2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle Prices


More more than one month has passed since sales of the 2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle Gold Coin concluded at the US Mint. I thought it would be an interesting exercise to examine the recent sales prices for the coins on the secondary market.

In recent weeks, the premiums for many collectible gold coins have experienced a sharp decline. This has come amidst an extended decline in the price of gold, which brought the price from its high of $1,212.50 reached on December 2, 2009 to the recent low of $1,058.00 per ounce reached on February 5, 2010.

I have been generally aware of the price levels of the UHR Double Eagles, but it was very interesting to do a more comprehensive evaluation. I compiled all of the data for completed eBay auctions from January 28 to February 10. I recorded the prices for any listings resulting in a sale and the basic aspects of the coin (raw, PCGS, or NGC grade). I came up with a total of 102 prices, which I think provided a reasonable amount of data for examining trends and averages. I did not take into account any factors such as the duration of the auction, time of day, whether it was an auction or Buy It Now, feedback of the sellers, etc.

First, I tried to examine the data to see if prices were generally rising or falling, but I also wanted to take into account the price of gold. The trend of the UHR price levels could be a bit difficult to pin down, because of the different price levels for various grades and raw coins. To narrow the focus, I picked the biggest group, raw coins, and looked at the average price for the first five days of data when the average price of gold was $1,080.59 and the last five days of data when the average price of gold was $1,062.02.

The average price for the Ultra High Relief Double Eagle in original US Mint packaging for the first five days was $1,520.50. The average price for a similar coin during the last five days examined was $1,549.06. As the price of gold was falling, the prices paid for the UHR Double Eagle held up and even showed gains. I think this is a good indication of the long term staying power and continued premiums for the coin.

One of the most surprising things I saw when running through the data were the prices being paid for coins which have been graded NGC MS 70 PL. NGC uses the “PL” designation for coins which exhibit proof like surfaces.

During the period, eight coins graded NGC MS 70 PL were sold. Some prices from early in the period were $4,100 and $4,150. The most recent three coins sold for around $4,500 each. NGC’s online population report indicates that 589 coins have been graded MS 70 PL compared to 4,611 coins graded MS 70 without the designation.

As a final exercise, I calculated the average prices realized for 2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagles across various options. The results of these calculations are below.

Original Packaging $1,543.48
PCGS MS69 $1,615.25
PCGS MS70 $2,031.25
PCGS MS70 FS $2,229.60
NGC MS 69 $1,547.00
NGC MS 69 PL $2,412.80
NGC MS 70 $1,836.45
NGC MS 70 PL $4,268.00

I thought it was interesting that the average price paid for a UHR Double Eagle in the original box was $1,543.48. This is just a little bit above the highest price that the US Mint had charged for the coin. The price of $1,539 was briefly in effect when the average price of gold had risen to a range between $1,150 and $1,099.99. The lowest price the US Mint charged for the coin was $1,189, in effect when sales first began on January 19, 2009.

If anyone is interested, the price data gathered from eBay can be found in this spreadsheet.

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  1. Mint News Blog is not a retail website. If you wish to buy a coin or banknote, you should contact a reputable dealer. One of our sponsors (see ads at left and top of page) may also have what you’re looking for, so be sure to check out their websites.
  2. Per policy, we do not advise on the value, authenticity, or rarity of readers’ coins and banknotes. For this kind of assistance, you should contact a reputable dealer, preferably one who’s certified by the American Numismatic Association and/or the Professional Numismatists Guild.
  3. Vulgar and/or abusive comments will not be tolerated. Nor will trolls.
  4. Allegations of fraudulent or criminal activity against a named party, when said activity has not been proven in a court of law, will be removed.

Comments

  1. vaughnster says

    Michael,

    Did you mean to say $1,590.06 instead of $1,059.06? Thanks again for the good work and research.

  2. Anonymous says

    Do you think the 2009 Lincoln Presidency Penny Set LP4 Will sell for a decent premium after the mint stops selling them?

  3. Anonymous says

    The UHR has disassociated itself from spot gold like the old commemorative silver did (the Spanish Trail price has nothing to do with spot silver). Even the Huguenot with a larger mintage (142 k) than the UHR commands multiples of "spot" in good condition.

    Michael, do you think this is a fair comparison?

  4. Mike- Upstate NY says

    Just heard on the Weather Channel that a portion of the USMINT building collapsed in Landover, MD. It was a 75'x25'ft addition to another building.

  5. Anonymous says

    I don't mean to go off topic.But a question was raised in our group about the Mexican Mint and where it is.I tried to locate anything on the web such as Mexico Mint web site and can't find anything.Does anyone know if they have a web site showing their products with prices and where their mint is located? If you know can you please post it here so I can get this info back to my group.

