The E-Sylum:  Volume 8, Number 4, January 23, 2005, Article 27

TIPPING POINT FOR COIN DISAPPEARANCE?

Speaking of filling coin folders, I received a rude awakening
while helping my sons sort through piles of Jefferson nickels.
With clad coins appearing in 1964 and the Lincoln Memorial
Cent reverse in 1959, earlier versions of those coins
disappeared from circulation. But with the exception of the
war years, the Jefferson design had been unchanged until
last year, and I was expecting to be able to find a number of
earlier dates in circulation, perhaps even as early as 1938,
the first year of the series. These were readily available in
circulation the last time I paid much attention, but now that
was at least ten years ago. Maybe I'm just showing my
age, but I was surprised that after searching hundreds of
coins, we had yet to find a single one before 1960.
Yesterday afternoon was the first time we put a nickel
into the first folder - a 1941.

Did I miss the memo that said everyone should begin
hoarding pre-1960 nickels? More likely, the production
of newer coins gradually overwhelmed the lower mintages
of the earlier coins. But at what point do older coins
become so unusual that the general public starts actively
putting them aside? When they are about 25% of the
mix? 10%? My theory is that there must be some sort
of tipping point where hoarding starts. Thoughts, anyone?

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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