Monday, December 27, 2010

2011 Annual Sets Release Dates

Posted by Mint News Blog | Filed Under: Annual Sets


The release dates are now available for the United States Mint’s 2011 Proof Set, 2011 Mint Set, and 2011 Silver Proof Set. The Mint had previously announced that these products would be available earlier in the year due to collector feedback.
The 2011 Proof Set containing 14 different proof coins struck at the San Francisco Mint will be released on January 11, 2011. The 2011 Silver Proof Set, containing 90% silver versions of the proof dime, quarters, and half dollar, along with the remaining coins in standard compositions will be released on January 25, 2011. The 2011 Mint Set, containing 28 coins struck at the Philadelphia and Denver Mints will be released on February 8, 2011. The coins in this set will feature a brilliant finish rather than the satin finish.

Based on the above image included with an email from the US Mint, each of the annual sets will feature packaging designed with the US Mint’s new branding.

An interesting thing to consider is that it seems the full annual sets will be released prior to the component sets. For example, typically the US Mint releases separate Presidential Dollar Proof Sets and Quarter Proof Sets prior to the release of the full sets. One of the incentives of buying the component sets was to get the coins earlier, since the full annual sets were released months later. This year, there will be less incentive to purchase the component sets, likely resulting in a drop in unit sales.

At this time, pricing details for the 2011 annual sets has not yet been provided. Last year, prices for the most popular sets were increased, despite the fact that the number of coins per set declined from the prior year. Hopefully, prices for the Proof Set and Mint Set will not be increased again, although an adjustment for the Silver Proof Set could be justified based on the higher price of silver.

Previous inquiries to the US Mint have indicated that the 2010 Proof Set, 2010 Mint Set, and 2010 Silver Proof Set will remain on sale even after sales of the 2011-dated sets begin. In recent years, the US Mint has often timed the end of sales for annual products with the start of sales for the new version. I was told that the 2010-dated sets would remain on sale until December 31, 2011.

Coin Update News: 2011 Proof Platinum Eagle Design Candidates

31 Comments
Thursday, December 23, 2010

2011 Presidential Dollars Images and Release Dates

Posted by Mint News Blog | Filed Under: Presidential Dollars

The line art images and release dates for the 2011 Presidential Dollars are now available from the United States Mint. Next year’s coins will feature the former Presidents Andrew Johnson, Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, and James A. Garfield.

This will represent the fifth year and nearly the half-way point for the series. Under the current law, Presidential Dollars are issued for any former President who has been deceased for at least two years. The series continues until all eligible Presidents have been honored.

The legislative requirement that each design of the series must be available through the Federal Reserve System has kept mintages for each release relatively high, despite a growing stockpile of coins within Treasury vaults.

Many collectors report being able to acquire rolls of each new issue from their bank at face value. The Federal Reserve provides banks and financial institutions with a special ordering period surrounding the circulation release date during which unmixed quantities of newly issued coins can be ordered. Such procedures are not in place for the America the Beautiful Quarters.

The obverse design and release date for each of the 2011 Presidential Dollars appears below. The reverse of each coin features the image of the Statue of Liberty designed and sculpted by Don Everhart that has been used for each release of the series.

Andrew Johnson Presidential Dollar
Designed and sculpted by Don Everhart
Release Date: February 17, 2011


Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Dollar
Designed and sculpted by Don Everhart
Release Date: May 19, 2011


Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Dollar
Designed and sculpted by Don Everhart
Release Date: August 18, 2011


James Garfield Presidential Dollar
Designed and sculpted by Phebe Hemphill
Release Date: November 17, 2011

Hopefully, this will be the last Mint News Blog post until next week, so I can spend some time with my family. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to readers and their families! Thank you for your readership and comments throughout the year.

10 Comments
Thursday, December 23, 2010

Abraham Lincoln Presidential $1 Coin & First Spouse Medal Set

Posted by Mint News Blog | Filed Under: Presidential Dollars

Today, the United States Mint will release the Presidential Dollar Coin & First Spouse Medal Set featuring Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln. This will be the second to last US Mint numismatic product release of the year.
Each set will include one uncirculated Abraham Lincoln Presidential Dollar and one Mary Todd Lincoln Bronze Medal mounted on a plastic card containing portraits of the President and First Lady. Based on the images used on the US Mint product page, the packaging style will be the old style used for previous issues of in the series.