  6. Anonymous says

    I was wondering if anyone has both a MS70 PL and MS70. I would love to hear an "unbiased" opinion on whether there are any real differences between the two, or is the PL just another grading gimmick like "First Strikes" and "Early Releases"?

  7. Anonymous says

    I think the "proof-like" distinction is real. It sure looks like it from the pictures I've seen.

    I sold my original UHR bought in January 2009 sight unseen in the sealed mailer box, and the guy who bought it had it graded by NGC and it came back an MS-70 PL. It was quite a beauty from the photo he e-mailed me.

  8. Anonymous says

    Happy President's Day I wonder how many pcgs MS70's would grade Proof-Like under ngc's guidelines??? Their count may be misleading Any reports from the new Lincoln ceremonies??

  9. Michael says

    Responses to some of the questions–

    "Do you have any idea when the Mint will stop selling 2009 Lincoln pennies?"

    The US Mint has authorization to continue selling the coins through June 30, 2010. See the end of this post: http://mintnewsblog.blogspot.com/2009/10/us-mint-news-updates.html

    At this point, I guessing that they will keep them up for sale until they sell out of June 30, whichever comes soonest.

    "I wonder how many pcgs MS70's would grade Proof-Like under ngc's guidelines??? Their count may be misleading Any reports from the new Lincoln ceremonies??"

    Regarding some of the PCGS MS70's- I was thinking the same thing. The big price difference creates an opportunity for someone to identify the PCGS coins that would qualify for PL and cross them over to NGC.

    There will be a first hand report from the ceremony coming this morning!

  10. Anonymous says

    Michael – That was why I asked my question whether there was any 'real' difference between the MS70s and MS70 PLs. My UHR came back as a MS70 (which I was happy with), but I really don't see how it could be more "proof-like" when I compare it with other proof coins. Not crying sour grapes, but the "proof-like" designation appears to be extremely subjective. I guess if I was able to see a "proof-like" and compare, I would understand (or not).

  11. Michael says

    I haven't seen a side by side comparison of PL and non-PL UHR's, but I have seen the designation given by NGC to other modern MS coins. These coins had reflective deep mirror like surfaces, very different from typical strikes.

    I'll see if I can get an article or pictures with a side by side comparison for the UHR.

    Bowtie-

    Both PCGS and NGC have clubs that you can join to submit coins directly. There is an annual fee, but you get a certain number of free grading submissions along with your membership.

    Otherwise, you can submit the coins through an authorized PCGS or NGC dealer.

  12. Anonymous says

    I bought a UHR on the last day it was available and noting the resale prices, decided to send it back for a refund.

  13. Anonymous says

    Ultra High Relief Gold Coins are rare coins 1907 or 2009, therefore price will rise soon! This is one of best coins to buy it!

  14. Anonymous says

    just some food for thought: part of me wishes i should i have bought UHR, but instead i used my funds to buy the last remaining Double Prosperity Sets available for sale in the beginning of 2009. i am not sure which is a better by for an investment, but as a collector, i am still happy to have the double prosperity set. i have not found any for sale in recent days for a reasonable price. i guess it's just being a collector and purchasing what you like.

  15. Anonymous says

    Look,
    PCGS NGC they are both well respected.Why such a huge deal in the difference in price.It isn't like one is a Mercedes and the other is a Chevrolet.They are both high end organizations.If there is any weirdness it is in the grading of Proof Like.It is either proof or not.Just another example of mine is better then yours. Corporate America.

  16. Anonymous says

    With over 112k of these coins sold and only under 100 for sale, that lets me know that this coin will be a big winner in the future.

  17. Anonymous says

    Thanks again Michael for the response on doing a picture comparison of the MS70s and MS70 PLs. Would be really interesting to see.

    The UHR is a really nice coin and I'm glad I picked one up. That said, a double prosperity set is a great buy and I wouldn't be sorry for that. You got both the uncirc 2008 W Eagle and Buffalo…for less than $1100 in January 2009. Great deal!!! I bought one myself as well.

  18. Anonymous says

    Do I understand correctly that if you send in a UHR gold coin, you must take it out of its capsule and put it in a mylar flip? Can anyone who's done this please let me know how you did it?

  19. Anonymous says

    Leave it inside the capsule and place it inside the mylar flip. The empty capsule will be returned to you. Good luck on your grade.

  20. Anonymous says

    I joined NGC last year and sent in some coins to be graded; I never received the capsules back. Mind you, I didn't sent in mylar flaps either…just the coins in their original capsules.

  21. Anonymous says

    I just graded UHRDE at NGC and I received the capsule back. It was very beatiful coin with a proof appearence and yellow – redish tone. It did not make it to PL designation only MS 70. I am still happy.

  22. Anonymous says

    "The lowest price the US Mint charged for the coin was $1,089, in effect when sales first began on January 19, 2009."

    I paid 1,189 + ship on first day.

