Dates for lower relief obverse and reverse American coins?

[fonestar]

In sorting I've noticed that the American coins from the 1960's, 70's and part of the 80's seem to have much more depth to them than the later, modern strikes. Just wondering if there was a year that they decided to change this? Or did they just change the minting process to increase efficiency by expending less time and energy?

The older, higher relief coins are much better looking IMHO.

[MUTiger]

Looking at pennies, I notice this most on the year 1968 issues.

mutiger

[Thogey]

Do you notice how weak the 69's are?

[fonestar]

The obverse of the 1968 Lincoln Cent has such great relief it almost looks like it is a medallion!

Conversely, all of the US coins produced in the late 80's, 90's, 00's and teens look like they had given up even trying to make decent strikes. It actually looks as if they did some re-tooling, or redesign of the coins so that less energy needed to be exerted on the strike. I am just wondering if anyone has any official information about this?

It is interesting to observe not only the degradation of metals used, but the quality in general of US and Canadian circulating coinage over the years and decades.