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Traders and investors can stay up-to-date on current market supply/demand metrics by looking at recent bullion sales data. The U.S. Mint is one of the largest and most highly respected mints anywhere in the world, and it regularly publishes sales data on its products. Investors can examine this data to get an idea about current demand and to look for best-selling products. Investors can also take a look at premium levels in order to gauge supply/demand dynamics.

American Gold Eagles

The American Gold Eagle is one of the most widely recognized and sought-after gold coins in the marketplace today. This iconic coin is highly symbolic of the U.S. and its ideals and is a favorite among bullion investors. The gold eagle is available in several weights, although the 1 oz size is the most popular.  These attractive gold coins are available in both bullion as well as proof forms and can make an excellent addition to any coin collection or metals portfolio.

According to data from the U.S. Mint, it sold a total of 44,500 1 oz coins in January. Total gold coin sales were 164,500 coins sold for a total of 65,500 ounces. The 1 oz sales were a significant increase over the previous month of December in which the mint sold just 3,000 coins.

The steep rise in January versus December could be due to several factors. As the year came to a close, the mint stopped production on 2018's and investors shifted their focus to the 2019 versions. As 2019 gets underway, investors are once again moving capital around and adjusting their portfolios to changing market dynamics. The gold market has seen some ongoing positive momentum in recent weeks, and that could be luring in buying interest from those who don’t want to miss out on a rally higher.

American Silver Eagles

The American Silver Eagle continues to be the most popular silver bullion coin in the world. These coins are extremely liquid due to constant demand and are available in the 1 oz weight only. Like their counterpart the gold eagle, they are available in both bullion and proof versions.

According to recent sales data from the U.S. Mint, sales of silver eagles totaled 4,017,500 coins in January. This figure is almost 9.5x the total sales of December, which came in at just 490,000 total ounces. The steep difference from December to January is in large-part due to waning interest in 2018 issues as the year ends. By December, many coin investors had already begun looking to buy the latest 2019 issue. Like gold, sales of silver bullion also likely got a major boost in January from some major shifts in Fed policy as well as portfolio repositioning. The silver market is also seeing some upside momentum build, and investors may look to buy at current levels before prices potentially rise further.

American Buffalo

The iconic American Buffalo Gold coin is also available in both bullion and proof versions. This coin was the first gold coin struck by the U.S. Mint in 24-karat gold and made its debut in 2006. Its beauty and metal content make it an excellent addition to any coin collection or metals portfolio.

According to recent data from the U.S. Mint, sales of this 1 oz gold coin totaled 23,500 total coins in January for a total of 23,500 ounces. This figure presents a major increase over the previous month of December’s total of just 1,500 coins sold for a total of 1,500 ounces. As with the Gold and Silver Eagle coins, sales of the American Buffalo dropped off at the end of the year as many investors and collectors awaited the release of 2019 coins. Once available, these coins were in high demand to start the New Year.

America the Beautiful 5 Ounce Silver Coins

This silver coin series was first introduced by the U.S. Mint in 2010. These silver coins pay tribute to each of the nation’s 50 states and feature a wide variety of designs. The designs were inspired by changes made to the country’s circulation coinage in the late 20th century.

The mint has not yet published sales figures for January 2019. It stands to reason, however, that sales may have increased as market dynamics became more favorable for investors.

According to sales figures from the U.S. Mint, the mint sold a total of 142,500 total coins for calendar year 2018. The sales figures were broken down as follows:

• Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore - 30,000
• Apostle Islands National Lakeshore - 30,000
• Voyageurs National Park - 30,000
• Cumberland Island National Seashore - 52,500

• Block Island National Wildlife Refuge - 80,000

2019 ATB Releases

Now available for presale is the Lowell National Historical Park Silver Coin. This stunning coin is the latest in a line of fine design and craftsmanship. Each year, the U.S. Mint introduces five new designs and this coin is the first issue of the 2019 America the Beautiful series.

The Lowell, while the first, won’t be the last. The mint is also set to release other new coins in the series. The rest of the 2019 release includes:

April 1st, 2019: American Memorial Park in in Northern Mariana Islands

June 6, 2019: War in the Pacific National Historical Park in Guam

August 26, 2019: San Antonio Missions National Historical Park in Texas

November 4, 2019: Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness in Idaho

These coins represent the 46th-50th coins of the series. They make an excellent addition to any metals portfolio or coin collection. 

Now May Be the Time to Get Yours

Interest in both gold and silver has seen a tremendous rise in recent weeks. This rise in price may be attributed to several factors, although three issues may carry the most weight for investors:

1. The Fed is singing a very different tune: The Federal Reserve stuck to its guns regarding interest rate hikes for some time. After hiking rates in December 2018, however, the Fed has walked back its plans for additional increases. The central bank had another three rate hikes planned for 2019, then changed that figure to two. The Fed now may not hike rates at all and has even alluded to cutting rates if necessary. The Fed’s balance sheet is also playing a major role. After allowing some $50 per-month to roll-off its massive balance sheet, the Fed has now decided to maintain current levels of security holdings. This, along with no further rate hikes, could potentially weaken the dollar and keep a major bid in the metals markets.
2. The global slowdown: The global economic slowdown may be gathering steam. Recent data from China suggests that the world’s second-largest economy continues to slow, and some U.S. data suggests that the economy is hitting some serious bumps as well. It is unclear whether the U.S. will see a recession in 2019, although the risks of recession appear to be on the rise. The fear of recession may keep investors looking for alternative asset classes to diversify with.
3. Lower stocks and rising market volatility: Stocks saw some major declines in recent months. Markets have thus far recovered a good portion of those declines but may lack the enthusiasm needed to reach fresh all-time highs. Volatility has also spiked in recent months and some investors may now be questioning the underlying strength of the aging bull market. If stocks do roll over again, investors could potentially seek out alternatives and exit stocks in droves. Such a scenario could keep interest in gold and silver elevated, and prices could rise substantially from current levels.