  23. Anonymous says

    I sent in two in the mint capsules
    to NGC one came back MS-70 the other MS-69. No PL designation and they NGC does not send back the mint packing. As for the PL designation I could see a big differance in the two I sent in. I thought one might grade PL not this time. I'm still o.k.with the outcome.I do have a 1904 $20 Gold Liberty Graded MS-65 PL by NGC I'm not sure if PCGS offers the PL grade on this coin.

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2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle Household Limit


The 2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle Gold Coins have been on sale at the US Mint for nearly 12 weeks. Even though the pace of sales has slowed significantly, the one per household ordering limit remains in place.

Sales of the Ultra High Relief began on January 22, 2009. The initial pace of sales was blazing fast, with over 40,000 coins sold in the first four days. After the initial rush, the pace of sales began to slow, as I examined in this previous post. The trend has continued, with only 491 coins sold in the prior one week reporting period.

A contributing factor to the slowing pace of sales may be the the current household limit which has been in place since the start of sales. Currently, only one coin may be ordered per household. Although there are definitely some people who have gotten around the limit by enlisting the help of friends or family, it does place an ultimate barrier on demand. With the latest weekly sales down roughly 99% from the first week’s sales, is it time to remove the household limit?

Greg Hernandez, Acting Director of Public Affairs at the United States Mint provided the following statements:

We are closely monitoring sales of the 2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle Gold Coin. At this time, the one per household limit is still in place, and we do not have a time frame for when the limit will be changed.

The purpose of the limit is to ensure that all members of the public have fair and equal access to United States Mint products.

The statements do not provide much in the way of new information, but the important thing is that removing or raising the household limit remains a possibility. In my opinion, the possibility becomes increasingly likely as the pace of sales continue to diminish. The household limit should be of interest to collectors, since it would likely squelch the booming secondary market that exists for the 2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle Gold Coin.

A review of recently completed eBay auctions shows that uncertified examples of the Ultra High Relief Double Eagle are selling within a range of roughly $1,500 – $1,650. This compares to the current price at the US Mint price of $1,239. These coins carry no special distinction other than the fact that they are available for immediate purchase and delivery. (View recently completed eBay auctions.)

If the household ordering limit is raised or removed, I think the following scenario would take place: There would be an influx of orders from resellers or speculators who had previously sold the coins for a profit and believed that the premiums would continue. Once the US Mint started delivering these coins, there would be an influx of coins available on the secondary market. This influx would come at a time when buyers were finally able to purchase the coins directly from the US Mint in unrestricted quantities. This increase in supply and decrease in demand would cause secondary market prices to fall, bringing them down to the price level at the US Mint.

While it’s possible that the household limit will remain in place for the rest of the year, I wouldn’t count on it. If you are looking to purchase an additional Ultra High Relief Double Eagle, your best option might be to wait and see if there are any changes to the household limit before paying a premium on the secondary market.

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BEFORE YOU COMMENT:

  1. Mint News Blog is not a retail website. If you wish to buy a coin or banknote, you should contact a reputable dealer. One of our sponsors (see ads at left and top of page) may also have what you’re looking for, so be sure to check out their websites.
  2. Per policy, we do not advise on the value, authenticity, or rarity of readers’ coins and banknotes. For this kind of assistance, you should contact a reputable dealer, preferably one who’s certified by the American Numismatic Association and/or the Professional Numismatists Guild.
  3. Vulgar and/or abusive comments will not be tolerated. Nor will trolls.
  4. Allegations of fraudulent or criminal activity against a named party, when said activity has not been proven in a court of law, will be removed.

Comments

  1. Anonymous says

    I will be completely honest, I would gladly purchase a UHR in a moment’s notice…if I knew the Mint could facilitate the shipping and handling properly.

    There are far too many horror stories going on right now with the way their contractor is botching this up for them — like shipping a UHR without signature, but requiring one for the book — and appears the Mint is, in no way, attempting to remedy the situation anytime soon.

    No thanks, I’ll wait until I am assured the Mint has this problem THOROUGHLY fixed, and has REASSURED us collectors that this will not happen ever again.

    Until then, I am boycotting purchases from them and will just need to be content with buying collectibles from other mints. I am quite sure I am not alone.

    Sincerly,
    William H. Raven

  2. Anonymous says

    Other than being an overpriced piece of art, what is the lure of the UHR? Even with the limit, it is not going to be rare when compared to coins from prior years.

  3. Anonymous says

    The “lure” of the UHR is that it is an absolute beauty. And with that, what is the “lure” of any coin???? It all boils down to ones personnel preference.

  4. Anonymous says

    My coin arrived and it was damaged (it actually had a ding in the bottom rays). I returned it for exchange at a cost of $25.00 for registered mail and insurance. I received my new coin today and it wasn’t much better. No ding, but it has dirt and marks in the left side field and was loose in the wood box allowing it to bounce around during shipment and causing many scratches to teh wood surface. I just can’t see spending another $25 for postage and insurance. I won’t purchase another. Some of the UHR coins I’ve seen at coin shows are just beautiful, but not mine.

