The United States Mint today, Dec. 23, announced that discounts are available by subscription for its core coins and sets. It also announced that it is extending other cost savings into 2014.
"On the heels of our free holiday shipping promotion, the United States Mint is offering additional ways for our new and existing customers to save on our products," said U.S. Mint Deputy Director Richard A. Peterson.
Discounts center around the Mint’s Online Subscription Program with cost savings continued into 2014 for certain silver products.
Subscription Discounts during Trial Promotion
A trial promotion is now available for the Mint’s subscription service. Under the promotion, a 10% discount is available on select products ordered through the program. The value offering is meant as a way to encourage customers to shop via the Mint’s online catalog at www.usmint.gov/catalog and reward those who opt for the convenience of the service.
The following products are listed as eligible for the 10% subscription discounts:
- 2014 Proof Set
- 2014 Silver Proof Set
- 2014 Mint Set
- 2014-W Proof American Silver Eagle
- 2014-W Uncirculated American Silver Eagle
- 2014 Presidential $1 Coin Proof Set
- 2014 Presidential $1 Coin Uncirculated Set
- 2014 America the Beautiful Quarters Proof Set
- 2014 America the Beautiful Quarters Silver Proof Set
- 2014 America the Beautiful Quarters Uncirculated Coin Set
- 2014 America the Beautiful Quarters Circulating Coin Set
- 2014-P America the Beautiful Five Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coins
- 2014 America the Beautiful Quarters Three-Coin Sets
- 2014 American Presidency $1 Coin Covers
According to the U.S. Mint, all discounts will be applied to both new and existing subscriptions and before shipping and handling charges are added.
Cost Savings on Silver Products
With silver prices still depressed, the United States Mint said that it would continue to offer its silver products at reduced prices. Affected items include the proof and uncirculated American Silver Eagles and the various silver proof sets.
WOW! I’m impressed!! Finally a break for the loyal subscribers that buy coins/sets year after year. This could be huge for the dealers that but many at a time, which might kill the discount program. Perhaps put a limit on the “per household” sales…
Thank You U.S. Mint!!
I like it a lot , Thank you. US Mint
I’ve been pushing for free shipping for subscriptions every survey I take with the mint but this works too, depending on the quantity one subscribes for. Add free shipping to the 10% and the mint is making it worth your while to buy from them rather than the secondary market.
It’s about time, As a long-time numismatist, I used to buy one of everything the mint produced. Back in the “old days”, that used to mean a proof set and an uncirculated set every year, and cost $10 or less. Now, with the gold/silver/platinum issues, that costs THOUSANDS of dollars to do.Even just the silver and clad issues alone cost nearly $1,000.
Better than nothing. Thank You, U.S. Mint.
I subscribe to 10 proof sets for myself and my dependent kids and grandkids. One new granddaughter this year, bumps it to 11. The freebie. That must be why the Mint started this!! At least I’ll tell her that when she’s older.
Thank you US Mint.
@Chaplain Dave Sparks: I have a spreadsheet for 2013 US Mint offerings, one of each different kind of coin from .01 to $100.00. There was an even total of 100 different coins issued, 65 clad/small silver, 35 precious metals including 5 oz. silver. For the 65 coins, it only cost $595 or so, for the remaining 35 that’s another story, well over a whopping $23K.
The prices for the 2014 silver proof set and the 2014 America the Beautiful Quarters Silver Proof Set are higher in the mint’s new subscription program than they are in the produts schedule. The 2014 America the Beautiful Quarters Silver Proof Set is $41.95 in the subscription program and $31.95 in the upcoming product schedule. The 2014 silver proof set is listed at $67.95 in the subscription program and $53.95 on the upcoming product schedule. Hopefully it’s just a simple mistake by the mint, but buyers bewar on these two subscription products.
I am strongly believe the ATB 5oz silver will be very high volume like 100000-150000, because the discount 10%, , So The issue on 2012-2013 ATB are lowest volume on the series,
@Jim – I think that was a reference price only. The mint hasn’t gotten the pricing fixed ont he products and they referenced the previous years subscription prices.
I think the only ones that make sense to subscribe to are the silver products – the others are hit or miss and would be better to purchase with a coordinated purchase to maximize shipping fees.
My experience is that subscriptions only offer convenience – not price differences. I think they should always offer subscriptions S&H free as an incentive. Maybe they’re testing the waters to see just how much free S&H affects sales.
all those mint prices were based on $24.00 silver per ounce. now the silver is down more than 20%. the mint wise enough to offer on those who order subscription at a 10% discount. that is still price over 10% profit by the mint aside from heavily mark up attached to those coins;. usually 100% or more.
@jim – yeah I’ve had subscriptions in the past and they blew up last year with charging every subscribed product a shipping fee. Then to top that off they shipped the Silver Proof set to all the subscribers and then lowered the price the following week. I cancelled all my subscriptions after that. With this discount they are actually going one better on many of the silver products – the discount is more than the shipping cost – and it makes that a no brainer… $15.50 off a 5 oz ATB…I subscribed!
How does the subscription thing work? My thought is that the product comes out, the mint sends an email asking how many you want, you decide then and there. Can you put it off till the budget allows the buy? What happens if you decide later that the budget will allow another, can you still get the same deal? Have looked at the web site and cannot find how it works.
@Kahoola – you sign in to the mints website and scroll down to the subscription link. There you are shown which products are available for a subscription – and how many you want when you subscribe. When the product is available for shipping – the mint fills your subscription. No you can’t delay the purchase until a later date – once subscribed when they become available they ship and charge your card. Yes you can order more of the same product – but the subscription price is only available to advance subscriptions. Typically you have to be subscribed several weeks… Read more »
tP – I’ve been paying S&H for all subscriptions I’ve had. And because subscription coins are all released on a different day that’s S&H for every subscription. The only way to save any money is to not subscribe and combine several coins in a single order. And now that we’re getting advance notice on release dates combining coin orders is easier to manage. The 10% discount makes things more complicated and changing prices of silver add to that. I’m going to have to set up a spreadsheet to figure this all out.
@jim – all the higher priced silver products will give you a discount that is more than the shipping cost. If like me you order more than 1 of any of the items you’ll save money. Shipping charge – $4.95 Silver Proof Set $53.95 $5.40 Proof Silver Eagle $52.95 $5.30 Uncirculated Silver Eagle $43.95 $4.40 ATB Five Ounce Silver Unc Coin $154.95 $15.50 Other than the $4.40 Silver Eagle discount the rest are no brainers for me. Since I usually order a couple of the uncirculated Eagles – I subscribed as well. Other than those – I’ll combine my orders… Read more »
A good thing…
but I suspect that it has less to do with rewarding loyal customers and everything to do with a drop in the Mints’ sales/profits due to the drop in the spot prices of Gold and Silver.
I think the mint is playing around, trying to figure out a combination of charges and discounts that gets them to some goal. To my knowledge no document has ever been published (for public consumption) stating what the goal is for the mint in offering collector (proof and unc) coins. It might be that somebody has been charged with producing such a document to provide direction to the mint which as Dep Dir Peterson has so amply proved is sorely needed.