- (month unknown)
- Bowers and Merena auctions an 1886-O silver dollar, MS-67 NGC gem prooflike, for $231,000. [317.20]
- December 13
- US Mint Chief Engraver Elizabeth Jones resigns. [76.36]
1991
- January 15
- Aubrey and Adeline Bebee of Omaha, Nebraska, donate the Idler specimen Class III 1804 silver dollar to the ANA's Money Museum. The coin is valued at $1 million. [322.22] [401.516]
- March 5
- Representative Jim Kolbe introduces H.R. 1245 United States One Dollar Coin Act of 1991 in the House of Representatives, seeking a stop to the issue of $1 notes in favor of the dollar coin. [289.70]
- (month unknown)
- Superior Stamp and Coin sells at auction a 1795 Liberty Cap cent, Reeded Edge, one of six known, G-6: $115,000. [77.5]
- A 1873-CC Seated Liberty, No Arrows quarter dollar graded MS-65 by PCGS sells for US$286,000. [87.81]
- July 25
- US president George H.W. Bush nominates David J. Ryder as Mint director. [117.38]
- (month unknown)
- Superior Galleries conducts the auction of the Larry Sherherd collection, and other coins, in Rosemont, Illinois. Some highlights:
- 1900 Lafayette silver dollar, MS-67 PCGS: $115,500;
- 1798 Capped Bust gold $2.50, MS-65 PCGS: $297,000.
[329.16]
- December
- Pacific Rarities sells an 1838 $10 gold, Proof-65, one of three known, for $1,025,000. [186.48]
1992
-
- A new obverse hub is employed for the Lincoln cent. [475.17]
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- June 22
- Sotheby's auction of US and foreign coins includes a hoard of 2500 1927-D Peace dollars. [186.121]
- September
- Auctions by Bowers and Merena auctions a 1825/4 Capped Head, Evenly Spaced Date gold half eagle, for US$105,600. [94.85]
1993
- February 3
- Superior Galleries auctions the nine-coin King of Siam Proof set (including Class I 1804 dollar) for $1.815 million to Dwight Manley. [124.78] [199.9,24]
- (month unknown)
- Over 9000 stamp vending machines in US post offices are configured to dispense $1 coins instead of $1 bills in change. [291.22]
- October 12
- (to October 14) Stack's auctions part of the Reed Hawn Collection. The Mickley specimen of the 1804 Draped Bust Class I silver dollar coin sells for US$522,500 to David Queller. Dwight Manley buys at auction the Reed Hawn 1913 Liberty Head 5-cent coin (Proof 63) for $962,500. [22.4] [26.50] [99.60] [124.78] [146.22] [250.11] [257.18] [410.1185] [424.1825] [459.44]
- October
- Dave's Coin and Stamp Company of Kansas sells the Adams Class III specimen of the 1804 dollar for $485,000. [124.79]
- December
- At the first meeting of the Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory Committee, David Ganz proposes a 50-state commemorative coin program. [124.15]
1994
- June 26
- Philip N. Diehl begins term as US Mint Director. [80.92]
- November
- In its first annual report to Congress, the Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory Committee endorses issuance of a circulating commemorative coin. [124.15]
1995
- January
- Superior Stamp & Coin sells at public auction an 1856-O Coronet double eagle Proof for US$203,500. [113.5]
- July 12
- The House Banking Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy hears from Harvey Stack (New York coin dealer), David Ganz (ANA President), and Alan Stahl (American Numismatic Society curator) on abuses in the commemorative coin programs. Stack suggests the US Mint strike a series of circulating commemorative coins honoring the first 13 states, followed by coins for the remaining states, similar to the Canada 125 program of 25-cent coins for each province. [3.76]
1996
- February 8
- US Secret Service seizes the Farouk-Fenton specimen of the 1933 gold double eagle from British coin dealer Stephen Fenton and and American dealer Jay Parrino in a sting operation in New York City. [52.83] [87.72] [122.18] [135.163] [327.48]
- February
- $1 coins in government inventory: 229.5 million. [291.22]
- May 21
