US Mint Launches 2010 Boy Scouts Silver Dollars, Mania Ensues Early

The United States Mint today at noon Eastern Time launched the 2010 Boy Scouts of America Centennial Silver Dollars to a tidal wave of expecting buyers.

Early ordering proved to be challenging, fraught with multiple disconnections on the U.S. Mint’s Web site as well as through its toll free phone lines. The pattern was nearly identical for the many collectors who experienced frustrations when ordering last year’s Lincoln Coin and Chronicles Set. Then, the Mint was quick to issue a customer apology, and the 50,000 sets sold out within 30 hours.

Many watchers are expecting the same eventual sellout with the commemorative Boy Scouts dollars, although they have a higher 350,000 combined mintage across the proof and uncirculated options.

The initial user experience in ordering the BSA coins looked to be promising online, with few delays seen in moving around the Mint store prior to the noon launch. However, time outs and disconnections soon followed. While other collectors may have been more fortunate, it took CoinNews staff until 12:42 p.m. ET to report the earliest successful online transaction. And that was using the Mint’s quick checkout process.

Mint telephone lines were the route to go early. After a wait time of four minutes, a successful order was placed by 12:09 p.m. However, traffic apparently picked up — perhaps as a result of the online delays. Further attempts via the phone took longer, with multiple disconnects that immediately followed a message of: "your call may be monitored for quality assurance purposes."

Beginning as late as 12:45 p.m., it took another CoinNews member 39 different attempts to reach a swamped customer service department.

By 1:45 p.m., however, most online orders appeared to be placed with relative ease. Also, while there were still hold times for some calls, disconnects were not reported. In that sense, conditions were less severe compared to those experienced during the initial launch of the Lincoln Coin & Chronicles Set.

The Boy Scouts Silver Dollars celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Boy Scouts of America, and were authorized by the Boy Scouts of America Centennial Commemorative Coin Act (Public Law 110-363).

The commemorative Scouting coins are struck in proof and uncirculated condition and have respective introductory sale prices of $39.95 and $33.95.

Customers may order the coins at the United States Mint Web site, http://www.usmint.gov/catalog, or at the toll-free number, 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). Hearing and speech-impaired customers may call TTY 1-888-321-MINT (6468).