US Mint Sales: Bullion Robust, Collector Coins Retreat

US Mint collector coins moved like molasses when compared to sales figures of two weeks ago. But bullion coins — especially gold — still had a little swagger in their step. October will be a robust month for American Eagles and American Buffalos.

These and other highlights follow:

• UHR Double Eagles took a significant hit, rising sadly by only 562. Since they went on sale Jan. 22, there has been one single instance when weekly sales were lower. The reason? Gold has been on a five day losing streak, which started last Thursday. It makes sense for collectors to be cautious in buying with expectations of a $50 price decline. We missed that reduction by just 28.8 cents.

• In the Lincoln category, the Chronicles sets were taken off standby status last week with the max 50,000 officially allocated. Lincoln Cent Proof Sets climbed by 4,900, which was less than half of the prior 10,921 increase.

• 2009 US Mint and US Mint Proof Sets were the biggest unit gainers, rising 21,826 and 22,613 respectively. The proof sets were actually up a tad bit. Not so for the mint sets which previously climbed by 74,474. The 500,000 milestone is still nearly 11K away.

• Three of the ten US Mint sold First Spouse Gold Coins did improve over the prior week. But numbers were not impressive as a group. 213 coins in total were sold versus the prior 514. Again, collectors may have been speculating some and waiting for a price drop.

• Coming back to bullion coins, Silver Eagles have already marked their best October ever, despite sales slowing slightly over the past seven days. As for American Buffalo Gold coins, in less than two weeks 110,500 have been purchased. That is already 64.2 percent of the total (172,000) that was sold in all of 2008.

Major US Mint coin sales follow:

American Bullion Coin Sales: October
	Oct. 7	Oct. 14	Oct. 21	Oct. 28
Silver Eagle Coins	282,000	892,000	1,625,000	2,240,000
Gold Buffalo Coins	0	0	86,000	110,500
Gold Eagle Coins	26,000	50,000	75,500	104,500
22,707,500 Silver Eagles, 1,058,500 Gold Eagles, and 110,500 Buffalo Eagles were sold in 2009, as of Oct. 28

US Mint Collector Coin Sales

(Data compare previous to current Mint sales reports)

