Monthly Archives: December 2009

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.

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It took just over a week for it to happen. The US Mint has sold out of the 2009 American Eagle Platinum Proof Coins, exactly as had been predicted by many numismatic resources.

Released at Noon Eastern on Thursday, December 3, 2009, the Platinum Eagles were limited to a mintage of only 8,000. Over 7,200 of those sold in the first few days, even with a household order limit of 5 pieces in place. The US Mint sold just 4,769 of the one ounce proof coins during all of last year.

Collectors interested in obtaining an Eagle still have the opportunity to sign up for a waiting list, according to a statement on the order page at the US Mint's website:

Waiting List Notice: The number of orders we have taken meets the maximum limit for the 2009 American Eagle One Ounce Platinum Proof Coin. You may still place an order for this product, which will go on a waiting list. If a product becomes available due to an order cancellation, we will fulfill orders from the waiting list on a first-in, first-served basis. We cannot provide information about your position on the waiting list.

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The latest US Mint sales report shows stronger demand for proof and uncirculated sets, higher interest in all silver coins, and opening figures for three recently released products.

In a quick review of the new products:

• 7,207 of the allotted 8,000 American Platinum Eagle Proof Coins were purchased by collectors in four days. In contrast, the Mint sold 4,769 of the one ounce 2008-dated coins through all of last year. Given that the new eagles are the only platinum option available from the Mint this year -- no bullion versions, fractional sizes, etc. -- it seems likely they will sell out, and soon.

• Northern Mariana Islands quarters in bags and rolls were released on Nov. 30. While the 1000-coin bags are not as strong as the opening numbers for the prior US Virgin Islands quarter, the 100-coin bags and two-roll sets are selling slightly better. Now that collectors have learned that the new quarters have the lowest mintages of any in decades, it would seem logical for short term demand to remain strong.

• Margaret Taylor First Spouse Gold Coins went on sale Dec. 3. Opening numbers have the proofs at 1,791 and the uncirculated options at 1,048. They beat the inaugural sales of the September released Sarah Polk First Spouse Coins, which came in at 1,684 and 921.

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