Monthly Archives: September 2009

Bullion American Eagle Gold and Silver Coins ended September in shining fashion, but recent demand has mostly weakened for collector proof and uncirculated coins. That is, except for uncirculated 2009 Presidential Dollar Sets. Their sales inexplicably blasted off like a rocket.

These and more highlights follow:

• Bullion American Gold Eagles marked the end of the month by registering the 3rd best September since 1986 with 115,500. The month was also the 4th best of this year -- just missing the 3rd slot by a mere 501. At year's end, 2009 annual eagles sales should rank 4th or 5th best of all time. One million is within very close reach. 954,000 is the current count.

• 2009 bullion American Silver Eagles have already assured their place in history. It is the second best September ever for the coins, but more impressively, annual sales are locking in to a record all time high. 20,467,500 silver eagles have already been sold this year. 2008-dated eagles earned the top spot last year with 20,583,000. Say goodbye to that, and soon.

• For no apparent rhyme or reason, Presidential $1 Coin Uncirculated Sets exploded. The tally soared 11,217 to 85,478. At $15.95 a pop, the Mint pulled in a cool $179,000. Last week's report showed a sleeping increase of just 1,278. As mentioned before, the US Mint Fall catalog arrived on collector's doorsteps to help boost sales, but other coins/sets didn't have similar astronomical, above and beyond increases. This one is a bit of a mystery.

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The Royal Australian Mint is now offering the 2009 $1 Inspirational Australian Steve Irwin Uncirculated Coin. This coin is the second in a series of Inspirational Australians that last year featured Mary MacKillip, who was beatified by Pope John Paul I in 1995.

Steve Irwin was a well-known celebrity who met an untimely fate in 2006. Host of the popular Crocodile Hunter series, Irwin was enthusiastically supportive of Australia's wildlife.

His parents started the Australia Zoo and Irwin grew up around exotic creatures. He is attributed with wresting with his first crocodile at the age of nine. Not content with merely putting on a show, Irwin was adamant about educating the public about wildlife as well.

His Crocodile Hunter show won him international attention and he was quick to capitalize on it to foster more interest in his home country and what it had to offer.

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The United States Mint introduced the Lincoln Coin and Chronicles Set to its online store on Monday, in preparation for its launch on Oct. 15, 2009, at noon ET.

The much anticipated set includes proof versions of the four 2009 Lincoln Cents and a proof Lincoln Silver Dollar -- the same commemorative dollar that sold out earlier this year under the pressure of enormous collector demand.

The Lincoln Coin and Chronicles Set is priced at $55.95, with just 50,000 available to buy. The price is a current steal considering single silver dollars are going for more on the secondary market. (See proof Lincolns Silver Dollars on eBay.)

The 50,000 limit is mandated given the act authorizing the silver dollars permitted a total of 500,000 across both proof and uncirculated options. Collectors already scooped up 325,000 of the proof and 125,000 of the uncirculated Lincoln dollars earlier in the year, forcing the US Mint to halt sales and list the individual coins as "sold out" just six weeks after their launch.

With such anticipation for this offering, the Mint has set an order limit of 1 per household. Even with that in place, many expect the set could sellout on the first day of issuance, leaving many collectors empty-handed.

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The United States Mint began selling U.S. Virgin Islands quarter bags and rolls on Monday, Sept. 28, at noon ET. On the same day, the quarter-dollars officially entered circulation.

The US Mint's two-roll set offering includes 40 commemorative coins with the "P" mint mark for Philadelphia and a roll of 40 coins with the "D" mint mark for Denver. The set price is $32.95.

Each is wrapped in specially designed paper coin wrap," the Mint states. "The packaging is marked with a "P" or "D" representing the mint of origin, "$10" representing its dollar value and "VI," the United States Postal Code for the United States Virgin Islands."

Also available are 100-coin and 1,000-coin bags from each US Mint facility for $32.95 and $309.95, respectively.

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