Monthly Archives: December 2009
Coin News: 1933 Double Eagles, Proof Eagle Values, Presidential Dollar Error
Gold Falls 2.5% as Dollar Rallies
Legendary Liberty Nickel, Double Eagle Anchor Heritage FUN US Coin Auction
US Mint Sales Sluggish, Led by Gold Coins and Sets
Demand for almost every numismatic product fell according to the latest US Mint weekly sales report. In fact, just analyzing the raw numbers show a drop of over 70,000 total items from the prior week. Nearly every gold coin and all US mint proof and uncirculated sets retreated.
This is not completely surprising, however, as the previous week saw well above average demand for most coins. Also, demand for gold products has declined as the price of the precious metal has fallen. It is down nearly $70 from its peak of just a few weeks ago, and the Mint's prices were only adjusted this Wednesday for the decline. Accordingly, overall sales of the Mint's gold containing products (First Spouse Gold Coins, the American Buffalo Gold Coin, and Ultra High Relief $20 Double Eagle) should rise again in the near term.
A few highlights of the weekly sales report:
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The 2009 American Platinum Eagle Proof Coins sold out last week after having reached the maximum mintage of 8,000 units. The sell-out was not unexpected as the Eagle Proofs are the only platinum issues available from the Mint this year. No uncirculated or fractional platinums were struck since they were removed from the Mint's portfolio last year. Also, the Mint announced in October that no platinum bullions would be minted in 2009.
ANA Seeks Numismatic Theatre Presentations
Gold Climbs 1.2%, Silver and Platinum Advance
US Annual Inflation Rises 1.8%, Inflation Calculator Update
Gold, Silver, Metal Prices: Commentary – 12/16/2009
Sixth Annual PNG YN Scholarship Competition
2009 UHR Double Eagle Gold Sales End Dec. 31
Giving collectors just a few more weeks to make their final purchases, sales of the 2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle Gold Coins will continue until December 31, 2009, the US Mint announced on Tuesday.
These coins were originally offered on January 22 of this year and were white-hot in their first day, selling an amazing 28,173.
What makes that number even more astonishing is the fact that the Mint was enforcing a household order limit of 1 at the time. Also add in the fact that each coin cost $1,189 upon their introduction, a premium of over $300 above the melt value of the gold they contain, and you can see that interest among collectors for this coin has been high.
In less than a week following their release, another 13,491 coins had been sold bringing the total to 41,664. At this point and into the summer, sales started to level off, rarely reaching over 1,000 during any given week.