In a switch from recent months, bullion American Gold Eagles are off to the races in September while their counterpart Silver Eagles appear winded.
Both were slow out of the blocks, as the US Mint posted the first September figures only on the 9th. (The Labor Day holiday may have contributed to a delay.) But then Gold Eagles blasted off.
With just half of the month gone and 15 days still left on the books, an already 62,500 have been sold to the US Mint’s authorized dealers. In contrast, 86,000 were sold in the entire month of July. 82,000 in all of August. Of course in those months gold didn’t head up and leap over the $1,000 an ounce mark like it has this month. Read the rest of this entry »
The United States Mint sold 2.13 million Silver Eagles and 82,000 Gold Eagles during the month of August. Pretty impressive. Still, if these numbers seem lower than those from July or June, that’s because they are.
From that fact alone, it would be easy to conclude that gold and silver eagle coin demand is on the retreat. But that wouldn’t exactly be accurate.
An analysis of the historical record shows that August often tends to be a weaker month for bullion American Eagles. Any decline, should therefore be almost expected and certainly not a surprise.
What every investor or collector of the series should be studying is not just the 2009 monthly trends, but the historical performance of the coins during a given month. That offers a clearer and more complete performance picture. Read the rest of this entry »
Demand is lower for bullion coins? Poppycock. US Mint sales figures released Wednesday say otherwise.
Marking the third best month of a record setting pace year, demand in June for American Eagle Gold and Silver Bullion Coins jumped aggressively over May.
Silver eagle sales soared in June, rising 340,500 higher than May figures. 2,245,000 silver bullion eagles were sold. The total is now 13,824,500 for an annualized rate that is easily on track to smash last year’s 20,583,000 record. Read the rest of this entry »
The US Mint on Monday ended the allocation process which limited the number of gold and silver American Eagle bullion coins authorized dealers could order. Ironically, as of Monday also, week-over-week sales soared 8.1 percent for the silver eagles and 9.1 for the gold eagles.
Even with the latest surge, the Mint is apparently confident that enough silver and gold blanks are on hand that rationing is no longer needed — at least in the near term.
And with that, a buzz of excitement immediately begins with collectors now wondering whether the Mint has sufficient inventory to begin producing the previously suspended 2009 collector proof and uncirculated versions. Of that, no word has yet been given. Read the rest of this entry »
2009 American Eagle Silver Bullion Coin sales blazed passed the 12 million barrier this week and approached 1 million sold during the first eleven days in June, the latest US Mint sales figures reveal.
The Mint’s authorized dealers purchased 377,000 silver eagles during the first eight days in June (ending Monday). By Wednesday the tally more than doubled to 777,000 sold. The figure then jumped to 930,000 on Thursday, bringing the year-to-date total to a record setting pace of 12,509,500.
The current selling velocity will rocket June past the 1.9 million eagles sold in May — a month with high numbers but surprisingly ranking second from the bottom for silver bullion coin sales this year. That is how great 2009 has been for silver coins. Read the rest of this entry »
Sales of 2009 Silver Eagle Bullion Coins are blistering hot, with an incredible record-breaking pace of 9.67 million sold through April, according to the latest US Mint sales stats.
Total Silver Eagle Bullion Coin Sales, Jan-Apr (2000-2009)
More silver eagles have been sold in February, March and April than any corresponding month since the American Eagle series was launched in 1986. What happened in January 2009? It was a great month for the eagles as well, coming in second place behind the record sales in January 2008.
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Proof and uncirculated 2009 American Eagle Gold Coins are temporarily suspended, the United States Mint is now announcing in the latest statement from its online store.
The coins are struck for collectors and include the "W" mintmark, unlike the 2009 bullion versions intended for investors — although many coin collectors purchase them — and already available through the Mint’s authorized purchasers, coin dealers and precious metals sellers.
Unprecedented demand for gold coins
The announcement comes just days after the 2009 silver eagles suspension, and before any of the coins were ever placed on sale. Just like the silver eagle statement found on the US Mint’s store, "unprecedented demand" was given as the reason, which has forced the Mint to focus on its mandated requirement to provide bullion coins. Read the rest of this entry »
Before they even went on sale, proof and uncirculated 2009 American Eagle Silver Coins are temporarily suspended, according to a new United States Mint statement at its online store.
The highly popular silver dollars are minted specifically for collectors, bearing the "W" mintmark to denote their striking at the Mint’s West Point facility.
2009 coins are on hold for the same reasons sales of American Eagle Silver proof coins were canceled early in 2008 — "unprecedented demand" and the Mint’s need to focus on bullion versions of the coin, which bear the same design, but do not have the "W" mintmark. These bullion versions are intended for investors, although coin collectors buy them as well.
By law, the Mint is required to produce bullion versions in sufficient quantities to meet public demand. The collector proof and uncirculated versions, therefore, take a back seat when the Mint’s silver blank inventory is low or depleted. Read the rest of this entry »
Federal Mint Swissmint has launched a new Swiss commemorative gold coin entitled "International Year of Planet Earth 2008." The 11.29 gram coin is sold in proof quality only, limited in issuance to 6,000 and is priced at CHF 440.00 (~$423.00 US).
The 60th United Nations General Assembly in New York proclaimed this year to be the United Nations International Year of Planet Earth, with a goal "to show, in a unique and inspiring manner, how earth sciences can help future generations measure up to the challenge of creating a safer and more prosperous world." The new Swiss coin is dedicated to these actions.
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Federal Mint Swissmint has launched a new several year commemorative coin series celebrating historical mountain railways. The first commemorative out of the gate is the 20 Swiss franc silver coin, the "Vitznau-Rigi Railway," honoring Europe’s first mountain railway.
Artist Benno K. Zehnder designed the coin and portrays the cog railway on the Rigi in the form of a playing card. Separated by letters ascending to the right is a modern railway engine and under the "Vitznau-Rigi Railway" heading is a historical steam engine.
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