The United States Mint kicked off 2011 differently by launching several of its core products in January instead of toward the middle or end of the year as had been the practice for around a dozen years.
The Mint’s intent with its new schedule, at least in part, is to make its popular annual products available earlier in the year and for a longer period of time so they may be purchased for more occasions like birthdays, graduations, and holidays.
January product releases included the new investment American Eagle bullion coins, an older 2010-dated Yellowstone quarter set, the core proof and silver sets, the debuting 2011-dated America the Beautiful Quarter (Gettysburg) and the first 2011 commemorative coins.
United States Mint January 2011 product schedule
The following is a breakout of the United States Mint January 2011 product schedule which includes a brief description of each product and their opening prices:
01.03.2011 – American Gold Eagle (1 oz) Bullion Coin & American Silver Eagle Bullion Coin
Coin Category: American Eagle Coins
The United States Mint one-ounce bullion versions of the American Gold Eagle and American Silver Eagle made their appearance on January 3. These are not the collector uncirculated or proof coins that feature the same designs, but the bullion versions that do not have a mint mark and are produced with investors in mind. The Gold Eagle is composed of 22-karat gold while the Silver Eagle is minted from .999 fine silver. Both bullion coins have been produced annually by the Mint since 1986. The coins are not sold directly by the United States Mint to the public but instead through a group of "Authorized Purchasers" who resell them for a small premium over the current price of gold or silver.
01.05.2011 – Yellowstone National Park Quarter Three-Coin Set
Coin Category: America the Beautiful Quarters® | Opening Price: $14.95
The three-coin set includes collector versions of the Yellowstone National Park Quarter, including a proof 25c from the San Francisco Mint, an uncirculated 25c from Philadelphia Mint, and another uncirculated 25c from the Denver Mint. The quarters represent the second issues in the America the Beautiful Quarters series. The three-coin sets are new to the US Mint product schedule, with the first one issued only in November. Their newness is a reason that a quarter which was released into circulation last year is only appearing in this numismatic offering in January.
01.11.2011 – United States Mint Proof Set®
Coin Category: Annual US Mint Product | Opening Price: $31.95
The most popular collector product from the US Mint is its 2011 Proof Set. The annual set includes 14 coins in total. All are proof versions of the same ones minted for circulation, including:
- (4) 2011-S Presidential Dollars (honoring Presidents Andrew Johnson, Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes and James Garfield)
- (1) 2011-S Native American dollar
- (1) 2011-S Kennedy half-dollar
- (1) 2011-S Roosevelt dime
- (1) 2011-S Jefferson nickel
- (1) 2011-S Lincoln cent
- (5) 2011-S America the Beautiful Quarters (Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania, Glacier National Park in Montana, Olympic National Park in Washington, Vicksburg National Military Park in Mississippi and Chickasaw National Recreation Area in Oklahoma)
Unlike the circulating coins which are produced in either Philadelphia or Denver, each of the proof coins are minted in San Francisco and bear the denoting "S" mint mark.
01.25.2011 – United States Mint Silver Proof Set®
Coin Category: Annual US Mint Product | Opening Price: $67.95
The Silver Proof Set generally ranks 2nd or 3rd in numismatic coin sales each year. In includes the same type of coins as the standard proof set described immediately above, but it is priced more than double it. The reason is that the set contains several coins which are composed of 90% silver and add up to a weight of 1.34 ounces of the precious metal. The 90% silver coins include the Roosevelt dime, all five America the Beautiful Quarters, the Kennedy half dollar. As proofs, all the coins are produced in San Francisco and have the "S" mint mark.
01.27.2011 – Gettysburg National Military Park Quarter Rolls and Bags
Coin Category: America the Beautiful Quarters® | Opening Price: $39.95 rolls; $49.95 bags
The first 2011-dated issue and the sixth in the America the Beautiful Quarters series is Gettysburg National Military Park Quarter for Pennsylvania. Each time the United States Mint releases a new quarter, it also offers $25 bags and two-roll sets of them. Each product gives buyers an opportunity to purchase new quarters directly from the Mint instead of trying to track them down in local banks or everyday change. The two-roll set has 80 quarters in total, split out with 40 in a roll from Denver and 40 in a roll from Philadelphia — the two United States Mint facilities responsible for manufacturing American circulating coins. Buyers can also opt for a 100-coin bag from either facility.
01.31.2011 – 2011 United States Army Commemorative Coins
Coin Category: Commemorative Coins
The final product release for January is the first of two series of commemorative coins for the year. The U.S. Army Commemorative Coins honor and celebrate the creation of the U.S. Army in 1775. For the first time in three years the commemoratives are available in clad, silver and gold and in proof or uncirculated qualities. Introductory prices for each range between $15.95 and $449.95. Prices go up between $19.95 to $454.95 at 5:00 PM ET on March 2. While each of the commemoratives celebrate the same event, all three feature different obverse and reverse designs. Surcharges for those sold go to the Army Historical Foundation to support the construction of the National Museum of the United States Army.