UHR Double Eagle $20 Gold Coin
		Old Sales	New Sales	Unit Change	% Increase	Notes
1 ounce		100,704	101,266	562	0.6%
US Mint coin information page: 2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle Gold Coin Current eBay auctions: 2009 UHR $20 Gold Coins
2009 US Mint Proof Set
		Old Sales	New Sales	Unit Change	% Increase	Notes
		1,185,841	1,207,667	21,826	1.8%
US Mint coin information page: United States Mint 2009 Proof Set® CoinNews article: 2009 US Mint Proof Set
US Mint 2009 Silver Proof Set
		Old Sales	New Sales	Unit Change	% Increase	Notes
		532,365	541,347	8,982	1.7%
US Mint coin information page: United States Mint 2009 Silver Proof Set® CoinNews article: 2009 US Mint Silver Proof Set
2009 US Mint Uncirculated Set
		Old Sales	New Sales	Unit Change	% Increase	Notes
		466,481	489,094	22,613	4.8%
US Mint coin information page: United States Mint Uncirculated Coin Set® CoinNews article: 2009 US Mint Set
2009 Presidential Dollar Proof Set
		Old Sales	New Sales	Unit Change	% Increase	Notes
		579,083	581,444	2,361	0.4%
US Mint coin information page: US Mint Presidential $1 Coin Proof Set CoinNews article: 2009 Presidential Dollar Coin Proof Set
2009 Presidential Dollar Uncirculated Set (P&D)
		Old Sales	New Sales	Unit Change	% Increase	Notes
		88,773	89,670	897	1.0%
US Mint coin information page: Presidential $1 Coin Uncirculated Set CoinNews article: 2009 Uncirculated Presidential Dollar Coin Set
Louis Braille Silver Dollar
		Old Sales	New Sales	Unit Change	% Increase	Notes
Proof		125,344	126,173	829	0.7%
Uncirculated		45,937	46,163	226	0.5%
Braille Easy-Open Capsule		20,951	21,063	112	0.5%
Braille Education Set		5,996	7,000	1,004	16.7%
US Mint coin information page: Commemorative Coins
Lincoln Silver Dollar Sales*
		Old Sales	New Sales	Unit Change	% Increase	Notes
Proof		325,000	325,000	0	0.0%
Uncirculated		125,000	125,000	0	0.0%
Chronicles Set			50,000	-	-
US Mint coin information page: Commemorative Coins Current eBay auctions: Uncirculated Proof
2009 Lincoln Cents
		Old Sales	New Sales	Unit Change	% Increase	Notes
Birthplace Rolls *		96,000	96,000	0	0.0%
Formative Years Rolls*		300,000	300,000	0	0.0%
Professional Life		238,484	240,590	2,106	0.9%
2009 Lincoln Proof Set		156,734	161,634	4,900	3.1%
US Mint coin information page: Lincoln Cent Two-Roll Sets Information site: 2009 Lincoln Cents Current eBay auctions: 2009 Lincoln Birthplace Cents Current eBay auctions: 2009 Lincoln Formative Years Cents
US Virgin Islands Quarter Sales
		Old Sales	New Sales	Unit Change	% Increase	Total
100-Coin Bag (P)		5,699	6,071	372	6.5%	11,981
100-Coin Bag (D)		5,562	5,910	348	6.3%
1000-Coin Bag (P)		1,122	1,148	26	2.3%	2,277
1000-Coin Bag (D)		1,110	1,129	19	1.7%
Two-Roll Set		25,602	27,096	1,494	5.8%	27,096
US Mint coin information page: D.C. & US Territories Collectibles CoinNews article: US Virgin Islands Quarter Bags & Rolls
American Samoa Quarter Sales*
		Old Sales	New Sales	Unit Change	% Increase	Total
100-Coin Bag (P)		7,325	7,325	0	0.0%	14,510
100-Coin Bag (D)		7,185	7,185	0	0.0%
1000-Coin Bag (P)		1,499	1,499	0	0.0%	2,933
1000-Coin Bag (D)		1,434	1,434	0	0.0%
Two-Roll Set		33,865	33,865	0	0.0%	33,865
US Mint coin information page: D.C. & US Territories Collectibles CoinNews article: American Samoa Quarters in Bags and Rolls
Guam Quarters*
		Old Sales	New Sales	Unit Change	% Increase	Total
100-Coin Bag (P)		13,012	13,012	0	0.0%	25,349
100-Coin Bag (D)		12,337	12,337	0	0.0%
1000-Coin Bag (P)		1,487	1,487	0	0.0%	2,821
1000-Coin Bag (D)		1,334	1,334	0	0.0%
Two-Roll Set		38,231	38,231	0	0.0%	38,231
US Mint coin information page: D.C. & US Territories Collectibles CoinNews article: Guam Quarters in US Mint Bags and Rolls
Puerto Rico Quarters*
		Old Sales	New Sales	Unit Change	% Increase	Total
100-Coin Bag (P)		20,000	20,000	0	0.0%	37,295
100-Coin Bag (D)		17,295	17,295	0	0.0%
1000-Coin Bag (P)		1,047	1,047	0	0.0%	2,000
1000-Coin Bag (D)		953	953	0	0.0%
Two-Roll Set		41,669	41,669	0	0.0%	41,669
US Mint coin information page: D.C. & US Territories Collectibles Current eBay auctions: US Mint Puerto Rico quarter rolls Current eBay auctions: US Mint Puerto Rico quarter bags

*Sold out/no longer available.

