Coin Blog

With the price of gold at an all time high, many people are turning their attention to gold coins. The United States Mint just began offering their 24 karat gold bullion coins, the American Gold Buffalo. This series was introduced in 2006 in addition to the existing 22 karat American Gold Eagle.

The US Mint began sales of the 2010 Gold Buffalo bullion coins on April 29, 2010. Last year, the 2009-dated bullion coins went on sale October 15 and sold out by December 4. During this period, the US Mint sold 200,000 coins.

This year, bullion sales are off to a fast start with 90,000 of the one ounce coins sold through mid-May. If the US Mint can keep these coins available throughout the remainder of the year, the annual sales should break the record high of 323,000 set in 2006 for the inaugural year.

The US Mint will begin sales of the 2010 Proof Gold Buffalo on June 3, 2010. Once again this will be earlier than the start date for the 2009-dated proof coin, which was October 29. The US Mint sold about 50,000 of the collectible proof coins with sales ended on March 29, 2010.

Last month the first 2010 Roosevelt Dimes began showing up in circulation. This occurred a bit sooner than the first 2009 Roosevelt Dimes, which didn't show up until late May.

This denomination received more attention than usual last year because of the extremely small mintage. After years of mintages in the billions, the US Mint drastically scaled back production in 2009, as the need for newly minted coins for circulation dropped. The 2009-P Roosevelt Dime had a mintage of 96.5 million and the 2009-D Roosevelt Dime had a mintage of 49.5 million.

This year's Roosevelt Dime seems poised to have higher mintages and seemingly more widespread availability. Through the end of April, the US Mint has produced 73.5 million 2010-P Roosevelt Dimes and 40 million 2010-D Roosevelt Dimes.

So far the few people who have managed to get rolls of 2010 Roosevelt Dimes have been selling them for quite a premium, however, I think the high prices will be more short lived than last year's coins.

The United States Mint began sales of the 2010 Boy Scouts Silver Dollars on March 23, 2010. This represents the second of two commemorative coin programs for the year, the other was the 2010 American Veterans Disabled for Life Silver Dollars released on February 25, 2010.

The current program commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. Silver Dollars are available in proof or uncirculated versions, both produced at the Philadelphia Mint. The maximum authorized mintage is 350,000 coins across both versions.

The design for the Boy Scouts coin has been a point of contention for many. A Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and female Venturer are depicted saluting. The theme is intended to represent the evolution of the organization to encompass all of the youth of America, i.e. not just boys. This theme seems to have been preferred by the Boy Scouts organization over an alternate theme, which would have highlighted the continuity of the Boy Scouts from 1910 to today.

For the introductory sales period, the proof version of the coin is priced at $39.95 and the uncirculated version is priced at $33.95.

Last week on February 11, 2010, the US Mint began selling the 2010 Presidential Dollar Proof Set. This set represents the first availability of this year's Presidential Dollar coins including the Abraham Lincoln Dollar.

The sets contain four proof coins featuring Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan, and Abraham Lincoln. The reverse design of each coin features the Statue of Liberty. Each coin still features edge lettering with "E Pluribus Unum" and the date and mint mark. The motto "In God We Trust", which appeared on the edge from 2007 to 2008, is now on the obverse.

The sets are priced at $15.95 each. It's usually a much better deal to wait for the full 2010 Proof Set, which contains all of the proof issues for the year, but I decided to order the separate Presidential Dollar Set. I want to get a look at these early this year!

This year a new quarter series will begin featuring National Parks and other federally protected or managed National Sites. A quarter will be issued for a site in each state, territory, and the District of Columbia. As with the prior quarter series, the United States Mint plans a variety of collectible products for America the Beautiful Quarters.

The US Mint will offer numismatic bags and rolls containing the quarters. These are the same quarters that are struck for circulation, but they are specially packaged and sold at a premium. The US Mint is expected to offer 100-coin and 1000-coin bags from the Philadelphia or Denver Mint and a two roll set containing one roll from each facility.

The US Mint will issue separate America the Beautiful Quarters Proof Sets in regular clad and 90% proof versions. Although these coins are included in the complete annual sets, the Mint has produced separate sets containing only the quarters.

Missing from the current line up are First Day Covers for America the Beautiful Quarters. These products were offered for the prior State Quarters and DC & US Territories Quarters. No confirmation on whether the product has been discontinued or if they will be added to the schedule later.

Finally, a program of America the Beautiful Silver Bullion Coins will be produced. These won't be sold directly by the US Mint, but will be offered as bullion coins through bullion dealers. The coins will contain 5 ounces of silver and have designs which are an exact duplicate of the quarter.