The sets will be priced at $11.95 each, with no household ordering limits. A production limit has not been indicated. Orders will be accepting starting at 12:00 Noon ET.

Since this is a Lincoln related product, higher sales levels than other recent issues are expected. The Lincoln Presidential Dollar Rolls have already outsold the prior release for James Buchanan by more than 30%. Interesting to note, the production levels for Lincoln Dollars were also about 30% higher than the Buchanan issue.

It seems that the US Mint has anticipated the higher demand for Lincoln Presidential Dollars and related products and produced the coins and products in greater numbers. Thus the higher demand might be offset by the greater supply, possibly eliminating any “Lincoln premium”.

6 Comments
Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Mint News Blog Quick Updates

Posted by Mint News Blog | Filed Under: US Mint


The news has really been stacking up lately. This post will quickly relay some information on the America the Beautiful Silver Bullion Coins, Edmund Moy’s resignation, and the release of 2011-dated Gold and Silver Eagles.

America the Beautiful Silver Bullion Coins

According to the United States Mint, nine out of the eleven authorized purchasers have ordered their allotment of ATB Silver Bullion Coins.

Scotia Mocatta and Commerzbank are the ones who have not placed orders. See the list of US Mint authorized purchasers for the names of the other nine.

The coins which would have been allocated to the two AP’s who did not place orders will be reallocated to the participating AP’s this week.

I know many collectors are seeking for more information on precisely where and how to purchase the coins. Unfortunately I am not privy to the sales and distribution plans of private companies.

According to the US Mint, there have been no changes to the terms and conditions set for authorized purchasers. This means that they must distribute all coins directly to the public, limit their premiums to 10% above their acquisition cost from the US Mint, impose ordering limits of one coin per design per household, and no coins may be sold to officers or employees of the companies.

The consequences of not following these rules include suspension or permanent removal from the authorized purchaser distribution network. The US Mint has reserved the right to examine records, books, and other documents of the authorized purchasers to ensure the rules are followed.

Edmund Moy Resigns

Edmund Moy, the Director of the United States Mint, announced his resignation earlier this week. He had been appointed by President George W. Bush for a five year term and was sworn in on September 5, 2006.

With his resignation effective January 9, 2011, he will have served as the 38th Director of the United States Mint for four years and four months.

The US Mint’s press release indicates that he had accepted a position in the private sector. A separate press release from L&L Energy indicated that Edmund Moy will become their Vice President of Corporate Infrastructure. L&L Energy is a coal-mining company, with a corporate office located in Seattle, Washington.

2011 American Gold and Silver Eagles

The US Mint will begin accepting orders from authorized purchasers for the 2011 Silver Eagle and 2011 Gold Eagle bullion coins on January 3, 2011.

Traditionally, authorized purchasers have been able to place orders for coins bearing the following years date in December, with delivery in early January. Last year, orders were not accepted until January 19.

An inventory of 2010-dated Gold and Silver Eagles remains and seems to be expected to last through year-end. Any coins remaining in January 2011 will be sold on a ratio basis to authorized purchasers ordering 2011-dated coins.

For now, only one ounce 2011 Gold Eagles will be available. For the past two years, the fractional weight coins have been released separately, later in the year.

129 Comments
Wednesday, December 22, 2010

2010 One-Half Ounce Proof Gold Eagle Sold Out?

Posted by Mint News Blog | Filed Under: Gold Eagles


According to the US Mint’s website, the 2010 Proof Gold Eagle individual one-half ounce option has sold out. The product has been moved to the “No Longer Available” section with the ordering buttons removed and “Sold Out” in their place.

This is a very surprising development since according to the latest US Mint sales report, the individual one-half ounce option had sold only 10,131 out of the 15,000 product limit. This suggests that nearly 5,000 coins were ordered in the past few days.

If the sell out did actually occur (in some cases US Mint products have been marked “sold out,” only to later return later), perhaps the other available 2010 Proof Gold Eagles also experienced similar surges in sales during the past few days.

As of December 19, the individual one-quarter ounce coin had sold 7,930, leaving 8,070 of the product limit available. The one-tenth ounce coin had sold 17,871, leaving 9,129 available. The 4 Coin Set had sold 31,846, leaving 7,154 available.

The individual one ounce option had previously sold out on November 1, with the entire 25,000 product limit purchased in less than a month.

15 Comments
« Older Posts
Newer Posts »