The Vault Blog

In mid-April of this year, the United States Mint announced a new quarter program for 2022 featuring American women. The program, introduced as the American Women Quarters Program, will begin its four-year venture starting in January of 2022 and is aimed at honoring highly regarded women from American history while honoring their achievements and contributions on the reverse side of the quarter dollars. Along with the program’s initial announcement came the unveiling of the first two women to be honored: writer Maya Angelou and astronaut Dr. Sally Ride.

The Mint has now released the names of the three remaining women to be honored in the first year. The first is Wilma Mankiller, the first female Principal Chief of the...read more

It feels as if, more so this year than any, that the United States Mint has more eyes on it than ever. Of course there are a number of new releases coming out that are more than noteworthy, especially when you consider the changes to the American Eagle Silver and Gold Program. However, maybe not such a great mention in this all eyes narrative is the fact that they are somehow undecided even when they have decided release dates and times. Let us just say that all current products on the schedule are subject to change at ANY moment. Why is this worth noting? They have just recently changed more product release dates, either delaying them even more or just simply noting them “TBD.” One of those has been the 2021 American Eagle Gold Proof Four-Coin Set in addition to their....read more

Let us just get into it: The First Government-Issue American Paper Currency. Estimated Number Known: 1. You will have to excuse the forwardness this time around when referring to the next entry in the 100 Greatest American Currency Notes blog series, but those first words speak for themselves. While not deemed #1 in the list compiled by authors Q. David Bowers and David M. Sundman, it’s top five impact certainly speaks for itself. As we continue to tackle some of the biggest notes as mentioned in the Whitman Publishing publication, we specifically want to delve deeper into this entry and the significance it has in the literal world of firsts.

#3 - “Come Over & Help Us” Massachusetts...read more

This time of year lends itself to those who like to play a game that encourages focus, drive, and patience. That game? Golf, of course. Whether outside or on a simulator, the game has been loved and appreciated for years. While the sun is out and the temperatures rise, golf players flock to the course and remain there until the weather permits (for those of us who live in seasonal areas). This month of July, we have decided to celebrate the game by making it the silver of the month. Details continue below if you are not sure what that means.

Do you like free shipping? Of course, you do. Do you like the opportunity to get silver without having to buy more than what you want? Who doesn’t? Welcome to our unofficial official silver of the month club where you do not have to sign up or enter any more...read more

The United States Mint is gearing up for the brand new release of the 2021 One-Ounce Silver Proof American Eagle featuring the new reverse design and the updated obverse! Originally slated for July 1st, they have recently delayed the date to July 20th. Struck at the West Point Mint, the coins will also feature an enhanced security detail on the reeded edge to reinforce new anti-counterfeiting measures.

Celebrating the program’s 35th Anniversary since its beginnings starting in 1986, the coin will feature a brand new reverse design. An image of an eagle as it approaches landing while carrying an oak branch is depicted with the inscriptions “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” “1 OZ. FINE SILVER,” and “ONE DOLLAR” around the...read more

We will go ahead and say it: 2021 has been a rollercoaster in numismatics. While 2020 proved to be unmatched in dramatics, this year has been chalked full of big releases and even bigger events surrounding the United States Mint and how they have operated those releases. While we cannot do much about the latter, we can keep you as up-to-date as they allow us to be via their production schedule. And while you think the best has already been done, this next half of the year is coming for the title.

Perhaps the biggest release of the year, aside from the bullion edition that does not grace the production schedule, is the 2021 Proof American Eagle One-Ounce Silver Coin with the Type 2 Reverse, or Eagle Landing Reverse. Originally slated for July 1st, the Mint...read more

While the ten-cent piece, or most commonly known as the dime, is a staple in today’s circulating United States coinage, it was actually one of the last coins to be produced when official minting operations began way back in 1792. However, once the minting of the denomination began, it held its own among many that are no longer with us.

The dime was not produced in an official capacity until a few years after The Coinage Act of 1792 was passed, but it was always part of the proposed decimal system argued by the likes of Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, and eventual first Director of the United States Mint, David Rittenhouse. In the provision, a silver dollar and a coin one-tenth of would be included. This...read more

While we have been on this journey through Whitman Publishing’s fourth edition of the 100 Greatest United States Coins for some time now, it would be safe to assume that we have covered some gold coins. In fact, if you remember, we covered the U.S. Assay Office $50 Gold Slugs entry towards the beginning of the series. While those coins are not on our agenda this time, a different kind of gold slug is.

With help from author Jeff Garrett, we will take a look at an even higher ranked set of slugs that come in not one, but two different shapes. As the coins were created to commemorate the opening of a very famous canal, they took on a life of their own...read more

Today the ninth coin in the American Innovation $1 Coin Program will be released from the United States Mint: New Hampshire. The multi-year series that started with an introductory coin in 2018 and has released four coins a year is aimed at honoring innovation and innovators by issuing coins for each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the five U.S. territories. The 2021 designs will honor the states of New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, and North Carolina. The New Hampshire $1 coin will be released in 25-coin rolls and 100-coin bags from both Philadelphia and Denver beginning at 12pm EST.

Designed by Christina Hess and sculpted by Engraver Eric David Custer...read more