Notable summaries of sales articles this week from CoinNews and sister sites follow:

• First Spouse Coin Sales Slip - FirstSpouseCoins.us
  Sales retreated again for the beautiful 24-karat First Spouse Gold Coins. In fact, the total unit increase for the seven day period was less than half of what it was in the prior report. Sarah Polk Proofs still led the First Spouse series by adding 79, but both Anna Harrison Proofs and Letitia Tyler Proofs lost …

• US Mint Silver Coins Cool, Bullion Eagles Near 23M - SilverCoinsToday.com
  US Mint sales numbers are often mixed when it comes to silver related collector products — demand for coins in one hand rise while those in the other decline, metaphorically speaking. October has been different. Silver coins have trended up or down as a group without the mixing …

• 2009 Lincoln Coin Sales Movement - 2009LincolnPennies.com
  Sales were modest for 2009 Lincoln products this time around. To clarify, there were no big spikes, like last week. The 2009 US Mint Proof Set climbed another 21,826 compared to last week’s 21,189. The redesigned pennies in the set were believed to make this year’s set more popular than previous years. Right now, over …

• Bullion Gold Buffalos Top 110K - CoinNews
  The United States Mint has sold 110,500 one-ounce American Buffalo $50 Gold Bullion Coins since they were released on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009. To place that in perspective, in less than two weeks bullion dealers have purchased 64.2 percent of the total (172,000) that was sold in all of 2008 …

The non bullion coin sales figures above have an "as of date" of Oct. 25. The previous reported sales figures are located here. For an always updated reference of the latest articles, visit US Mint Sales Figures.

2009 American Buffalo Gold Proof Coin Launches with Little Issues

Today at noon ET the United States Mint began selling the 2009 American Buffalo Gold Proof Coin for $1,360.00, as it announced on Oct. 22.

The one-ounce .9999 fine (24 karat) gold coin is expected to draw significant attention. The US Mint handled early demand in improved fashion compared to the collector blitz and resulting problems that brought its web site down just a few weeks ago with the release of another product, the Lincoln Coin and Chronicles Set.

While there were initial reports of several minute online order delays, that appeared to be the extent of any issue. Phone lines were busy. Some collectors indicated that it took dozens of minutes to get through to a Mint customer service representative, but again, it was unlike their experience of weeks back where there were reports of over an hour of delay and repeated "call back" messages. The Mint added an extra menu option that routed customers to a different queue and standby waiting list, which may have helped.

The Mint’s handling of the Buffalo Gold proof orders on opening day indicates they made improvements, but demand may also have been less intense. The $1,360.00 price point certainly held some customers at bay — especially when considering that gold prices have been dropping for several days and the coins missed out on a $50 price cut by a mere 28.8 cents. (See 28.8 Cents Prevents US Mint Gold Coin Price Reductions.) Many may try and wait for such a cut next week, despite the possibility that the coins could sell out — the Mint has not indicated how many are available, and there are no order limits in place.

Last year the Mint struck fractional sizes of the Buffalo gold coin. This year it will not as a result of a slashing of its numismatic portfolio — a decision the Mint made in Nov. 2008.

The bullion version of the 2009 American Buffalo Coin has current sales figures of 110,500. These versions, which the Mint offers only to authorized purchasers who resell them to the public, were released two weeks ago (Oct. 15). As a perspective in how strong demand has been, 172,000 were sold in the entire year of 2008. It looks as if the 2009s will outpace that number in a few short weeks.

Both the obverse and reverse of the Buffalo coin are the same basic design that first appeared on the 1913 circulating nickel, commonly known by most as either the "Indian Head Nickel" or the "Buffalo Nickel."

The obverse has a portrait of a Native American, said to be a composite of three Indian chiefs. Many have claimed to be one of those three models, but only two were ever verified by the artist James Earle Fraser; Cheyenne Chief Two Moons and Lakota Sioux Chief Iron Tail.

The reverse contains an image of an American buffalo, also known as a bison. It is believed by many to be modeled after the creature named "Black Diamond" who lived in the New York City Zoo.

Phone orders may be placed at the US Mint toll-free number 1-800- USA-MINT (872-6468). Additionally, online ordering is available at http://www.usmint.gov/, or directly here.

