Gold and silver edged lower Thursday, extending their losing streaks to three sessions as a stronger U.S. dollar pressured both metals.
Gold for December delivery closed down $1.80, or 0.1%, to $1,311.20 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. Prices ranged from an intraday low of $1,307.10 to a high of $1,330.70.
"Investors are showing no love for the shiny metals … following the release of strong U.S. economic data, which boosted the dollar’s appeal," MarketWatch quoted Fawad Razaqzada, technical analyst at GFT Markets. "Stocks also rallied and so there was even less reason for investors to buy gold or silver."
Silver for September delivery was virtually flat, off less than a penny to settle at $19.62 an ounce. The white metal moved between a low of $19.51 and a high of $19.96.
PGMs bucked the downward slide of gold and silver to advance for the first time since Monday. In their daily breakdowns:
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October platinum added $14.50, or 1%, to $1,443.80 an ounce, trading between $1,433.80 and $1,445.90.
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Palladium for September delivery gained $5.50, or 0.8%, to $731.85 an ounce, ranging from $726.60 to $738.
London Fix Precious Metals
Aside from silver, London precious metals fixings changed narrowly or were unchanged. In contrasting the Wednesday PM to Thursday PM London Fix prices:
- Gold edged up 50 cents to $1,315 an ounce,
- Silver fell 22 cents, or 1.1%, to $19.72 an ounce,
- Platinum added $4, or 0.3%, to $1,437 an ounce, and
- Palladium was unchanged at $733 an ounce
US Bullion Coin Sales in August
Sales totals for U.S. Mint bullion coins were unchanged on the first day of August. Very strong gains earlier in the week could stay dealer buying until next week. The following are the available daily, August and year-to-date bullion coin sales totals as published by the United States Mint.
| American Eagle and Buffalo Bullion Coin Sales | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday Sales | Last Week | Week-To-Date Sales | July Sales | August Sales | YTD Sales | |
| $50 American Eagle Gold Bullion Coins | 0 | 4,000 | 12,500 | 43,000 | 0 | 587,500 |
| $25 American Eagle Gold Bullion Coins | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4,000 | 0 | 47,000 |
| $10 American Eagle Gold Bullion Coins | 0 | 0 | 2,000 | 8,000 | 0 | 94,000 |
| $5 American Eagle Gold Bullion Coins | 0 | 0 | 10,000 | 35,000 | 0 | 450,000 |
| $50 American Buffalo Gold Bullion Coins | 0 | 0 | 5,000 | 18,500 | 0 | 180,000 |
| White Mountain 5 oz. Silver Bullion Coins | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2,900 | 0 | 29,900 |
| Perry’s Victory 5 oz. Silver Bullion Coins | 0 | 800 | 0 | 6,600 | 0 | 20,800 |
| Great Basin 5 oz. Silver Bullion Coins | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7,500 | 0 | 17,400 |
| American Silver Eagle Bullion Coins | 0 | 925,000 | 950,000 | 4,406,500 | 0 | 29,450,000 |
Figures above are in the number of coins sold, not in ounces.
Current US Silver Coin Melt Values
Coin melt values climbed in July with silver. They remain well lower on the year, however. Below is a grid listing melt values of older circulating U.S. coins that had been produced with 90% silver. These coins, at least those that have little numismatic value because they are too common or too worn, are the ones often sought for their silver content.
| US Silver Coins | Silver Coin Melt Values (12/31/2012) | Silver Coin Melt Values (6/28/2013) | Silver Coin Melt Values (7/31/2013) | Net Change in July | Net Change Year-To-Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1942-1945 Jefferson Nickels | $1.68 | $1.06 | $1.12 | $0.06 | -$0.56 |
| 1892-1916 Barber Dimes | $2.17 | $1.36 | $1.44 | $0.08 | -$0.72 |
| 1916-1945 Mercury Dimes | $2.17 | $1.36 | $1.44 | $0.08 | -$0.72 |
| 1946-1964 Roosevelt Dimes | $2.17 | $1.36 | $1.44 | $0.08 | -$0.72 |
| 1892-1916 Barber Quarters | $5.42 | $3.41 | $3.61 | $0.20 | -$1.81 |
| 1916-1930 Standing Liberty 25c | $5.42 | $3.41 | $3.61 | $0.20 | -$1.81 |
| 1932-1964 Washington Quarters | $5.42 | $3.41 | $3.61 | $0.20 | -$1.81 |
| 1892-1915 Barber Half Dollars | $10.83 | $6.82 | $7.21 | $0.39 | -$3.62 |
| 1916-1947 Walking Liberty 50c | $10.83 | $6.82 | $7.21 | $0.39 | -$3.62 |
| 1948-1963 Franklin 50c | $10.83 | $6.82 | $7.21 | $0.39 | -$3.62 |
| 1964 Kennedy Half Dollars | $10.83 | $6.82 | $7.21 | $0.39 | -$3.62 |
| 1965-1970 Kennedy Half Dollars | $4.43 | $2.79 | $2.95 | $0.16 | -$1.48 |
| 1878-1921 Morgan Dollars | $23.16 | $14.59 | $15.42 | $0.84 | -$7.74 |
| 1921-1935 Peace Dollars | $23.16 | $14.59 | $15.42 | $0.84 | -$7.74 |
| 1971-1976 Silver Eisenhower $1s | $9.47 | $5.96 | $6.30 | $0.34 | -$3.16 |
| 1986-2013 American Eagles | $29.95 | $18.86 | $19.94 | $1.08 | -$10.01 |
| 2010-2013 ATB Silver Coins | $149.75 | $94.30 | $99.70 | $5.40 | -$50.05 |
All coin melt values above are based on the final London silver fixings in 2012, June and July. For reference, melt values of newer bullion silver coins are also provided.
