Australian sales of bullion gold and silver soared in July, the latest figures from the Perth Mint show. As precious metals tumbled last month, the Mint’s gold sales leapt to a nine-month high while their silvers sales jumped to an eighth-month high. Mint bullion sales also raced past their year-ago levels.
Perth Mint orders of gold coins and gold bars shot up to 51,088 ounces last month, surging 64.7% from the 31,019 ounces sold in June and more than doubling the 25,103 ounces delivered in July 2014. The monthly tally was the highest since October last year. Gold sales from the January through July period hit 219,738 ounces, off 17.4% from last year’s starting seven-month total of 266,094 ounces.
Perth Mint silver coins at 746,700 ounces in July jumped 94.2% from the prior month’s 384,586 ounces and hurdled 29.2% higher than the 577,988 ounces sold during the same month last year. Sales for the month were the highest since November 2014. For the year to date, silver sales combine to 3,557,694 ounces for a 11.2% drop from the same period last year when they reached 4,006,324 ounces.
Perth Mint Gold and Silver Sales by Month
Below is a monthly breakdown of Perth Mint bullion sales from July 2014 to July 2015.
| Perth Mint Bullion Sales (in troy ounces) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Silver | Gold | |
| July 2015 | 746,700 | 51,088 |
| June 2015 | 384,586 | 31,019 |
| May 2015 | 337,511 | 21,671 |
| April 2015 | 472,273 | 26,545 |
| March 2015 | 638,557 | 34,260 |
| February 2015 | 392,114 | 31,981 |
| January 2015 | 585,953 | 23,174 |
| December 2014 | 477,731 | 40,211 |
| November 2014 | 851,836 | 49,904 |
| October 2014 | 655,881 | 55,350 |
| September 2014 | 756,839 | 68,781 |
| August 2014 | 818,856 | 36,369 |
| July 2014 | 577,988 | 25,103 |
Australian Funnel-Web Spider Coin Sells Out
In related news, the Perth Mint said its 2015 Australian Funnel-Web Spider 1oz Silver Bullion Coin is no longer available, with sales reaching the 1 million maximum in less than six months.
"The coin’s reverse design portraying the infamous Australian Funnel-Web Spider proved central to its popular appeal," the Perth Mint said on its bullion blog.
The 99.9% pure silver coin was introduced in March; sold in protective tubes containing 25 coins and in monster boxes of 20 tubes containing 500 coins. The tubes were $5.00 over metal per coin, with the price decreasing to $3.95 over metal for 500 coins. The product continues to be sold by bullion coin dealers around the world.
United States Mint Bullion Sales in July
U.S. Mint bullion sales in July also soared over the prior month and year-ago levels. The agency’s core American Gold Eagles at 170,000 ounces logged the highest monthly total since April 2013, and was 466.7% stronger than sales in July 2014. Its flagship American Silver Eagles at 5,529,000 ounces in July advanced 14.2% from the prior month and leapt 180% higher than a year ago. That, despite temporarily selling out in July with sales halted for nearly three weeks.
