Sales of Australian bullion gold and silver advanced last month but were mixed compared to a year ago, new figures from the Perth Mint of Australia show. The increases came even as London bullion fixings marked May losses of 2.9% for gold and 1.5% for silver.
May sales of the Perth’s Australian gold coins and gold bars tallied to 36,127 ounces, which is up 54% from April but down 59.2% from May 2013. Sales of the Perth’s Australian silver coins and silver bars jumped to 630,349 ounces, surging 74.1% from the previous month and gaining 5.7% from a year ago. Conversely, demand in April for Perth Mint gold and silver bullion products dropped sharply from the previous month and from April 2013.
Perth Mint Gold and Silver Bullion Sales by Month
Below is a monthly breakdown of Perth Mint bullion sales from May 2013 to May 2014.
| Perth Mint Bullion Sales (in troy ounces) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Silver | Gold | |
| May 2014 | 630,349 | 36,127 |
| April 2014 | 361,988 | 23,461 |
| March 2014 | 545,165 | 30,177 |
| February 2014 | 392,088 | 47,003 |
| January 2014 | 912,388 | 64,818 |
| December 2013 | 845,941 | 58,944 |
| November 2013 | 807,246 | 52,700 |
| October 2013 | 821,580 | 77,255 |
| September 2013 | 961,977 | 68,488 |
| August 2013 | 691,259 | 30,430 |
| July 2013 | 697,247 | 56,488 |
| June 2013 | 593,535 | 47,692 |
| May 2013 | 596,458 | 88,638 |
2014 Australian Saltwater Crocodile Silver Bullion Coins
In related news and supporting silver sales, the Perth Mint in early May released its one ounce, 99.9% fine 2014 Australian Saltwater Crocodile Silver Bullion Coin. Late last week the Mint said it received committed orders for all 1 million of them and that, as a result, they were "no longer available for sale to wholesale or retails customers."
U.S. Mint Bullion Sales in May
In other world mint bullion coin news, the United States Mint reported mixed May results with stronger sales of its silver coins but weaker sales of its gold coins.
U.S. Mint sales of bullion American Gold Eagles reached 35,500 ounces in May, down 7.8% from April and off 49.3% from a year ago. The bureau also sold 12,500 ounces in American Buffalo gold coins, which was the same amount as a year ago but 28.6% slower than the previous month.
Finally, U.S. Mint sales of bullion American Silver Eagles totaled 3,988,500 in May, which is 11.8% more than April and 15.3% higher than last year May. The bureau also sold 23,100 in 2014 America the Beautiful Five Ounce Silver Bullion Coins compared to 10,600 in the previous month.