Austrian Mint Launches Crown of an Archduke Gold Coin

The title of archduke was invented by Rudolf IV in the spurious document of 1358/59 called the privilegium maius. It was an attempt to assert the status of the House of Habsburg as the equal of any Prince Elector of the Holy Roman Empire. There exists a mediaeval portrait of Rudolf wearing a crown similar to the Archduke’s Hat. Early versions of the crown have not survived, being either broken up or melted down.

In 1616, however, Archduke Maximilian III of Tyrol had the present Archduke’s Hat fashioned and he gave it to the Augustinian Abbey of Klosterneuburg just outside Vienna in honour of St. Leopold, whose tomb and shrine are still situated there to this day. The crown was not worn as such. There was no coronation. It was rather a symbol of authority and rank. It was brought into Vienna only for the ceremony of homage paid by the Estates of Lower Austria on the accession of a new Habsburg ruler. Even today the crown is not permitted to be outside the walls of the abbey for more than 30 days at a time.

The Archduke’s Hat is a diadem of eight golden peaks decorated with enamel, pearls and precious stones. Two pearl encrusted arches hold a sapphire mounted by a cross at their intersection. In the crown itself is a red velvet cap and the diadem is embedded in a circle of ermine, copying the hats worn by the Prince Electors. On the accession of a new ruler the crown was brought in procession into Vienna, conveyed in its own sedan chair. Along with other pieces of regalia such as orb and sceptre, it was presented to the new ruler and then carried in solemn procession from the palace to St. Stephen’s Cathedral for High Mass.

The new 100 Euro coin which was designed by Helmut Andexlinger, is struck exclusively in proof quality (reversed frosting) and in ducat gold (986 fine). The obverse depicts the crown itself resting on the cushion of state, upon which it was carried in procession in the palace and through the streets to the cathedral and back. The solemn procession is the theme of the reverse side of the coin. We see three high officials of the Lower Austrian Estates bearing the crown, orb and sceptre on cushions of state along the street known as the Graben (originally a defensive ditch outside the ancient Roman fortress). The periwigs and clothing of the officials point to the early 1700s. Soldiers line the processional route with a drummer beating a solemn rhythm. In the background rises the Baroque plague column erected in 1692, which can still be admired today on the Graben in Vienna.

The maximum mintage for this new issue is 30,000 pieces worldwide. Each coin comes in an attractive box accompanied by a numbered certificate of authenticity and a gold-plated lapel pin in the form of the archducal crown. A prestigious case for the whole collection of five coins may be acquired separately.

The series will continue in 2010 with the Hungarian Crown of St. Stephen, in 2011 with the Bohemian (Czech) Crown of St. Wenceslas and it will conclude in 2012 with the Imperial Crown of the Austrian Empire.

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Gold surges to an all-time high

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Gold prices surged to a record high Tuesday after the International Monetary Fund said it had sold 200 metric tons of the precious metal to India's central bank.

November gold rose $30.90 to settle at $1,084.90 an ounce, after climbing to a high of $1,085.20. The previous intraday record was set Oct. 13, when gold rose to $1,069.70 an ounce.

The IMF said Monday that it had sold 200 metric tons of gold to the Reserve Bank of India for $6.7 billion. The sale was part of an ongoing IMF plan aimed at selling over 400 metric tons of gold.

The move eased some concerns that such a big influx of supply could weigh on prices. It also raised speculation that China, which many analysts had expected to be the main buyer, will absorb much of the remaining gold in the IMF's stockpiles.

"The market was expecting the sale to happen over several years," said Tom Pawlicki, a precious metals analyst at MF Global in Chicago. "It's pushing gold higher because it means that gold won't come onto the open market."

Gold prices were also supported by news that Barrick Gold Corp. (ABX) bought back 1 million ounces of gold in its hedge book during October.

The mining company said Monday it expects to unwind its remaining gold hedges, totaling 1.9 million ounces, by September 2010.

The rally came despite a slightly stronger U.S. dollar. The dollar index, which measures the dollar's value against a basket of currencies, rose to a one-month high earlier Tuesday.

Gold and other commodities that are priced in dollars often fall when the greenback strengthens. But demand for gold remained firm Tuesday as investors focused on the IMF sale

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