30 Years Since the First Coins of the Bicentennial Series were Struck

                This month marks 30 years since the first of the bicentennial (1776-1976 dated) coins meant for the public were struck.  The designers of the three special reverses ceremonially operated the presses to create some prototypes of each denomination in August 1974, but the first coins of the series made for the public were a group of dollars struck in February 1975. The first collectors coins were struck at San Francisco in April 1975 and the circulation coins were issued starting that July.

                The Mint got permission to mint and release the 1976 coins in 1975 because they were afraid they would not be able to create enough of those coins to meet demand and enough 1975 coins keep them from being entirely hoarded by collectors. In the end enough of the bicentennial coins were struck that they remain inexpensive to this day, despite their exciting and unique designs.