2009 US Mint Bags and Rolls Sales Figures

Some of this year's most popular US Mint products have been bags and rolls of circulating coins. The popularity of the bags and rolls is being driven by a number of factors.

Primarily, circulating coins have much lower mintages for 2009 compared to prior years. In some cases final mintages are the lowest levels seen in more than 40 years. Circulating coins have become much more difficult to obtain. In the past, with a little bit of effort, uncirculated rolls of most denominations could be located at banks and exchanged for face value. This year finding coins for face value through the normal distribution channels have proven much more difficult.

These factors got the ball rolling, but the US Mint's offerings have taken on a life of their own. Secondary market prices for the US Mint issued bags and rolls of coins carry premiums far above those for generic unwrapped rolls. The US Mint's early 2009 bags and rolls sold out early and had short production runs, which caught many collectors off guard. Prices quickly increased for the sold out products. The profit potential has attracted many buyers to the newer releases.

In the past, I have not written any posts focused on the sales figures for bags and rolls, but with the increased interest in the products, I felt the numbers were worth a look. Listed below are the sales figures for the US Mint's 2009 bags and rolls offerings. The figures are the last reported mint statistics from Numismaster. Lines which appear in italics are no longer available at the US Mint. Figures for Guam Quarter bags and rolls are not yet available.

2009 Lincoln Cents
Birthplace Two Roll Set	96,000
Formative Years Two Roll Set	222,826
2009 Presidential Dollars
William Henry Harrison Roll - P	30,000
William Henry Harrison Roll - D	30,000
John Tyler Roll - P	25,561
John Tyler Roll - D	24,792
2009 DC & US Territories Quarters
District of Columbia 1000 Bag - P	653
District of Columbia 1000 Bag - D	704
District of Columbia 100 Bag - P	8,304
District of Columbia 100 Bag - D	10,394
District of Columbia Two Roll Set	31,021
Puerto Rico 1000 Bag - P	1,047
Puerto Rico 1000 Bag - D	953
Puerto Rico 100 Bag - P	20,000
Puerto Rico 100 Bag - D	17,295
Puerto Rico Two Roll Set	41,669

The earliest releases for the Birthplace Lincoln Cents, William Henry Harrison Dollars, and District of Columbia Quarters had slow sales and were only available for a brief time. After the sell outs, prices increased by many multiples on the secondary market.

Recently, the Birthplace Lincoln Cent Two Roll Sets have sold on eBay for around $65 to $75, compared to the offering price of $8.95. The William Henry Harrison Rolls have sold for over $100 for Denver rolls and over $200 for Philadelphia rolls compared to the offering price of $35.95. The District of Columbia two roll sets and 100-coin bags have sold for prices ranging from $60 to $100 compared to offering price of $32.95.

People have definitely noticed these prices and began ordering the newer releases in larger quantity. The John Tyler Presidential Dollar rolls went on sale less than 10 days ago and have sales already approaching the levels of the entire William Henry Harrison sales. The US Mint has also noticed the high demand for bags and rolls and are apparently increasing the number available. The Formative Years Lincoln Cent rolls have already recorded more than doubled the sales of the prior release and continue to be available.

If you are speculating on some of the current bags and rolls offerings take note of the increased orders and increased production runs, which may keep secondary market prices in check even after the eventual sell outs.