April demand for American Gold Eagles strengthened following a dismal March and American Silver Eagles maintained their swagger, scoring the sixth highest monthly sales total and the best April.
A sales summary across United States Mint bullion products for April and the year-to-date follow.
American Eagle Silver Bullion Coins
American Eagle silver coins hit 4,590,500 in April, down 14.3% from the prior month’s 5,354,000 but up 12.3% from the 4,087,000 sold during the same month last year.
Monthly figures cannot paint a complete picture of demand for the 99.9% pure silver coins because the U.S. Mint continues to ration sales. With that said, only five other months in the coin’s 29-year history notched higher sales. They include:
- January 2013 with 7,498,000
- January 2011 with 6,422,000
- January 2012 with 6,107,000
- March 2014 with 5,354,000
- January 2014 with 4,775,000
American Silver Eagle sales in the January to April period log in at 18,469,500, topping the previous record four-month start of 18,310,000 in 2013. This year’s total is already higher than annual sales of all but 6 years since 1986.
American Eagle Gold Bullion Coins
April sales of American Eagle gold coins reached 38,500 ounces, soaring 83.3% above the prior month’s 21,000 ounces but coming nowhere near the 209,500 ounces sold in April 2013 — a banner month in which sales were the highest since December 2009.
22-karat American Gold Eagles are struck in sizes of 1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz and 1/10 oz that correspond to denominations on the coins of $50, $25, $10 and $5. All gained in April. Breakouts by size are further below.
Gold Eagle sales in the January to April period summed to 182,000 ounces, which is the slowest four-month start since 2008.
American Eagle Platinum Bullion Coins
April sales of 99.95% fine American Platinum Eagle coins settled in at 1,200, expectedly lower than the 10,000 moved in the prior month when they debuted for the first time since 2008.
In that year, annual sales hit 33,700 ounces. Then they were available in sizes of 1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz and 1/10 oz. This year there is only the 1 oz size.
American Buffalo Gold Bullion Coins
American Buffalo gold coins rallied 17,500 in April compared to 12,000 in March. The total is the strongest since the 2014-dated coins debuted in January at 41,500, but is down from sales of 37,000 in April 2013.
Sales of the 24-karat gold coin in the January to April period tagged in at 83,000, markedly lower than the 132,000 sold during the same time last year.
America the Beautiful Five Ounce Silver Bullion Coins
Lastly, America the Beautiful Five Ounce Silver Bullion Coins tacked on 1,200 after climbing 12,400. All were Great Smoky Mountains National Park coins since the other 2014-dated ATB coins have yet to be issued. Released on March 17, the United States Mint on April 21 said its existing inventory of Great Smoky Mountains coins sold out and that more would be available in a few weeks.
Last year’s first 2013-dated America the Beautiful Silver Bullion Coin did not launch until May 13, 2013.
US Mint Bullion Sales by Product
Offered in the table below are April sales of U.S. Mint bullion coins by product type. For comparative purposes, included are sales totals from prior 2014 months and from a year ago.
| United States Mint Bullion Coin Sales (# of coins) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 2013 | January 2014 | February 2014 | March 2014 | April 2014 | YTD Sales | ||
| $100 American Eagle Platinum Coins (1 oz) | N/A | N/A | N/A | 10,000 | 1,200 | 11,200 | |
| $50 American Eagle Gold Coins (1 oz) | 187,500 | 62,500 | 22,000 | 16,000 | 26,000 | 126,500 | |
| $25 American Eagle Gold Coins (1/2 oz) | 14,000 | 12,000 | 3,000 | 2,000 | 5,000 | 22,000 | |
| $10 American Eagle Gold Coins (1/4 oz) | 26,000 | 28,000 | 10,000 | 4,000 | 20,000 | 62,000 | |
| $5 American Eagle Gold Coins (1/10 oz) | 85,000 | 160,000 | 50,000 | 30,000 | 50,000 | 290,000 | |
| $50 American Buffalo Gold Coins (1 oz) | 37,000 | 41,500 | 12,000 | 12,000 | 17,500 | 83,000 | |
| ATB Silver Coins (5 oz) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12,400 | 10,600 | 23,000 | |
| American Silver Eagle Coins (1 oz) | 4.087M | 4,755,000 | 3,750,000 | 5,354,000 | 4,590,500 | 18,468,500 | |
U.S. Mint bullion products are sold in bulk to "Authorized Purchasers" who consist of major coin and precious metals dealers, brokerage companies, and other participating financial intermediaries. Bullion coins are usually available for a few percentage points above the latest value of their precious metal content.