  5. Anonymous says

    Like I said, high premium “art.” Brought to you by the government of the people. Are there any government restrictions against former mint employees becoming dealers?

  6. Anonymous says

    Platinum Today (Johnson Matthey) is reporting:

    New palladium coin bill passed in the US 14th April 2009

    New legislation has been passed by the US government which will allow the Mint to produce palladium versions of Saint-Gaudens’ ultra-high-relief bullion coins. In addition, the legislation states that “if a gold bullion coin that bears the same design as the ultra-high-relief numismatic coins is issued”, each palladium version “may only be issued in a set containing one of each such coins”. Congress has also ruled that each set of coins must be “provided in a presentation case of appropriate design” and can only be issued and sold in the specific year of passage. Senator Baucus and his co-sponsor, Senator Jon Tester, claimed in a recent press release that the palladium coins will help to create jobs and aid the battle against the economic downturn.

    I would be interested on Michael’s take on this. Sounds like the UHR palladium coin will be sold in a set so maybe each household can get both a single and a set version?

  7. Anonymous says

    I’d like to see the order limit of 1 remain in place for the entire time it is made by the mint. I think it will help keep the mintage lower. If they raise the limit, then too many speculators will order multiple coins, and cause a big surplus of the coins, thus lowering their potential value over time. Even though there will always be a demand for such a beautiful coin, too much supply would limit their collector value.

  8. Anonymous says

    Something that seems to be overlooked (or perhaps I don’t know enough about the law on the mintage of these). Remember last year’s “on and off” supply of collector grade precious medal coins, and the sudden end of things before year’s end? If the limit is lifted, will the mint just stop making these when their supply of gold “runs out”? Hmmmmm.

  9. Keith says

    There are no legal limits to the mintage of this coin. It was not specifically authorized by Congress, although the Mint had the authority to create it.

    The Mint has stated that it will only be produced for one year, although legislation has been introduced to produce the coin in palladium in the future.

  10. Anonymous says

    I hope that the mint does not raise the limit per household (although I wish I could buy one more for my other child as a keepsake). This is a premium coin at a premium price. Lower supplies and higher demand will assure the UHR’s value other than spot bullion pricing. If all that’s minted is 50,000+ YTD, and maybe no more than a 100,000 for the year THEN PLEASE DON’T DESTROY THE RARITY AND VALUE like what happened in 2008 with the 2007 Reverse Proof Platinum two coin set:( being reintroduced at a lower price – just melt them down…that will create urgency with the buying public and coin dealers.

  11. Anonymous says

    There are already too many UHR’s minted to be truly rare. It will always be a highly prized coin because of how nice it is, but it’s not rare and current pricing is starting to reflect the glut of UHR’s on the market.

  12. spiff says

    Well yeah it's likley it won't be worth millions.. There are to many minted now but this coin has very large potenial..
    Anyway not to get off topic but if the mint does make a paladium version they should only do a proof and mint set (NO GOLD PLEASE) keep the gold for the true coin collectors who love this coin!!! and so the value will always be high..

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2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle Order Status and Prices


Collectors who ordered the 2009 Ultra High Relief Gold Double Eagle may have received a backorder notification from the US Mint with a new shipping date this morning.

Expected shipping dates have fluctuated for collectors who placed their orders on the first day. There were reports that the book, which is included with the coin, was showing a later shipping date than the coin. Later reports indicated both shipping dates progressively being pushed forward.

This morning, I received a backorder notice for my order. It showed an expected shipping date of February 6, 2009 for both the coin and the book. Others have reported expected shipping dates of February 10, 11, or 20. When I first placed my order (January 22, 2009 at 12:17 PM ET), the expected shipping date provided was January 28, 2009.

The product page in the US Mint’s online product catalog indicates that the coin will be available for shipping on February 13. Of course, all of these dates may continue to get pushed forward, if recent experience is any indicator. It will be interesting to see what date collectors start to receive the first Ultra High Relief coins.


Anyone who is still considering purchasing the coin should note that the US Mint’s price will most likely increase by $50 or $100 later this week. Under the US Mint’s new pricing policy, prices are subject to adjustment each week if the average weekly London Fix price of gold moves across certain thresholds. Coins are currently priced for the $800.00 to $849.99 tier. The price of gold has recently been above $900, although the average weekly price will likely fall into the $850.00 to $899.99 tier (unless their is a big move tomorrow).

The last time the US Mint adjusted prices under the new policy, product sales were halted on Wednesday around noon. Sales resumed the next day Thursday at noon, at the adjusted prices. If you have waiting to place your order, consider doing so before noon tomorrow to avoid the price increase.

