The United States Mint on Thursday revealed pricing for the upcoming 2012 commemorative coins on the Federal Register, the official source for notices by government agencies. In addition to prices, the Mint also indicated that it will offer special sets featuring the coins.
With a scheduled launch date of February 16, the Infantry Soldier Silver Dollar will start out with a price of $49.95 for the proof and $44.95 for the uncirculated. As introductory prices, their regular levels will go up $5 to $54.95 and $49.95, respectively. The length of time for each was missing in the notice.
Then, the register reported a 2012 Infantry Soldier Silver Dollar Defenders of Freedom Set for $51.95. While not stated, at that price it is very likely to include a proof with packaging and historical information about the U.S. Army Infantry — similar in fashion to the Lincoln Coin and Chronicles Set that quickly sold out in 2009. More details on the Defenders of Freedom Set will come out soon.
As for the Star-Spangled Banner commemorative coins, their release date is scheduled for March 5. The issues will be offered in proof and uncirculated versions of a $5 gold coin and a $1 silver coin. The silver dollars will be priced the same as the Infantry Soldier Silver Dollars at $49.95 and $44.95 during their introductory period and then rise by $5 afterwards.
The price of the gold coins will be relevant to the prevailing price of an ounce of gold on the London Fix, based on the Mint’s commemorative coin pricing policy, and will be adjusted weekly as needed. (Jump to the 2012 Coin Price Grid which shows all possible prices.) If the United States Mint sticks with its recent methods, the price of the gold Star-Spangled Banner coins will not be known until close to their launch.
Also revealed is a 2012 Star-Spangled Banner Two-Coin Set which will include a proof $5 gold coin and a proof silver dollar.
Below is a table summarizing what collectors will be expected to pay for this year’s commemorative coins.
Prices for 2012 Silver Commemorative Coins
| Commemorative Coin | Launch Date | Introductory Price | Normal Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Infantry Soldier Proof Silver Dollar | Feb. 16 | $49.95 | $54.95 |
| 2012 Infantry Soldier Uncirculated Silver Dollar | Feb. 16 | $44.95 | $49.95 |
| 2012 Infantry Soldier Silver Dollar Defenders of Freedom Set | Unknown | Not Offered | $51.95 |
| 2012 Star-Spangled Banner Proof $5 Gold Commemorative Coin | Unknown | See Gold Grid | See Gold Grid |
| 2012 Star-Spangled Banner Uncirculated $5 Gold Commemorative Coin | Unknown | See Gold Grid | See Gold Grid |
| 2012 Star-Spangled Banner Proof Silver Dollar | Unknown | $49.95 | $54.95 |
| 2012 Star-Spangled Banner Uncirculated Silver Dollar | Unknown | $44.95 | $49.95 |
| 2012 Star-Spangled Banner Two-Coin Set | Unknown | See Gold Grid | See Gold Grid |
As usual, the United States Mint reserves the right to change the dates and prices.
The composition of precious metals in the 2012 commemoratives is the same as previous modern silver dollars. Each will contain 90% silver with the remaining being copper and weigh 26.73 grams. The gold offerings will be composed of 90% gold and 10 percent alloy and will weigh 8.359 grams.
Prices assigned by the United States Mint for the coins and sets not only account for the metals within but also surcharges to raise funds for organizations, as mandated by the authorizing commemorative coin laws for each — Public Law 111-232 for the Star-Spangled Banner coins and Public Law 110-357 for the Infantry coins. A $10 surcharge for the sale of each Infantry Soldier dollar coin will go to the National Infantry Foundation while the Star-Spangled Banner coins raise money for the Maryland War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission at a rate of $35 for each gold piece and $10 for each silver dollar.
The final factor going into the pricing formula is covering the cost of designing and issuing the coins (including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, overhead expenses, marketing, and shipping) so that the commemorative coins are a source of income for the Treasury and not a "burden on taxpayers."
Mintages described in respective legislation stated the maximum for the Infantry Soldier Silver Dollars will be 350,000 across all options, including the ones in the Defenders of Freedom Set. The Star-Spangled Banner coins will be divided into maximums of 100,000 for the $5 gold pieces and 500,000 for the silver dollars, including those in two-coin set. Mintage ratios will depend on buyer activity. Sales from the United States Mint will be limited to the 2012 calendar year.
