Perhaps the biggest coin news of the year unfolded last week when the United States Mint announced it had canceled several collector and bullion 2009 eagles, but that it will release 2009 American Buffalo Gold Bullion Coins on Oct. 15, and fractional 2009 American Eagle Gold Bullion Coins on Dec. 3. The fractional gold sizes include one-half ounce, one-quarter ounce, and one-tenth ounce weights.
On the cancellation side of the picture, there will not be any 2009 American Eagle Platinum Bullion Coins, although the one-ounce collector proof version will be minted and is set for release on Oct. 29.
The Mint provided little details as to their reasons, with the exception of the canceled collector coins. It stated:
Because of unprecedented demand for American Eagle Gold and Silver Bullion Coins, the United States Mint suspended production of 2009 proof and uncirculated versions of these coins.
All available 22-karat gold and silver bullion blanks are being allocated to the American Eagle Gold and American Eagle Silver Bullion Coin Programs, as mandated by Public Law 99-185 and Public Law 99-61, respectively.
Both laws direct the agency to produce these coins in quantities sufficient to meet public demand. The proof and uncirculated versions of the American Eagle Gold and Silver Proof Coins are not mandated by law.
The lack of expected coins and the production of others that have been silent for nearly all of 2009 will obviously affect forthcoming sales greatly.
As for the most recent sales figures in the currently available one-ounce bullion American Eagle Gold and American Eagle Silver coins, both declined in demand as compared to the prior seven day tally and despite record gold and silver prices. Silver Eagles increased by 357,000. They rose by 350,000 in last week’s report. They notably topped 21 million for the year. The Gold Eagles experienced the biggest drop in sales, with an increase of 13,000 versus the prior 26,500 gain.
Here are tables containing the most recent US Mint sales figures of bullion coins:
American Eagle Bullion Coin Sales Totals
|
Oct 5
|
Oct 12
|
Unit Difference
|
% Difference
|
|
| Silver Eagle Sales |
20,724,500
|
21,074,500
|
350,000
|
1.7%
|
| Gold Eagle Sales |
971,500
|
984,500
|
13,000
|
1.3%
|
Bullion Eagle Coin Sales by Month
| Silver Eagles | Gold Eagles | |
| January | 1,900,000 | 92,000 |
| February | 2,125,000 | 113,500 |
| March | 3,132,000 | 136,500 |
| April | 2,518,000 | 147,500 |
| May | 1,904,000 | 65,000 |
| June | 2,245,000 | 116,000 |
| July | 2,810,000 | 86,000 |
| August | 2,130,000 | 82,000 |
| September | 1,703,000 | 115,500 |
| October | 607,000 | 30,500 |
| Total* | 21,074,500 | 984,500 |
*Figures as of Oct. 12. The US Mint sells bullion coins, which are the non collector versions, only to its authorized purchasers who then sell to dealers and/or directly to the public. With that, some give and take and delay should be placed into the equation for judging "today’s demand" for these coins when having only Mint numbers at hand.
For the prior report, read 2009 Silver Eagles Reach 20,724,500 in Sales. For links to the latest sales figures for US Mint collector coins, follow Collector Coin Sales.
For additional news on the cancellations, read Gold & Silver Eagles Canceled, Gold Buffalo & Platinum Eagles Scheduled and 2009 Proof & Uncirculated Silver Eagle Coins Canceled.