Lastly, I thought it would be interesting to run a UHR related coin survey this week. As most people know, the 2009 Ultra High Relief has an ordering limit of one per household. In the past situations when there were ordering limits, some collectors used the households of friends and family to order more than one coin. How widespread is this practice? Answer the survey below and we will find out.


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BEFORE YOU COMMENT:

  1. Mint News Blog is not a retail website. If you wish to buy a coin or banknote, you should contact a reputable dealer. One of our sponsors (see ads at left and top of page) may also have what you’re looking for, so be sure to check out their websites.
  2. Per policy, we do not advise on the value, authenticity, or rarity of readers’ coins and banknotes. For this kind of assistance, you should contact a reputable dealer, preferably one who’s certified by the American Numismatic Association and/or the Professional Numismatists Guild.
  3. Vulgar and/or abusive comments will not be tolerated. Nor will trolls.
  4. Allegations of fraudulent or criminal activity against a named party, when said activity has not been proven in a court of law, will be removed.

Comments

  1. Tyrone says

    Yep. Original ship date: 2/6

    Greetings from the United States Mint. We regret to inform you that the item(s) listed below are currently on backorder. Please expect your item(s) to arrive within the timeframe listed below.
    Track your order at http://catalog.usmint.gov
    Thanks again for shopping with the United States Mint.

    Order #: 3084xxxx – 1
    Sold To : xxxxx, yyyyy
    Ship To : xxxxx, yyyyy
    Item: UH1 Qty: 1 Exp Ship: 2/20/09
    2009 ULTRA HIGH RELIEF GOLD COIN

    Item: UH3 Qty: 1
    Exp Ship: 2/20/09
    2009 ULTRA HIGH RELIEF GOLD COIN BOOK

  2. Anonymous says

    Tyrone –

    My order# was: 3083XXXX – 1

    My original ship date was 2/6. I received a notice that it was changed to 2/11 this morning (and the Mint’s online system showed 2/11 as well later in the morning). However, I checked it this evening and it was back to 2/6.

    THEY ARE PLAYING HEADGAMES WITH ME!!!! AHHHHH!

    😉

  3. Anonymous says

    Right you are sir– my notice from the mint dated 2:15 PST today noted an expected ship date of 2/11; my order went though around 9:30 a.m the first day it went on sale.

  4. Brad says

    I’m not sure what to do with my order. I placed it on the first day, but it took an hour and ten minutes to finally get it through. My ship date still shows 2/6 on the web site, but via e-mail this morning I was notified that it is expected to be 2/11. I’ve been buying coins from the Mint for several years, so I realize that those “expected ship dates” they provide are of little use in reality. They keep adjusting them almost every day, so I really don’t pay much attention to them.

    I don’t really want this coin for my collection. As beautiful as it will be, the potentially unlimited mintage might steal any real collectible value it may have. I only placed an order in an attempt to be one of the first ones to have it in stock, so I could flip it to an unfortunate collector who might otherwise have to wait longer (6 to 9 months?) and would be willing to pay a premium to get it sooner. I would get to enjoy owning the coin for a short time, and also get to read the special book, but then sell both off to pursue other things.

    But, if my order keeps getting pushed back, I might end up getting it too late to sell for a premium, and would then have money tied up in a coin that I don’t really want and might depend pretty much on the gold spot price to sell it. If spot goes down, I could be stuck with the coin for much longer than I intended to hold it.

    So my dilemma is, do I leave the order intact or just cancel it now?

  5. Anonymous says

    Not much of a dilemma, you can always return the coin but you lose out on shipping…always will be some risk involved. the question is, is the cost of shipping worth the risk for potential gain from the premium another buyer is willing to pay?

  6. Anonymous says

    Product is off sale until Thursday when the price will go up. So this “Thursday reset” is a joke if they just stop selling it beforehand.

    My order placed Monday night at 11 pm is “on hold.” If they raise the price on my order I will cancel it.

    The mint is so poorly run. I stopped collecting mint sets in 2004 when they couldn’t fill my order. I changed my mind about collecting the whole set of presidential spouse gold since they couldn’t fill my order for the first one. And when they dropped the price on the platinum set and the Buffalo set i just received I sent both right back and immediately reordered them at $450 less. I normally wouldn’t do such a thing but they deserve it.

  7. Anonymous says

    I just checked and the mint shows that my 1/10 AGEs that were reserved finally shipped. However, I still have a few other items on backorder including the UHR.

  8. Michael says

    Note that they should not raise the price for any orders already placed. Your price is locked in once you place the order.

    The higher price will apply to all new orders placed once the coins go back on sale.

  9. Mastro says

    Ordered the US MInt 2009 Ultra High Relief Gold Coin sometime around 2:00 Pm on January 22. Order staus confiormed as “back ordered” with expected shipment on 2/6. Received email on January 27 restating expected shipment date as 2/20. Uggggh!

