1965 QUARTER

Circulation strikes: 1,819,717,540
Designer: John Flanagan
Diameter: ±24.3 millimeters
Metal Content: Outer layers - 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Center - 100% Copper
Weight: ±5.7 grams
Edge: Reeded
Mintmark: None
Value: $1.00 (MS-63) up to $6.00 (MS-65)

Yesterday's lunch... one hot pastrami sandwich, one mango yogurt shower, and a handful of change. The sandwich was the high point, the yogurt shower, the unexpected result of an employee accident with the yogurt machine while I was ordering my lunch, was the low point. The change included, yet another, 1965 quarter. Now maybe it is because I am looking. But it seems that these things are like cockroaches. Yes, it makes sense that 1965 represents a floor for common quarters in circulation. Anything older is likely to be pulled out of circulation due to its silver content. Even so. At 44 years old it's mildly surprising how many ’65 quarters are still in circulation.

1978 QUARTER

Circulation strikes: 521,452,000
Designer: John Flanagan
Diameter: ±24.26 millimeters
Metal content:
Outer layers - 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Center - 100% Copper
Weight: ±5.67 grams
Thickness: ±1.75 mm
Edge: Reeded
Mintmark: "P" (for Philadelphia) on the obverse just right of the ribbon
Value: $1.00 (MS-63) up to $5.00 (MS-65)

Since I had a handful of change and an empty house I took a few moments to sort through coins and found… nothing. Well, nothing interesting at least. I was a bit disappointed. Between change from lunch, change from picking up dinner, and a half dozen ‘found’ pennies I had been hopeful that I would at least have something in the ‘older then me’ category. Still, 1978 isn’t a bad find. While not particularly notable it is a 31 year old coin making it older than the 25 year* life span that the US mint claims for coins.

I would have sworn that, not all that long ago, the Mint estimated a 30 year life span for coins… either I am / was confused or this changed recently.

1961-D FIVE CENT

Circulation strikes: 229,342,760
Designer: Felix Schlag
Diameter: ±21.2 millimeters
Metal content: Copper - 75% Nickel - 25%
Weight: ±5 grams
Edge: Plain
Mintmark: "D" (for Denver) to the right of the building on the reverse
Value: $0.25 (MS-60) up to $1.00 (MS-65)

Looks like the Mint will be processing subscription Proof orders in about four weeks... now if they would only hurry up and take care of the uncircluated sets... especially sinces it's starting to look like 2009 coins from circulation are going to be very few and very far between.