- Auctions by Bowers and Merena sells the Louis Eliasberg 1913 Liberty Head nickel (Proof 66, finest known) for US$1.485 million, a record for a single coin at auction. Also notable is the Eliasberg 1796 Liberty Cap, No Pole half cent, MS-65, sold for $506,000, a record for a US half cent. [97.64] [104.36] [124.78] [250.11,50] [434.4]
- May 27
- (or May 28) Superior Stamp & Coin sells at public auction a unique 1943-D Lincoln bronze cent graded MS-64 brown by NGC for $82,500. [150.34]
- July 11
- Representative Michael Castle of Delaware introduces H.R. 3793 in the House of Representatives, calling for a series of circulating commemorative quarter dollar coins covering the 50 states. [3.78] [124.18] [416.37]
- September 4
- The House of Representatives votes to pass H.R. 3793 seeking a 50-state circulating commemorative coin program. [124.18]
- September 30
- Congress passes the Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act of 1997; the Bureau of the Mint is renamed the United States Mint. [124.193]
- October 20
- President Bill Clinton signs into law legislation authorizing production of circulating commemorative coins to honor each of the 50 states. [416.37]
- December 16
- Sotheby's sells at auction Sam Bloomfield's USA 1907 Saint-Gaudens $20 gold coin, Ultra High Relief, Roman Numerals, Proof, for US$825,000. [124.79] [189.30]
1997
- January 8
- Bowers and Merena Rarities, in Orlando, Florida auction a 1907 Saint-Gaudens, Ultra-High Relief, Roman Numerals gold double eagle, PR-67 PCGS, for $660,000. [124.79]
- March 20
- Representative James Kolbe of Arizona introduces a bill in the House of Representatives to replace the $1 Federal Reserve note with a gold-colored $1 coin. [238.45] [291.22]
- April 8
- Auctions by Bowers and Merena conducts the coin auction of the Louis E. Eliasberg Senior Collection.
- The Stickney pedigree 1804 Draped Bust silver dollar sells for US$1.815 million, a world record for a single coin at auction.
- An 1876-CC 20-cent coin, graded MS-65, sells for $148,500.
- An 1885 Trade dollar, Proof, finest of 5 known, sells for $907,500 to Jay Parrino.
[10.24] [97.64] [124.79] [237.25] [250.11] [302.44] [443.599]
- July 24
- Representative Michael Castle introduces legislation in the House of Representatives to require the obverse of a new dollar coin depict the Statue of Liberty. [291.22]
- September 5
- Representative Michael Castle of Delaware introduces H.R. 2414 in the House of Representatives, seeking a 50-State circulating quarter dollar program. [124.18] [416.37] (September 24 [264.42])
- September 23
- The House of Representatives passes H.R. 2414, voting 413-6 to approve a 50-State circulating quarter dollar program. [124.18] [260.50]
- September 26
- Senator John Chafee introduces S. 1228 in the US Senate, seeking a 50-State circulating quarter dollar program. [124.18]
- October 8
- Representative Michael Castle introduces legislation in the House of Representatives to require the obverse of a new dollar coin use the theme of the Statue of Liberty. [291.22]
- October 21
- Senator Rod Grams of Minnesota introduces S. 1300 in the US Senate, to provide for the minting and circulation of a new dollar coin. [291.22]
- (to October 23) In Baltimore, Maryland, David Akers Numismatics conducts an auction of the John Jay Pittman Collection, Part One, Selected Numismatic Rarities. A 10-coin 1843 Proof set of US coins sells for US$412,500. [112.24] [252.60]
- November 9
- The US Senate unanimously passes S. 1228, approving a 50-State circulating quarter dollar program, a circulating dollar coin, and non-circulating First Flight Centennial commemorative coins. [124.18] [261.20] [291.24]
- November 13
- The House of Representatives passes a bill approving a 50-coin 50-State circulating quarter dollar program, a new circulating dollar coin, and non-circulating First Flight Centennial commemorative coins ($10 gold, $1 silver, half-dollar copper-nickel. [124.18] [261.20] [291.24]