  10. Anonymous says

    US Mint sold already more than 50000 UHR coins.At 12:00 PM EST first order with UHR was about # 30826xxx. I placed my order at 12:54 PM EST and my order number is 3083xxxx.

  11. Anonymous says

    Out of curiosity, where did you get your data that the mint had sold over 50,000 UHR coins? Thanks.

  12. Edmund Moy says

    Most of the people who want this coin have already bought it. When the mint sees the orders tailing off around 50K units they will lift the limits and then the speculators and dealers (hello MCM) will get their multiple orders in and there goes any future appreciation, a victim of its own success … and hype.

  13. Tyrone says

    Price was increased at the mint…

    2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle Gold Coin (UH1)

    Price: $1,239.00

  14. Anonymous says

    Interesting quotes by Susan regarding SAEs:

    “Speaking of acquisition problems, remember all the trouble the Mint had getting coin blanks for the American Silver Eagles last year? It was quite embarrassing for the Mint; they took a lot of heat, not only in coin collecting circles, but in the mainstream press as well. Now that final sales figures have been posted for the 2008 Silver Eagle, perhaps the question shouldn’t be, “how could the Mint have failed to get enough blanks” but instead, “how in the heck did they get so many?!”

    The total sales figure for the generic bullion 2008 Silver Eagle is an astounding 19,583,500 one ounce coins! To put this in perspective, consider that this is double the 2007 sales of 9,887,000 coins. The previous high-water mark for annual Silver Eagle sales was the 10,475,500 sold in 2002. Many years have seen sales in the 4 to 5 million range.”

  15. Anonymous says

    After having received 3 days ago the same email as others indicating a backorder ship date of 2/6/2009. The message on my order status page on the US Mint’s website today changed to backordered with an expected ship date of 2/14/2009. The book is still listed as backordered with a ship date of 2/6/2009

  16. Anonymous says

    Just recieved an email from the mint that my second order for (1) 2009 Ultra High Relief was CANCELLED! I then checked the satus of the first order and found it’s on HOLD! Methinks something is rotten in Denmark.

    Anyone else get a CANCELLATION? I notice that they’re still selling these coins albeit at a higher price ($1,239).

    I guess you can’t trust the government at the mint either. The little guy gets screwed there too.

    Thanks U.S. Mint!

  17. Anonymous says

    The Mint cancelled your second order because there is a limit of one coin per household. The Mint uses credit card billing addresses to determine which “household” the order is going to, even if you put in a different shipping address for a second order. When the Mint found two orders with the same billing address, they cancelled the second one.

    I don’t see the household limit of one coin lasting forever, but it could last for a while. They might retain a limit, but will likely raise it to five or ten coins later on this year. That’s just my guess, of course.

  18. Anonymous says

    Well…the mint pushed my order out again. I was one of the first 5,000 units ordered (ordered within 45 minutes), and I now have a date of February 17th. While it’s obviously not the end of the world in the big scheme of things, it is pathetic that the US Mint can’t operate like any other business. The Director of the Mint (Edmund Moy) spent 6 months hyping this product and then doesn’t have the brains to build any level of inventory? Did he assume that nobody would order the product he repeatedly hyped?

    Another reason our country is in the mess that it’s in…our leadership has no sense!

  19. Anonymous says

    Today I canceled my one of two UHR orders . The reason for cancelation was that this coin will not have collectible value in the future . There will be to many UHR in the market.I’m not planning to buy 2009 Buffalo because to many people will buy this coin as well.

  20. Anonymous says

    Original order date: 1/23
    Order #: 30866###

    UHR back ordered to 2/6/09
    UHR book back ordered to 2/7/09

    e-mail 1/27
    UHR back ordered to 2/20/09
    UHR book back ordered to 2/20/09

    e-mail 2/4
    UHR back ordered to 3/06/09
    UHR book back ordered to 3/06/09

    I’m considering canceling. Pick a date and stick to it!

  21. Disco says

    I was “lucky” enough to have my order placed within the first 5 minutes (I had logged into my account 20 mins early). Like many others, rec’d several emails sent from the mint changing the shipment date… 2/28, 2/6, 2/13, 2/17, and so far 2/18 which came on 2/4. However, as of yesterday 2/5, my shipment went from backorder to “in stock and reserved” (which it also said for the first several days after I ordered) with a shipment date of today, 2/6. We shall see if anything actually occurs 😉

  22. alberto says

    I am very comfused my last order (higher order#) is said to ship first than my 3083xxx order. HAS ANYONE RECEIVED THE ACTUAL COIN…DEALERS…THOSE THAT HAD A 1/28/2009 SHIP DATE…ANYONE??????
    <><

  23. Michael says

    alberto-

    To date, no one has received the coin. Check my latest post for info on how to check order status and possible shipping date.

