The US Mint issues millions of gold and silver bullion coins every year, which are sold through authorized dealers around the country.
A key metric of current gold supply/demand dynamics can be found regularly by examining recent sales data at the U.S. Mint website. Gross sales figures can provide some insight as to how robust or flat demand may be, and investors can also monitor premium levels as well to determine investor appetite.
American Gold Eagles
The American Gold Eagle is one of the most recognized and popular gold bullion coins in the entire world. Although this coin is available in multiple sizes, the one ounce coin still remains the most popular among investors.
The US Mint sold 21,000 one ounce gold eagle coins for the month of October. This figure represents a significant increase over data from the previous month of September, for which 14,500 coins were sold. The rise in sales could be attributed to several factors including a spike in stock market volatility, geopolitical risks and the November midterm elections.
The US Mint is getting ready for the New Year and has stopped production of the 1 oz. gold eagle. Supplies are limited at most major dealers and premiums have increased. The good news, however, is that you should be able to start pre-ordering the 2019’s very soon.
American Silver Eagles
The American Silver Eagle is the most popular silver bullion coin in the world. Like its counterpart the gold eagle, these coins are full of symbolism and are highly liquid. These coins are only available in the one ounce weight.
The US Mint sold 1,430,000 coins in October. This figure was about half of the 2,897,500 coins sold in the previous month of September. The significant dip in sales may be attributed to rising prices after the white metal found a bottom in September for under $14 per ounce. Further buying may be seen on fresh lows or if the metal sees a significant upside breakout.
With Halloween in the books and Thanksgiving just a couple weeks away, keep an eye out for the next release of this popular series. The new 2019 BU release is expected the first week of January, although no official date has been posted yet.
American Buffalo
Another highly symbolic coin, the American Gold Buffalo is also highly desirable for investors. It is the first gold coin struck by the mint in 24-karat gold and was first introduced in 2006. Both bullion and proof versions are available.
The mint sold 6,500 coins in October. This was almost half of the previous month’s sales in September which totaled 11,000 coins. There was a significant divergence between sales of buffalo coins and gold eagles from September to October, with eagles selling more than the previous month and buffalos selling less. This divergence could be due to numerous factors including collectability and overall premiums.
America the Beautiful 5 Ounce Silver Coins
The 5 ounce America the Beautiful Silver coin was first introduced by the U.S. Mint in 2010. This coin series was inspired by alterations made to the nation’s circulation quarters in the late 20th century. The coins feature various designs that celebrate each of the 50 states.
Thus far this year, the mint has sold a total of 142,500 coins of the 2018 releases. This figure can be broken down into:
- Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore - 30,000
- Apostle Islands National Lakeshore - 30,000
- Voyageurs national Park - 30,000
- Cumberland Island National Seashore - 52,500
Next week is the release of the new Block Island National Wildlife Refuge 2018 Uncirculated Five Ounce Silver Coin. Pre-sales are underway at JM Bullion and other major retailers. This will be the last release of calendar year 2018 for the series, and 45th overall.