coin replica, you should contact a reputable coin dealer or coin grading service before you purchase the replica.

Where can I seek refund or complain if I purchased a replica believing it to be a genuine U.S. coin?

If you bought a replica believing that you were purchasing a genuine United States Mint product, you may be entitled to a refund or redress from the business that sold the replica to you. Many businesses allow the return of merchandise within 30 days, no matter what the circumstances. If you believe that the business treated you unfairly, there are several federal, state and local government offices available to assist you.

Uncurrent Coins

Uncurrent coins are whole U.S. coins that are worn yet recognizable as to genuineness and denomination, and are machine countable. Uncurrent coins are redeemed by the Federal Reserve Banks, then forwarded to the Mint for disposition.

If you have questions, please contact your local FedCash® Services District Contacts.

Reuse

Uuncurrent or mutilated coins redeemed by the Mint are melted and reused in the manufacture of coinage strips.

The United States Mint’s Mutilated Coin Redemption is permanently closed. The United States Mint is no longer accepting bent or partial coins for redemption.

Ending the Redemption Program

For many years, the United States Mint redeemed bent and partial coins for full face value.  However, circumstances surrounding the redemption program have materially changed.  Submissions must be carefully evaluated to ensure that counterfeit coins are not accepted to the program, and the condition of many coins, particularly large volumes of coins damaged by recycling or industrial processes, makes authentication increasingly difficult and time-consuming.  In addition, the volume of coins submitted for redemption greatly increased, and counterfeits have been increasingly identified both in imported coins intercepted by law enforcement and in large submissions to the redemption program.  The result of these changed circumstances is that there is currently no financially responsible way to ensure the integrity of the redemption program and to the meet the full level of demand.  The United States Mint’s capacity to process mutilated coins is limited by physical storage capacity, caseload complexity, and workload.  Authentication procedures require extensive time and resources.

On May 3, 2024, the United States Mint issued a proposed rule (89 FR 36721) proposing to end the Mutilated Coin Redemption Program. After a public comment period and careful consideration of the comments received, the United States Mint formally made the decision to close the redemption program, issuing a Final Rule ending the program (89 FR 78241). The Final Rule can be found here. The Final Rule was published on September 25, 2024 and took effect October 25, 2024. The United States Mint has provided a small business compliance guide for the new rule, which can be found here.

Disposal of Bent or Partial Coins

Businesses and individuals may have questions regarding disposal of bent or partial coins. Please note that while 18 U.S.C. § 331 describes criminal penalties associated with behavior that is conducted with the intent to defraud, there is no statutory or regulatory prohibition on melting dimes, quarters, half-dollar, and dollar coins when done without fraudulent intent and consistent with 31 C.F.R. Part 82.

There is a regulatory prohibition against melting pennies and nickels, based in part on the fact that the cost of producing these coins currently exceeds their face value.  However, please note that these regulations include a specific exception at 31 C.F.R. § 82.2 for coins melted or treated incidental to recycling other materials if (1) the coins were not added to the other materials for their metallurgical value, (2) the volumes of the coins, relative to the volumes of the other materials recycled, makes it clear that the presence of such coins is merely incidental, and (3) the separation of the coins from the other materials would be impracticable or cost prohibitive.  See 31 C.F.R. § 82.2(c).  This exception extends to the melting of coins that become mutilated due to treatment that is itself within the scope of the exception.

Requests for licenses to melt mutilated pennies and nickels consistent with the regulations should be transmitted to the Director, United States Mint; 801 9th Street, NW; Washington, DC 20220.  See 31 C.F.R. § 82.2(f). For license requests to melt mutilated pennies and nickels, please include your name, business name (if applicable), whether the coins are bent and/or partial, a description of how the coins became mutilated, and the volume of coins requested to be melted.

Individuals can inquire of their local scrap metal dealers or other local recycling provider.

Contacting the United States Mint

The United States Mint is available to assist with questions regarding the closure of exchange program for bent and partial coin. Please direct questions to inquiries@usmint.treas.gov.