The United States Mint has closed out the month of January, publishing strong sales figures for its precious metals bullion coins.

American Eagle Silver Bullion Coin demand hit a record pace. Interest in American Eagle Gold Bullion Coins was elevated, reaching the top ten in all-time January sales. The numbers are more than interesting considering several factors, including New York gold prices falling 1.1 percent in January and silver prices plunging 3.9 percent.

Silver Eagle sales tallied up to an amazing 3,592,500, making it the best January ever for the one ounce silver coins. In comparison, only two months in the history of the program have ever seen numbers topping the 3 million mark. The most recent was March of last year with 3,132,000. The all-time leading month is December 1986 at 3,696,000 — the first full month in which the coins were available under the new American Eagle Bullion program. Read the rest of this entry »

2009 Fractional American Gold Eagle bullion coins are in the history books with leading sales figures, despite their late launch and quick sell out.

Having only been released on Dec. 3, 2009, the coins in the fractional sizes of one-half ounce, one-quarter ounce, and one-tenth ounce weights recorded smashing release day sales — 345,000 were sold for a total of 58,000 ounces of gold.

On the very next day, the United States Mint announced that the supply of the smallest size was depleted, and that the other two sizes were nearly exhausted. It offered the remaining bullion coins in an allocated process, and then suspended sales until the final 2009 inventory was produced from available in house blank supplies.

The Mint started reselling these on Monday, Dec. 14. In just over a week, the mintages of the 1/2 oz and the 1/4 oz weights nearly doubled. All the fractional coins completely sold out. The final sales figures follow: Read the rest of this entry »

2010 American Eagle Gold and Silver One Ounce Bullion Coins will go on sale beginning January 19, 2010, the United States Mint told its authorized purchasers on Tuesday.

In what can be described as roller-coaster of availability due to enormous demand for 2009 bullion Eagles, this news comes as an affirmation of at least an attempt by the US Mint to keep supplies available. The Mint, however, also states that the allocation process will be in place upon their introduction.

This is not surprising to most as the Gold and Silver Eagles have seen temporary suspensions this year and were under allocation through most of the first half of 2009. The most recent suspensions happened only last month, and the return of the one-ounce bullions was not seen until recently. Read the rest of this entry »

A week after announcing the inventory depletion and temporary suspensions of 2009 American Gold Eagle bullion coins, the United States Mint today provided follow-up information on the return of the one ounce and fractional sizes, as well as an update for how long they will available.

Fractional Gold Eagles in 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz and 1/10 oz sizes will be released on Monday.

"The additional limited quantity of 2009 American Eagle Gold Half-Ounce, Quarter-Ounce and Tenth-Ounce Bullion Coins will be offered via the United States Mint standard allocation process on Monday, December 14, 2009," said U.S. Mint Director of Public Affairs Tom Jurkowsky.

Jurkowsky said that "no additional inventory will be produced" after the supply of these coins are depleted. Read the rest of this entry »

The US Mint ran out of one ounce 2009 American Gold Eagle coins last week which caused their temporary suspension, and now the fractional sizes that were just launched are either gone or being allocated following record one-day sales.

The demand for American Eagle coins is straining inventory, forcing the US Mint to send out another notice to its customers:

Due to strong demand, the "American Eagle Gold Tenth-Ounce Coin inventory was depleted. The inventory for the half-ounce and quarter-ounce coins remains very limited," the US Mint stated today in a memorandum to authorized purchasers. "We will offer the remaining half-ounce and quarter-ounce coins for sale via the United States Mint standard allocation process."

The US Mint released the Eagle Gold Bullion Coins in one-half ounce, one-quarter ounce, and one-tenth ounce weights on Thursday. On that single day, 345,000 coins were sold for a total of 58,000 ounces of gold. The following two tables list the latest 2008 and 2009 sales figures as provided by the US Mint: Read the rest of this entry »

Fractional 2009 American Eagle Gold Bullion Coins were released today and initial reports by the US Mint show they are on fire, with sales already approaching totals from all of 2008.

Spurring demand are bullish gold prices. The yellow metal was driven to another record of $1,227.50 an ounce in New York on Thursday, marking a third straight day of all-time highs. Gold has now closed at a fresh high for the 20th trading day since Nov., and is up 38 percent this year.

Last week’s US Mint suspension of the one-ounce size due to "strong demand" and a "depleted" inventory also helped the fractionals.

As announced in early Oct., the US Mint released the Eagle Gold Bullion Coins in one-half ounce, one-quarter ounce, and one-tenth ounce weights. Together, the Mint sold 345,000 coins to its authorized purchasers for a total of 58,000 ounces of gold. That, without a single one-ounce size leaving Mint doors.

[Editor's update: On Friday, Dec. 4, the US Mint announced the depletion of fractional Gold Eagle inventory and that it would begin allocating the coins.]

The following two tables list the latest 2008 and 2009 sales figures as provided by the US Mint: Read the rest of this entry »

The US Mint has once again suspended sales of American Gold Eagle Coins due to enourmous demand, according to a memo released Nov. 25 to authorized dealers.

"The United States Mint has depleted its current inventory of 2009 American Eagle 1-ounce gold bullion coins due to the continued strong demand for this product," said the Mint in a memorandum. "We will temporarily suspend sales of this product to build up additional inventory."

This is not the first time the Mint has had to temporarily suspend sales of their bullion coins. In August 2008, Gold Eagle Bullion sales were halted only to be resumed a week later, but under an allocation program that lasted well into 2009.

The Mint appears confident in its ability to start offering the coins again this year, stating an early December return. Read the rest of this entry »

Gold prices are ablaze. The yellow metal in New York on Monday hit a new all-time record of $1,174 an ounce, rising for a straight seven days.

During that same time frame, demand for 2009 American Gold Eagle bullion coins shot up as well. The latest United States Mint sales figures show another 46,000 of the one-ounce gold coins were sold to Mint authorized purchasers from Monday, Nov. 16, to Monday, Nov. 23.

That overshadows the prior seven day sales of the 31,500 reported on the 17th, the 29,000 cited on the 10th, and the 39,000 reported on the 3rd. November has been a bullish month. 106,500 have left US Mint inventories, bringing the year-to-date total to 1,176,000. By comparison, 860,500 ounces of Gold Eagle bullion coins were sold in all of 2008. Read the rest of this entry »

October was explosive for US bullion coins. Unprecedented demand for gold and silver coins elevated the month with US Mint recorded sales levels that are either at or near the top of the all-time high charts.

Bullion American Gold Buffalo and American Silver Eagle coins enjoyed their best October ever.

For the Silver Eagles, more than double the amount were sold last month at 2,939,000, than in any previous October. The month also stands out as the time when 2009 became the best selling year ever for eagles — dating all the way back to their launch in 1986. The latest numbers pad the tally further with 23,406,500 delivered in the first 10 months of this year. Read the rest of this entry »

No proof one ounce gold or silver American Eagle coins will be struck this year by the US Mint, Bob Van Ryzin relays during his "What’s In the News" segment on this week’s Coin Chat Radio.

He also informs us of several other American Eagle products that will not be available. But the Mint is planning on producing gold Buffalo coins as well as the proof one ounce American Eagle platinum coins this year.

The recent record high on gold prices is the next topic of conversation when Numismatic News Editor Dave Harper talks with Pat Heller from Liberty Coin Service. Heller’s explanation of the spike includes two reasons that can best be described as rumors at this point: Read the rest of this entry »