CoinNews

All indicators are that Thursday, October 15th, should be a very, very busy day on the US Mint's website as well as their telephone order line. At noon (Eastern Time) on that day, the Mint will be releasing the 2009 Lincoln Coin and Chronicles Set for sale to the public.

A few enterprising individuals are already offering the sets for pre-sale on eBay at huge premiums. A quick glance as of this writing shows several auctions in the $170 range, which is an increase of well over $100 from the $55.95 price tag the Mint will be getting.

Even more amazing is the fact that some auctions are over $300 with one listing asking $1000. (See Lincoln Coin & Chronicles Sets on eBay.)

As of yet, closed auctions for the Chronicles Set have stayed between $140-$169, but -- and this is pure guesswork at this point -- this could change as Thursday comes and goes and collectors are unable to place an order through the Mint.

Only 50,000 of these highly sought after collections will be available and a one-day sellout is not out of the question according to multiple coin enthusiasts. In fact, the Mint has already stated a one-per-household maximum order limit will be enforced.

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2009 $20 Ultra High Relief Gold Double Eagle sales exploded with a sizzling 28,183 purchased by the end of its Jan. 22 launch day. Action continued to be strong despite the initial $1,189.00 price, which is now considered a dreamy bargain for buyers in today's market. By the following Tuesday, Jan. 27, the number jumped to 41,664. How have they done since? A week-by-week analysis paints the picture.

After Jan., orders settled. As spring started, summer began and then July ended, there were only four times when UHR orders rose above 1,000 a week. In fact, average weekly sales were hitting 875 -- a far cry from the early days.

A higher price for the coin -- up $100 by now -- and the US Mint's mandated one order limit per household was stifling sales. The former was a result of surging gold prices. The latter was proven true on July 27 when the Mint increased household limits from one to ten. Following the change, sales shot up another 3,800 in less than a week. The numbers later moved with several peaks and valleys, but weekly gains easily topped 2,000 until the final days in Sept., or for nearly two months. (In between, the Mint increased order limits to 25 on Aug. 31 and lifted them entirely on Sept. 21.)

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The first round of sales figures for US Virgin Islands Quarters are now available, as are the numbers for the newly launched US Mint Uncirculated Coin Set. The quarters are doing fine, the sets are off to the races.

Last week's report showed that the Presidential $1 Coin Uncirculated Set had unexplained fiery sales. This week's numbers are colder. Several of the US Mint's proof sets, however, warmed up. These and other highlights follow:

• The first round of numbers are in for bags and rolls of US Virgin Islands Quarters. Sales are strong. Compared to the prior inaugural American Samoa quarter figures, the 100-coin bags and two-roll sets are moving faster. Both the P & D 1000-coin bags, however, are trailing.

• 2009 US Mint Sets have experienced exceptional collector demand during their first days on sale. Collectors purchased 297,842 between Thursday and Sunday. For more on this story, read 2009 US Mint Set Sales on Fire.

• Presidential $1 Coin Uncirculated Sets are back to normal. Last week's report showed an irregular super leap of 11,217. The latest increase is 1,181, which is inline with typical weekly demand.

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