1986 US Coins: Values & Mintages

US coinage in 1986

The American Eagle bullion program began, with gold and silver coins sold by weight.

How many coins were made in 1986

Counting the circulation issues on this page, US mints struck 12,072,883,248 coins dated 1986 across 10 issues. That is 18% fewer than in 1985 (14,670,235,999). In 1987 the figure rose to 13,003,735,106.

It was the smallest year since 1977.

By mint: Philadelphia 6,275,235,635 (52%, down from 7,795,331,735) and Denver 5,797,647,613 (48%, down from 6,874,904,264).

1986 coins by denomination

Cents: 8,934,262,191 struck in 2 circulation issues of the Lincoln Memorial Cent, down 18% on 1985. The scarcest is the 1986-D (4,442,866,698) and the most plentiful the 1986 (4,491,395,493).

Nickels: 898,702,623 struck in 2 circulation issues of the Jefferson Nickel, down 19% on 1985. The scarcest is the 1986-D (361,819,140) and the most plentiful the 1986-P (536,883,483).

Dimes: 1,155,976,663 struck in 2 circulation issues of the Roosevelt Dime, down 11% on 1985. The scarcest is the 1986-D (473,326,970) and the most plentiful the 1986-P (682,649,693).

Quarters: 1,055,497,993 struck in 2 circulation issues of the Washington Quarter, down 19% on 1985. The scarcest is the 1986-D (504,298,660) and the most plentiful the 1986-P (551,199,333).

Half Dollars: 28,443,778 struck in 2 circulation issues of the Kennedy Half Dollar, down 26% on 1985. The scarcest is the 1986-P (13,107,633) and the most plentiful the 1986-D (15,336,145).

Every 1986 circulation issue at a glance

• 1986-P Kennedy Half Dollar: 13,107,633 struck, 52nd lowest of 116 in the series, down from 18,706,962 in 1985.
• 1986-D Kennedy Half Dollar: 15,336,145 struck, more than 52% of the series' 116 issues, down from 19,814,034 in 1985.
• 1986-D Jefferson Nickel: 361,819,140 struck, more than 61% of the series' 146 issues, down from 459,747,446 in 1985.
• 1986-D Roosevelt Dime: 473,326,970 struck, 69th lowest of 168 in the series, similar to 1985.
• 1986-D Washington Quarter: 504,298,660 struck, more than 71% of the series' 144 issues, similar to 1985.
• 1986-P Jefferson Nickel: 536,883,483 struck, more than 77% of the series' 146 issues, similar to 1985.
• 1986-P Washington Quarter: 551,199,333 struck, more than 76% of the series' 144 issues, down from 775,818,962 in 1985.
• 1986-P Roosevelt Dime: 682,649,693 struck, more than 53% of the series' 168 issues, similar to 1985.
• 1986-D Lincoln Memorial Cent: 4,442,866,698 struck, more than 58% of the series' 104 issues, similar to 1985.
• 1986 Lincoln Memorial Cent: 4,491,395,493 struck, more than 60% of the series' 104 issues, down from 5,648,489,887 in 1985.

Lincoln Memorial Cent: Copper-plated zinc and the No S proofs

From 1983 every cent was struck on a copper-plated zinc planchet. Annual output often exceeded ten billion combined. The plating proved fragile: these coins often develop bubbles, blisters or dark spots where moisture reaches the zinc core. Many found in change look dull or corroded after a few years.

This era has several notable varieties. The 1983 doubled die reverse shows strong doubling on the lettering. The 1984 doubled die obverse is known for a doubled earlobe. A small number of 1990 proof cents lack the S mint mark and are a major rarity in modern coins. The 1992 Close AM, where the letters A and M in AMERICA nearly touch, is a rare variety, since that reverse was not yet in general use for circulating cents.

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Jefferson Nickel: The P mint mark and high output

In 1980 Philadelphia began placing a P on its nickels, the first time since the wartime silver years. The mint mark has been used ever since. Output ranged from a few hundred million to nearly 900 million at each mint, with Philadelphia's 1982 figure of 292 million among the lowest of the decade. San Francisco proofs continued every year. Prestige proof sets from 1983 onward included the nickel.

Collectors grade these coins by how many of Monticello's steps are complete. On dates struck with tired dies a full steps coin can be hard to find. Most coins from this era are common and found in uncirculated condition in rolls and mint sets. Errors such as off center strikes, clipped planchets and struck through debris are popular finds from this high volume period.

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Roosevelt Dime: Mint marks move above the date

In 1968 the mint mark moved to the obverse just above the date. San Francisco began striking proof dimes for collectors the same year. A few proof dies left the Mint without the S, creating the rare no-S proofs dated 1968, 1970, 1975 and 1983. The 1975 is one of the great modern rarities with only two examples known. Proof sets of 1979 and 1981 show two mint mark styles: a filled Type 1 S and a clearer Type 2 S that is scarcer.

Philadelphia added a P mint mark to the dime in 1980. Two years later a Philadelphia die missing its P reached circulation. The 1982 no-P dime became one of the most popular modern errors. Business strike mintages stayed in the hundreds of millions per mint and passed one billion at Philadelphia in 1988. Dimes from these years turn up in change constantly. Only well-struck uncirculated pieces, proof varieties and errors draw real collector interest.

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Washington Quarter: The eagle returns before the state quarters

The eagle reverse came back in 1977. From 1977 to 1979 the West Point facility struck quarters for circulation without any mint mark, so they cannot be told apart from Philadelphia coins. A P mint mark first appeared on quarters in 1980. From then on every circulating quarter shows the mint that struck it.

Mintages of 1982 and 1983 were large, but the Mint issued no uncirculated sets in those years, so few were saved. Well-preserved examples of both years are hard to find. Silver proofs in 90 percent silver returned in 1992 alongside the clad proofs. Mintages climbed past one billion at Denver in 1995. The 1998 quarter was the last with Flanagan's eagle reverse. In 1999 the 50 State Quarters program replaced it with rotating designs.

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Kennedy Half Dollar: Eagle reverse and dwindling demand

The eagle reverse returned in 1977. Halves saw little use in commerce and mintages fell into the tens of millions, then lower. The 1982 Philadelphia issue includes a variety missing Gasparro's FG initials from the reverse. In 1987 no halves were made for circulation; the 2,890,758 coins from each mint went only into uncirculated sets.

Silver proofs in 90 percent silver returned in 1992. A 1998-S matte finish silver half, 64,141 struck, was sold in a set honoring Robert F. Kennedy and is one of the scarcest modern Kennedys. Circulation strikes of this period often show bag marks from handling in large bags. Well-preserved examples of the low mintage dates, such as 1987, are worth seeking. The 1999 Philadelphia run of 8.9 million was also small.

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