    Link

  24. KTD says

    I ordered my UHR at 1:38 on the 22nd of January, and was told it would be “Backordered” until 6 February. Amazingly enough it WAS shipped on the 6th and in my hot little hands on the 9th of February. What a sweet coin….IF you want it I can probably get it to you LONG before the mint gets you your “Backordered” one.. name your price

  25. Anonymous says

    Received one this morning…beautiful, better than expected for a business strike..
    On to PCGS for grading with crossed fingers

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2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle Gold Coin Preview

In January 2009 the US Mint intends to release the 2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle Gold Coin. Out of all of next years announced releases, this coin seems to have garnered the most interest. The coin will recreate Augustus Saint Gaudens’ original 1907 design for an ultra high relief double eagle coin.

This post will provide a summary of events surrounding the coin, description of design modifications from the original, and some predictions and opinions about the pricing and release of the coins.

Summary of Events

The upcoming coin was first announced by US Mint Director Edmund Moy at a CCAC meeting on March 13, 2008. From the outset, it was billed as the recreation of the “nation’s most beautiful coin.”

The designs for the recreation were officially unveiled on July 30, 2008 following the opening ceremony for the ANA World’s Fair of Money in Baltimore. The coins were part of a four case, museum-like exhibit at the United States Mint’s booth.

The first of the 2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagles were struck at the West Point Mint on November 24, 2008. The first coin struck was sent to the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History. The second coin struck was retained by the US Mint as an addition to their heritage assets.

Design Modifications

The 2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle will be struck in .9999 fine gold. The coins will have a diameter of 27 millimeters and a thickness of 4 millimeters. This is will make the coins thicker than other one ounce gold coins. The coins will be issued only as a business strike and will not be available in proof version.

There will be a number of design modifications from the original. On the obverse, the date will be changed to “MMIX” to represent next year’s date in Roman Numerals. The number of stars will be increased from 46 to 50, to represent the current number of US States. On the reverse, the motto “In God We Trust” has been added between the sun and its rays. Both sides of the coin will have a small border to create a more consistent edge.

Raised lettering will be used on the edge of the coin. The motto “E Pluribus Unum” will appear with stars between each letter.

Pricing

The US Mint has not yet announced pricing and ordering options for the upcoming coin. In their most recently released public statement, the US Mint stated that pricing would be “based on production, packaging, and other related costs, as well as the prevailing price of precious metals at the time.”

In my opinion, the coins will be priced at a premium to the Mint’s other one ounce gold offerings. The most recent prices for the US Mint’s collectible uncirculated one ounce Gold Eagle and Gold Buffalo were $974.95 and $999.95. Assuming the price of gold remains around the same level, my guess would be that the price for the Ultra High Relief Gold Double Eagle would be around $1,100, if not more.

(Update: Based on info posted in the thread on Coin Network, it looks like the price might be as much as $1,200!)

Availability and Release

The US Mint intends to strike the coins to demand. That means that the US Mint will strike coins in whatever quantity is necessary to fulfill orders for the new coin, allowing for a theoretically unlimited mintage. The coins are expected to be available in January 2009 and orders will be accepted throughout the entire year.

Personally, I am a little bit skeptical about the smooth release of these coins.

On the bullion coin side, the US Mint has had numerous recent problems keeping pace with demand. This has resulted in several sales suspensions, and an ongoing allocation program for available products. The US Mint also publicly stated that they would prioritize production of bullion coins over collector coins. This is likely what is behind the unavailability 2008 Proof Silver Eagle and the low inventory levels for collector Platinum Eagle and Gold Buffalo coins which have contributed to quick sell outs.

Additionally, the US Mint intends to obtain blanks needed to produce the new coins from Gold Corp, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Western Australian government, the operators of the Perth Mint. The Perth Mint was recently forced to suspend all orders for bullion products for nearly a two month duration. Their explanation for the suspension was current catch phrase of “unprecedented demand” for gold and silver bullion products.

If Gold Corp is having trouble supplying their parent company, there are bound to be similar or perhaps more severe problems supplying external customers like the US Mint. A recent article in Coin World mentioned that the US Mint’s initial order of blanks from Gold Corp has been delayed. This has already pushed back the start of full scale production for the Ultra High Relief Gold Double Eagle.

So far, the US Mint has not indicated any changes to their planned release for the coins in January 2009. Based on some of the circumstances mentioned above, I think its possible that the US Mint might delay launch of the coin until they can build up sufficient inventory for initial orders. I also see it as possible that they may implement a household ordering limit and/or put many of the initial orders on back order.



What is your opinion on the 2009 Ultra High Relief Gold Double Eagle? Share your opinion on Coin Network.