For reference, the following is the grid showing the possible prices for the Star-Spangled Banner Gold $5 Coins and the Two-Coin Set.
Pricing Grid for 2012 Gold Commemorative Coins
| Average Price of Gold | Normal Proof Price | Introductory Proof Price | Normal Uncirculated Price | Introductory Uncirculated Price | Two-Coin Set Normal Price | Two-Coin Set Introductory Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $500.00 to $549.99 | $230.55 | $225.55 | $220.55 | $215.55 | $280.55 | $275.55 |
| $550.00 to $599.99 | 242.70 | 237.70 | 232.70 | 227.70 | 292.70 | 287.70 |
| $600.00 to $649.99 | 254.85 | 249.85 | 244.85 | 239.85 | 304.85 | 299.85 |
| $650.00 to $699.99 | 267.00 | 262.00 | 257.00 | 252.00 | 317.00 | 312.00 |
| $700.00 to $749.99 | 279.15 | 274.15 | 269.15 | 264.15 | 329.15 | 324.15 |
| $750.00 to $799.99 | 291.30 | 286.30 | 281.30 | 276.30 | 341.30 | 336.30 |
| $800.00 to $849.99 | 303.45 | 298.45 | 293.45 | 288.45 | 353.45 | 348.45 |
| $850.00 to $899.99 | 315.60 | 310.60 | 305.60 | 300.60 | 365.60 | 360.60 |
| $900.00 to $949.99 | 327.75 | 322.75 | 317.75 | 312.75 | 377.75 | 372.75 |
| $950.00 to $999.99 | 339.90 | 334.90 | 329.90 | 324.90 | 389.90 | 384.90 |
| $1,000.00 to $1,049.99 | 352.05 | 347.05 | 342.05 | 337.05 | 402.05 | 397.05 |
| $1,050.00 to $1,099.99 | 364.20 | 359.20 | 354.20 | 349.20 | 414.20 | 409.20 |
| $1,100.00 to $1,149.99 | 376.35 | 371.35 | 366.35 | 361.35 | 426.35 | 421.35 |
| $1,150.00 to $1,199.99 | 388.50 | 383.50 | 378.50 | 373.50 | 438.50 | 433.50 |
| $1,200.00 to $1,249.99 | 400.65 | 395.65 | 390.65 | 385.65 | 450.65 | 445.65 |
| $1,250.00 to $1,299.99 | 412.80 | 407.80 | 402.80 | 397.80 | 462.80 | 457.80 |
| $1,300.00 to $1,349.99 | 424.95 | 419.95 | 414.95 | 409.95 | 474.95 | 469.95 |
| $1,350.00 to $1,399.99 | 437.10 | 432.10 | 427.10 | 422.10 | 487.10 | 482.10 |
| $1,400.00 to $1,449.99 | 449.25 | 444.25 | 439.25 | 434.25 | 499.25 | 494.25 |
| $1,450.00 to $1,499.99 | 461.40 | 456.40 | 451.40 | 446.40 | 511.40 | 506.40 |
| $1,500.00 to $1,549.99 | 473.55 | 468.55 | 463.55 | 458.55 | 523.55 | 518.55 |
| $1,550.00 to $1,599.99 | 485.70 | 480.70 | 475.70 | 470.70 | 535.70 | 530.70 |
| $1,600.00 to $1,649.99 | 497.85 | 492.85 | 487.85 | 482.85 | 547.85 | 542.85 |
| $1,650.00 to $1,699.99 | 510.00 | 505.00 | 500.00 | 495.00 | 560.00 | 555.00 |
| $1,700.00 to $1,749.99 | 522.15 | 517.15 | 512.15 | 507.15 | 572.15 | 567.15 |
| $1,750.00 to $1,799.99 | 534.30 | 529.30 | 524.30 | 519.30 | 584.30 | 579.30 |
| $1,800.00 to $1,849.99 | 546.45 | 541.45 | 536.45 | 531.45 | 596.45 | 591.45 |
| $1,850.00 to $1,899.99 | 558.60 | 553.60 | 548.60 | 543.60 | 608.60 | 603.60 |
| $1,900.00 to $1,949.99 | 570.75 | 565.75 | 560.75 | 555.75 | 620.75 | 615.75 |