- November 30
- Inventory of Susan Anthony dollar coins in Mint vaults and in Federal Reserve banks: 122.05 million. [262.46]
- (month unknown)
- $1 coins in government inventory: 133 million. [291.22]
- December 1
- President Bill Clinton signs the bill approving a 50-State circulating quarter dollar program, a circulating dollar coin, and non-circulating First Flight Centennial commemorative coins into law as Public Law 105-124. [22.141] [80.92] [124.18] [291.24] [333.104] [416.37]
1998
- May 29
- US President Bill Clinton signs Public Law 105-176 authorizing the US Mint to move certain emblems from the reverse to the obverse of coins, to leave more room for State quarter dollar designs. [37.52]
- (month unknown)
- Heritage Rare Coin Galleries sells the Ed Trompeter US gold coin collection for $15 million in a private transaction, a record for a private transaction of coins. [124.79] [334.1]
- July 2
- The US Mint announces it has awarded a contract to Grey Advertising to support State quarter dollar coin marketing. [39.56]
- July 24
- Representative Michael Castle introduces legislation to mandate the Statue of Liberty design be used for the small dollar coin. [291.78]
- July 29
- Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin approves design concept of Sacagawea for dollar coin. [119.32]
- November 23
- The US Mint requests public comments on suggested designs for obverse and reverse of dollar coin to replace Susan Anthony design. [147.34] [332.46]
- (month unknown)
- David Lawrence Rare Coins of Virginia Beach sells an 1894-S dime for $825,000 in a private transaction. [447.135]
- December 7
- At the Philadelphia Mint, a first-strike ceremony is held for the striking of the Delaware quarter dollar, and the official launch of the 50 State quarter program. [80.14,92] [124.22]
1999
- January 4
- The US Mint launches the 50-state 25-cent coin series by releasing the Delaware coin to circulation. About 750 million coins have been produced. [17.11] [449.540]
- January 19
- The US Mint launches the 1999 Georgia State quarter dollar. [69.70]
- March 8
- The US Mint releases the 1999 Pennsylvania quarter dollar to circulation. [291.36]
- May 4
- The White House holds a ceremony launching the Sacagawea dollar program. [25.60] [198.58]
- June 16
- Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles auctions a 1907 Saint-Gaudens, Ultra-High Relief, Roman Numerals gold double eagle, PR-67 PCGS, for $1.21 million to Tangible Asset Galleries, the first $1 million coin at auction. [124.79]
- (month unknown)
- Jay Parrino sells a US 1885 Trade dollar, Proof, finest of 5 known, for $1.5 million to Legend Numismatics. [124.79]
- Superior Galleries auctions a 1825/4 Capped Head, Evenly Spaced Date gold half eagle, AU-50, for US$241,500. [94.84]
- August 3
- The US Mint copyrights the Sacagawea dollar design. [376.44]
- August 29
- (to August 30) In New York City, New York, Auctions by Bowers and Merena conducts the sale of The Walter H. Childs Collection. The Sultan of Muscat Class I specimen of the US 1804 $1 coin graded PR-68 sells for US$4,140,000, a world record price for a coin. [10.24] [26.14] [123.52] [124.79]
- October 7
- The 1999 Connecticut quarter dollar is introduced. [80.92]
- October 12
- The US Mint releases the 1999 Connecticut quarter dollar to circulation. [57.91]
- October
- The US Mint ships 5500 "high detail" feather variety of 2000-P Sacagawea dollars to General Mills for inclusion in Cheerios cereal boxes in January 2000. [291.120]
- November 18
- A first strike ceremony is held at the Philadelphia Mint for the Sacagawea dollar coin, and production begins for circulation. [70.64] [130.24] [291.119]
- December 27
- California coin dealer Sarkis Lukes sells a 1943 copper Lincoln cent graded MS-61 red and brown by PCGS for US$112,000. [54.92]
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