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BEFORE YOU COMMENT:

  1. Mint News Blog is not a retail website. If you wish to buy a coin or banknote, you should contact a reputable dealer. One of our sponsors (see ads at left and top of page) may also have what you’re looking for, so be sure to check out their websites.
  2. Per policy, we do not advise on the value, authenticity, or rarity of readers’ coins and banknotes. For this kind of assistance, you should contact a reputable dealer, preferably one who’s certified by the American Numismatic Association and/or the Professional Numismatists Guild.
  3. Vulgar and/or abusive comments will not be tolerated. Nor will trolls.
  4. Allegations of fraudulent or criminal activity against a named party, when said activity has not been proven in a court of law, will be removed.

Comments

  1. astroguy says

    I’m hoping your pricing guesstimate is a little high. I also projected that they’d have a “reasonable” offering price of around $975 based on current gold values … I’m just hoping they don’t attach too much of a larger premium.

    I’m also hoping that gold stays somewhat depressed, though it’s back above $800 this week. Sigh.

  2. Anonymous says

    Assuming the Mint can aquire an adequate supply of blanks, will this coin will be a victim of its own success? That is, it seems destined to be a popular release– one that could be produced in numbers high enough to prevent any real scarcity, although a high premium would tend to depress final sales numbers.

  3. Stevieladeek says

    Personally, I’m disappointed with several things regarding this coin.
    First, the 27mm diameter size which is the same as a half ounce coin…thus reducing the beauty of a wider coin…who cares that it’s thick?? Secondly I’m disappointed that some version of this (proof or something) doesn’t have a limit on it making it REAL SPECIAL. I won’t pay a large premium for this coin. I’ll wait until I can buy one on ebay for what I’d expect to pay for a 1 oz Buffalo or Eagle. If the issue price is high, I think I’d rather spend my money (what little I have) on the real thing (Saint Gaudens).
    Has any more info been released…i.e. I remember reading this coin may also me minted in Palladium after 2009, but that was back in early summer and I haven’t heard any news about that recently.

  4. Michael says

    In response to the question on the palladium version, the authorizing legislation was passed by the House May 15, 2008. It was sent to the Senate where it was read twice and then referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

    No updates since then…

  5. Alex says

    There is definitly a high premium to this coin but it really depends on it’s mintage too along with all the other things mentioned. Since it’s not a proof issue and they aren’t making any proof issues I suspect the could range anywhere from 975.95 – 1399.95 depending on just how high the U.S. mint decides we are willing to buy it at. The 3 piece silver anniversary set went for $100 when the value of silver in it was around $38, and this Gold peice does stand for something it’s not an ordinary piece.

  6. Bradley says

    IF the spot gold price is under $850 the price will be 1189. If spot gold is over 850 the price will be 1239.
    Lets hope its the lower number.

  7. Anonymous says

    numismatic news comfims that a bill was passes April 1st to produce a pallidium version of the UHR in a set this year with the gold version.

  8. flint77 says

    louis braille silver dollar coin thickness. I need to know the exact thickness of this coin in mm.
    bloggers please advise. If you are in possesion of one of these coins please mike it.
    We supply coin bezels for all coins. flintski flintski.com

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2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle Gold Coin Images

Ahead of the official unveiling at the ANA World’s Fair of Money, the US Mint has released images of the highly anticipated 2009 Ultra High Relief Gold Double Eagle!

I’ll let the images speak for themselves:

Read my most recent post on the 2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle. It includes a full summary of the events surrounding the coin, predictions on the price and release of the coin.

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BEFORE YOU COMMENT:

  1. Mint News Blog is not a retail website. If you wish to buy a coin or banknote, you should contact a reputable dealer. One of our sponsors (see ads at left and top of page) may also have what you’re looking for, so be sure to check out their websites.
  2. Per policy, we do not advise on the value, authenticity, or rarity of readers’ coins and banknotes. For this kind of assistance, you should contact a reputable dealer, preferably one who’s certified by the American Numismatic Association and/or the Professional Numismatists Guild.
  3. Vulgar and/or abusive comments will not be tolerated. Nor will trolls.
  4. Allegations of fraudulent or criminal activity against a named party, when said activity has not been proven in a court of law, will be removed.

Comments

  1. Anonymous says

    Apparently the resolution states that
    the coins may only be minted for
    sale in Palladium. If they don’t
    mint these in gold, they would have
    at least one disappointed collector.

  2. GEOMFS says

    If they are anything like the picture, they will be real beautiful coins – unlike we have seen in many years

  3. Anonymous says

    SINCE THE PRICE OF GOLD IS AROUND $850 PER OZ. I THINK THE PRICE OF THIS COIN WILL BE QUITE SIMILAR TO THE PRICE OF GOLD BUFFALO COIN. (Appx. $975)

  4. Michael says

    Unfortunately, I think the price is going to be much higher.

    Personally I was predicting a price above $1,100, but recently had reports from an “inside source” that the Mint was considering $1,200.

    Read the full post.

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