Demand waned sharply for American Gold Eagle bullion coins in June 2011. United States Mint sales of the investment grade coins dropped to 61,500 ounces. The level was the lowest since December 2010 and the weakest month of June since 2008.
While bullion coin sales generally dip during summer months, last month’s total represented a steeper-than-normal 42.5 percent decline from the 107,000 ounces of gold sold in May. And in a stark contrast, companion Silver Eagles scored their best ever June. Their sales were 3,402,000, which was down only 6.9 percent from the previous month.
Available options for the American Gold Eagle include one-ounce, half-ounce, quarter-ounce and tenth-ounce sizes. Buyers preferred the largest of the 22-karat Gold Eagles by a substantial margin. The quarter and tenth-ounce sizes in June actually outperformed their previous May sales. United States Mint gold bullion coin sales by size, month and over the last year follow:
June 2010 – June 2011 Gold Eagle Bullion Coin Sales
| Month | One ( oz. / # ) |
Half ( oz. / # ) |
Quarter ( oz. / # ) |
Tenth ( oz. / # ) |
Total ( oz. / # ) |
| June 2010 | 97,000 97,000 |
15,500 31,000 |
11,000 44,000 |
28,000 280,000 |
151,500 452,000 |
| July 2010 | 147,500 147,500 |
1,000 2,000 |
500 2,000 |
3,000 30,000 |
152,000 181,500 |
| August 2010 | 39,000 39,000 |
500 1,000 |
500 2,000 |
1,500 15,000 |
41,500 57,000 |
| September 2010 | 82,500 82,500 |
1,000 2,000 |
1,500 6,000 |
3,000 30,000 |
88,000 120,500 |
| October 2010 | 89,500 89,500 |
1,500 3,000 |
500 2,000 |
2,500 25,000 |
94,000 119,500 |
| November 2010 | 107,500 107,500 |
3,000 6,000 |
1,000 4,000 |
500 5,000 |
112,000 122,500 |
| December 2010 | 58,500 58,500 |
500 1,000 |
500 2,000 |
500 5,000 |
60,000 66,500 |
| January 2011 | 130,500 130,500 |
500 1,000 |
500 2,000 |
2,000 20,000 |
133,500 153,500 |
| February 2011 | 72,500 72,500 |
6,000 12,000 |
4,000 16,000 |
10,000 100,000 |
92,500 200,500 |
| March 2011 | 60,500 60,500 |
4,000 8,000 |
5,000 20,000 |
4,000 40,000 |
73,500 128,500 |
| April 2011 | 94,500 94,500 |
6,000 12,000 |
3,500 14,000 |
4,000 40,000 |
108,000 160,500 |
| May 2011 | 93,500 93,500 |
11,000 22,000 |
1,000 4,000 |
1,500 15,000 |
107,000 134,500 |
| June 2011 | 56,500 56,500 |
0 0 |
2,000 8,000 |
3,500 35,000 |
61,500 99,000 |
Year-to-date Gold Eagle sales now stand at 576,000 ounces. The six-month total is down 14.4 percent from the same stretch of time a year ago.
Finally, although sales fell significantly last month and from the same period in 2010 and 2009, June 2011 does compare well over the last twenty-five June’s with a rank of sixth best.
Top 6 June Months for Gold Eagle Sales
| YEAR | RANK | SALES TOTAL |
| 1999 | 1 | 216,000 |
| 2010 | 2 | 151,500 |
| 1998 | 3 | 148,500 |
| 2009 | 4 | 116,000 |
| 1987 | 5 | 75,000 |
| 2011 | 6 | 61,500 |
The United States Mint also reported 5,500 ounces of American Gold Buffalo bullion coins sold last month, bringing its total gold bullion sales count to an even 67,000 troy ounces. The one-ounce Buffalo is composed of 24-karat, or .9999 fine gold.
The American Gold Eagle was introduced in October 1986 in both bullion and collector versions. The bullion coins are different than the collector proof or uncirculated counterparts. Each is struck in .9167 fine gold and feature the same designs. The collector coins feature a West Point "W" mint mark while the bullion coins do not.
This site’s American Eagle coins page offers an overview on Eagles offered by the United States Mint.
