May 26th, 2011
Towards the end of last year, the US Mint sent shock waves through the coin collecting community when they announced that the long delayed America the Beautiful silver Bullion Coins would have mintages of only 33,000 per design. This would be supplemented by 27,000 numismatic versions for each design to be released at a later time. These have now begun to be released by the US Mint with the latest Yellowstone issue on sale from May 17.
Meanwhile, the US Mint has started distributing the 2011-dated ATB Silver Bullion Coins. These have significantly higher mintages than the 2010-dated issues.
The issues featuring Gettysburg National Military Park and Glacier National park were released early this year, with an initial quantity of 126,700 coins per design available. This week, the US Mint began sales of the Olympic National Park coin, also with an initial mintage of 126,700.
At almost four times the mintages of the prior year issue, this would seem to secure the place of the 2010 America the Beautiful Silver Eagles as potential keys. The US Mint seems to be making an effort to produce future issues in bullion quantities to avoid the issues experienced in 2010. Precious metals investors seem to be willing to purchase all the silver they can get, especially with the American Silver Eagle one ounce coins still subject to rationing.
May 25th, 2011
The United States Mint released the 2011-W Uncirculated Gold Eagle on May 5, 2011. This represented the return of this collector version of the coin after an absence of two years. Only a one ounce version was available, priced at $1,778.00 to start, but variable week to week.
The coins are struck on burnished blanks, but carry a finish similar to the bullion version of the coin. The "W" mint mark also appear on the obverse, in contrast to the bullion coins which carry no mint mark. Finally, the coins are sold directly by the US Mint at a higher premium, while the bullion versions are distributed through authorized purchasers at prices more closely following the intrinsic value of the coins.
This will be an interesting issue to watch. After two years of absence, it may have fallen off the radar for many collectors. Also, the previously released proof versions have always experienced greater popularity. As higher precious metals prices stretch collector budgets, they may have to choose only one version of the coin to collect.
It seems possible that this might be the lowest mintage Gold Eagle in the history of the series. Recent sales figure show 1,825 coins sold to date. The lowest mintage for an issue of the Gold Eagles series is the 2008-W $10 Uncirculated Gold Eagle at 8,883.
March 21st, 2011
Much like the separate set for the 2011 Presidential Dollars, the US Mint offers a separate set containing just the quarters issued for the year. The 2011 America the Beautiful Quarters feature Gettysburg National Park, Olympic National Park, Glacier National Park, Vicksburg National Park, and Chickasaw National Recreation Area.
The separate quarters set is priced at $14.95. It might be useful if someone was only interesting in collecting the proof quarters each year and had absolutely no interest in the other coins issued. However, for most people, I think the full 2011 Proof Set, containing 14 coins and priced at $31.95 presents a much better option.
The US Mint changed the packaging style for the 2011 America the Beautiful Quarters Proof Set. This comes in the second year of the program, making last year's set look decidedly different with a flag theme, compared to this year's primarily black colored theme.
In a few weeks, the US Mint will also be issuing a separate quarters set containing coins struck in a composition of 90% silver.
Both of these products, I will be passing on. If the US Mint wants to make sets with the same coins repackaged, they should provide something else as an enticement. Perhaps an illustrated folder with history and information on each of the parks?
March 19th, 2011
Early this week, the 2011-dated American Gold Buffalo coins made their first appearance. The coins went on sale through the US Mint's network of primary distributors, who will then resell the coins to the broader public.
The Gold Buffalo coins feature a classic design and are struck in 24 karat gold. This has proven to be a popular combination. The design is from James Earle Fraser's Buffalo Nickel, which was produced for circulation from 1913 to 1938. On the obverse is a portrait of a Native American chief, while on the reverse is an American Bison.
The 2011 Gold Buffalo features the same design as when the series was originally introduced in 2006. It's interesting to note that the authorizing legislation allows for design changes to either the obverse or reverse after the first year of issue. Thankfully, the US Mint has not exercised this option.
For collectors, the US Mint will release a proof version of the coin later this year. Based on the current price of gold, the collector coins would be priced at $1,710 each. The final price will be based on the average price of gold closer to the release date.
With gold recently reaching a fresh all time high, will the popularity of this series continue? Or will some start to get priced out of the market?
March 18th, 2011
The US Mint has provided the final mintage figure for the Andrew Johnson Presidential Dollar. It shows a decline from the temporary spike experienced for the release of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Dollar.
The Philadelphia Mint struck 35.56 million coins, while the Denver Mint struck 37.1 million. This makes for a combined total mintage of 72.66 million for the Andrew Johnson Presidential Dollar.
Since the launch of the Presidential Dollars program in 2007, there has been a general decline in mintage figures for each release. This has been interrupted by brief rises for some of the more popular Presidents like Andrew Jackson and Abraham Lincoln, but the general trend has been down.
Last year, there were more than 300 million of the $1 coins struck by the United States Mint.