| $1,950.00 to $1,999.99 | 582.90 | 577.90 | 572.90 | 567.90 | 632.90 | 627.90 |
| $2,000.00 to $2,049.99 | 595.05 | 590.05 | 585.05 | 580.05 | 645.05 | 640.05 |
| $2,050.00 to $2,099.99 | 607.20 | 602.20 | 597.20 | 592.20 | 657.20 | 652.20 |
| $2,100.00 to $2,149.99 | 619.35 | 614.35 | 609.35 | 604.35 | 669.35 | 664.35 |
| $2,150.00 to $2,199.99 | 631.50 | 626.50 | 621.50 | 616.50 | 681.50 | 676.50 |
| $2,200.00 to $2,249.99 | 643.65 | 638.65 | 633.65 | 628.65 | 693.65 | 688.65 |
| $2,250.00 to $2,299.99 | 655.80 | 650.80 | 645.80 | 640.80 | 705.80 | 700.80 |
| $2,300.00 to $2,349.99 | 667.95 | 662.95 | 657.95 | 652.95 | 717.95 | 712.95 |
| $2,350.00 to $2,399.99 | 680.10 | 675.10 | 670.10 | 665.10 | 730.10 | 725.10 |
| $2,400.00 to $2,449.99 | 692.25 | 687.25 | 682.25 | 677.25 | 742.25 | 737.25 |
| $2,450.00 to $2,499.99 | 704.40 | 699.40 | 694.40 | 689.40 | 754.40 | 749.40 |
| $2,500.00 to $2,549.99 | 716.55 | 711.55 | 706.55 | 701.55 | 766.55 | 761.55 |
| $2,550.00 to $2,599.99 | 728.70 | 723.70 | 718.70 | 713.70 | 778.70 | 773.70 |
| $2,600.00 to $2,649.99 | 740.85 | 735.85 | 730.85 | 725.85 | 790.85 | 785.85 |
| $2,650.00 to $2,699.99 | 753.00 | 748.00 | 743.00 | 738.00 | 803.00 | 798.00 |
| $2,700.00 to $2,749.99 | 765.15 | 760.15 | 755.15 | 750.15 | 815.15 | 810.15 |
| $2,750.00 to $2,799.99 | 777.30 | 772.30 | 767.30 | 762.30 | 827.30 | 822.30 |
| $2,800.00 to $2,849.99 | 789.45 | 784.45 | 779.45 | 774.45 | 839.45 | 834.45 |
| $2,850.00 to $2,899.99 | 801.60 | 796.60 | 791.60 | 786.60 | 851.60 | 846.60 |
| $2,900.00 to $2,949.99 | 813.75 | 808.75 | 803.75 | 798.75 | 863.75 | 858.75 |
| $2,950.00 to $2,999.99 | 825.90 | 820.90 | 815.90 | 810.90 | 875.90 | 870.90 |
Check out this site’s commemorative coin information page for details on past issues from the United States Mint.
[Update: This article was updated to reflect lower silver dollar prices announced later by the U.S. Mint.]
Didn’t the Army just have a coin? Is it just me or is the Mint offering boring and overpriced?
Looks like I will spend my money elsewhere.
Not the mint’s choice. It’s stupid Congress that can’t remember from one year to the next what they authorized. Obviously not a coin collector in the lot of them. At least the mint got a little creative within the law and is offering the Defenders of Freedom Set which most likely will include a stamp or two or an intaglio print made by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Too bad they aren’t doing something like that for the Star-Spangled Banner where they have a whole raft of stamps and images to use as well as the text of the… Read more »
IT SEEMS TO ME I HAVE ORDERED THE PROOF SETS AND THE UNCIRCULATED SETS BY NOW. I CANNOT FIND WHEN THEY ARE TO COME OUT THIS YEAR.
I WOULD APPRECIATE KNOWING THE DUE DATES.
THANK YOU.