1992 US Coins: Values & Mintages

How many coins were made in 1992

Counting the circulation issues on this page, US mints struck 11,966,638,558 coins dated 1992 across 10 issues. That is close to the 1991 total of 13,135,307,239. In 1993 the figure rose to 15,761,068,006.

It was the smallest year since 1977.

By mint: Philadelphia 6,044,349,000 (51%, down from 7,293,106,000) and Denver 5,922,289,558 (49%, up from 5,842,201,239).

1992 coins by denomination

Cents: 9,097,578,300 struck in 2 circulation issues of the Lincoln Memorial Cent, down 2.4% on 1991. The scarcest is the 1992-D (4,448,673,300) and the most plentiful the 1992 (4,648,905,000).

Nickels: 850,117,113 struck in 2 circulation issues of the Jefferson Nickel, down 19% on 1991. The scarcest is the 1992-P (399,552,000) and the most plentiful the 1992-D (450,565,113).

Dimes: 1,209,773,932 struck in 2 circulation issues of the Roosevelt Dime, down 21% on 1991. The scarcest is the 1992-P (593,500,000) and the most plentiful the 1992-D (616,273,932).

Quarters: 774,541,107 struck in 2 circulation issues of the Washington Quarter, down 36% on 1991. The scarcest is the 1992-P (384,764,000) and the most plentiful the 1992-D (389,777,107).

Half Dollars: 34,628,106 struck in 2 circulation issues of the Kennedy Half Dollar, up 16% on 1991. The scarcest is the 1992-D (17,000,106) and the most plentiful the 1992-P (17,628,000).

Every 1992 circulation issue at a glance

• 1992-D Kennedy Half Dollar: 17,000,106 struck, more than 57% of the series' 116 issues, similar to 1991.
• 1992-P Kennedy Half Dollar: 17,628,000 struck, more than 57% of the series' 116 issues, similar to 1991.
• 1992-P Washington Quarter: 384,764,000 struck, more than 66% of the series' 144 issues, down from 570,968,000 in 1991.
• 1992-D Washington Quarter: 389,777,107 struck, more than 67% of the series' 144 issues, down from 630,966,693 in 1991.
• 1992-P Jefferson Nickel: 399,552,000 struck, more than 66% of the series' 146 issues, down from 614,104,000 in 1991.
• 1992-D Jefferson Nickel: 450,565,113 struck, more than 71% of the series' 146 issues, similar to 1991.
• 1992-P Roosevelt Dime: 593,500,000 struck, 81st lowest of 168 in the series, down from 927,220,000 in 1991.
• 1992-D Roosevelt Dime: 616,273,932 struck, 83rd lowest of 168 in the series, similar to 1991.
• 1992-D Lincoln Memorial Cent: 4,448,673,300 struck, more than 59% of the series' 104 issues, similar to 1991.
• 1992 Lincoln Memorial Cent: 4,648,905,000 struck, more than 64% of the series' 104 issues, similar to 1991.

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: Silver proofs and the 1996-W

Silver proof sets returned in 1992, so collectors could once more buy proof dimes struck in 90 percent silver at San Francisco alongside the clad proofs. In 1996 the Mint marked the dime's 50th anniversary by placing a West Point dime with a W mint mark in each uncirculated set. About 1.46 million were made, the lowest mintage dime of the 1990s apart from the proofs.

Circulation demand peaked in 1999, when Philadelphia alone struck more than 2.1 billion dimes. From 2005 the dimes in uncirculated sets carried a satin finish that sets them apart from business strikes, a detail worth checking when sorting coins removed from sets. Dimes of this era found in pocket change are usually lightly worn clad pieces with their outer layers intact. Proof dimes from both the clad and silver sets of these years survive in large numbers.

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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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