A dynamic shift in pricing for US gold and platinum collector coins is underway, according to a United States Mint notice published Tuesday by the Federal Register, which is the official daily source for rules, proposed rules, and notices of government agencies and organization.

Instead of static pricing, coin prices will be primarily determined and actively adjusted according to the London Fix weekly average. The Mint said this was to "mitigate the effect that fluctuating gold and platinum commodity costs" has on coins. The London Fix is used as a price benchmark for immediate silver, gold and platinum delivery.

The new policy is scheduled to take affect on Monday, January 12. Properly executed, it should help restore confidence to the Mint pricing process. In late 2007 and throughout 2008, volatile swings in silver, gold and platinum prices caused havoc as the Mint was often slow to adjust coin prices. The Mint’s new policy is much more like an open book. It contains tables of coin prices based on ranges of bullion prices, to include the upcoming 2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle Gold Coin.

The Mint notice follows: Read the rest of this entry »

Sales of the US Mint American Eagle 10th Anniversary Platinum Coin Set ended this week. Included in the set were two one-half ounce .9995 platinum coins. One was a standard proof and the other was a special enhances reverse proof, which was a first.

The sets had a limited mintage of 30,000. The latest Mint sales figures show 19,257 sold, indicating, like other Mint products, that they were likely pulled as part of the Mint’s move into 2009.

The 10th anniversary set had a storied line. The 2007-dated platinum coins launched on December 13, 2007 with a price tag of $1,949.95. London fix platinum at the time was around $1,420 an ounce, which meant the Mint was realizing a $171 premium over spot for the normal proof, and nearly $360 for the enhanced reverse. That caused some collectors pause. Read the rest of this entry »

One US Mint gold coin sold out this week compared to the eight gold and platinum collector options that disappeared from Mint store shelves and were reported in last week’s figures.

As the end of the year approaches, collectors have far fewer choices. The sales tables below are starting to settle down with many coins showing very little or absolutely no change.

American Eagle gold uncirculated coins, however, look to be getting solid attention. The one ounce and one-forth ounce sales numbers jumping 14.4 percent and 17.8 percent, respectively. On the proof side, the just sold out one ounce option increased 3.6 percent.

Standing out on the negative side is the 1/2 ounce American Buffalo gold uncirculated coin, which sold out two weekends ago. Whether returns came into play or some accounting correction occurred, the unit total went down by 285.

Here are the latest US Mint sales figures for the major American Eagle and American Buffalo collector products: Read the rest of this entry »

Eight US Mint Gold and Platinum Coin Options have Sold Out in the Last Week

Collector gold and platinum coin sales have been ablaze with eight sold out options since last week’s U.S. Mint sales figures were released.

The final two one-ounce and one-half ounce uncirculated gold Buffalo coins departed over the weekend, and the last one-half ounce proof Buffalo went Monday afternoon with a surging 58.5 percent increase in sales over the previous week.

In addition, the proof American Eagle platinum one ounce, one-half ounce and one-quarter ounce options sold out Tuesday morning, the one-tenth ounce on Wednesday, and the four-coin set just this morning.

Not too surprisingly, while the one-ounce 2008-W American Eagle Platinum uncirculated coin sold out on December 3, the final sales had not been registered in last week’s Mint figures. This week shows another 429 coins have been sold. Expect similar increases for some of the eight bullions coins no longer available.

In short, all the 2008-W American Buffalo Gold and 2008-W American Eagle Platinum coins are now gone. Here are the latest Mint sales figures for the major American Eagle and American Buffalo collector products: Read the rest of this entry »

The American Eagle Platinum Proof Four-Coin Set is the last remaining 2008-dated platinum collector product available from the U.S. Mint.

The single proof one-tenth ounce coin sold out Wednesday, with all previous options — in both proof and uncirculated — already depleted. The last reported mint sales figures for the single coin was 2,694.

The four-coin proof set includes one ounce, one-half ounce, one-quarter ounce, and one-tenth ounce coins struck in platinum for the price of $2,179.95. The Mint’s website has a delayed shipping notice of December 25 for the set, likely indicating its inventory level is already very low. Read the rest of this entry »

The pace at which gold and platinum collector coins have disappeared from U.S. Mint store shelves is blistering. The final two uncirculated gold Buffalo coins sold out over the weekend, the last proof Buffalo went Monday afternoon, and the proof American Eagle platinum one ounce, one-half ounce and one-quarter ounce options sold out this morning.

Further, the Eagle platinum proof one-tenth ounce and four-coin set may be joining the "sold out" ranks since their shipping dates have been delayed. In past weeks, that has been a strong indicator of a quickly depleting inventory. It appears the proof and uncirculated American Eagle gold coins will soon be the sole remaining collector options available.

With all these latest sell outs, it is worth remembering the collector gold and platinum coins the U.S. Mint announced it will no longer produce in 2009: Read the rest of this entry »

Three collector bullion coins have sold out since last week’s U.S. Mint sales figures were released.

And like last week, the biggest mover was the one-ounce 2008-W American Eagle Platinum uncirculated coin. It was the final available coin in the series, which helped drive demand until it sold out Wednesday. Sales of the collector coin increased 55.3 percent following its previous 46.5 percent rise.

Other sellouts include the American Buffalo gold proof quarter-ounce size (also on Wednesday) and the American Buffalo gold uncirculated 4-coin set on Monday. Sales of each had climbed 17.1 percent and 13.5 percent, respectively.

The final coin remaining in the Buffalo gold proof series in the one-half ounce size, which is showing very strong demand with an increase over last week of 24.8 percent.

Here are the latest Mint sales figures for the major American Eagle and American Buffalo collector products: Read the rest of this entry »

The U.S. Mint 2008-W American Buffalo Gold Proof one-quarter ounce coin sold out on Wednesday.

The bullion coin joins a moving fleet of other sellouts, including the final American Eagle Platinum Uncirculated coins earlier Wednesday, and the sold out Gold Uncirculated American Buffalo 4-Coin Set on Monday.

None of the above coins will be minted in 2009. The Mint said nearly a month ago that it would trim its portfolio to better focus on core products, and these coins were on the "last chance" list. Read the rest of this entry »

All 2008-W American Eagle Platinum Uncirculated coins have been sold, according to the United States Mint online store.

The one ounce version was the final size remaining after the 1/2, 1/4, 1/10 and 4-coin set sold out earlier — the 1/2 ounce platinum just last week. The one ounce moved to the "product is not available" category Wednesday morning.

Collectors have watched the series closely since the Mint reduced its coin prices on November 13 and also announced the elimination of several hundred coins from its 2009 numismatic portfolio, including all options of the American Eagle Platinum Uncirculated Coins.

The latest Mint bullion sales figures for the platinum uncirculated series follow:

Read the rest of this entry »

2008-W American Eagle Platinum uncirculated coins were again the big U.S. Mint movers.

Since last week’s figures, one-ounce sales surged 46.5 percent to 980 coins. They are now the last standing coin in the series after sales of the one-half ounce size spiked to 18.5 percent and sold out on Monday.

Double-digit percent rises were also seen across the one-half and one-quarter ounce 2008-W American Buffalo Gold proof coins.

Interestingly, several coins show declines. The Mint readjusted prices lower two weeks ago, likely resulting in at least some returns from customers who previously paid higher prices and decided on a refund. Mint accounting adjustments could be another factor.

Here are the latest Mint sales figures for the major American Eagle and American Buffalo collector products: Read the rest of this entry »