This week there is a huge surprise in the Lincoln Silver Dollar sales figures. Additionally, we learn how the new Braille commemoratives are performing, say goodbye (again) to Lincoln Birthplace cent rolls and watch sales of the Ultra High Relief (UHR) Gold coins sputter to a near crawl.
First to the surprise. When the Lincoln Silver dollar availability date was announced, the US Mint said 50,000 of the proofs were allocated for a special five-coin set. In an eyebrow raiser, we learn that amount is likely to be substantially less.
The law authorizing the bicentennial Lincolns permits a maximum mintage of 500,000. The latest US Mint figures show 465,614 Lincoln Silver dollars have already sold. Unless something gives, that leaves less than 35,000 for the special set.
Remember, Lincoln dollars sold out with individual proof coin levels supposedly frozen since last Friday — the Mint’s online store permits orders but they will not be processed unless an older one is cancelled. It does seems strange that a waiting list is an option given there is seemingly an oversell of more than 15,000 coins. Or, does the Mint experience that many or more cancellations or returns in a typical commemorative series? It is potentially possible. 15,000 represents just a few percentage points out of the total sales.
In older news, the circulating Lincoln Cent Birthplace rolls sold out last Thursday. The numbers reported last week are unchanged. A total of 97,149 sets were purchased by collectors. It may have been mistaken thinking for many Mint watchers to expect final sales closer to 100,000.
Also to report, Louis Braille Silver Dollars join the sales tallies this week. The proof and uncirculated coins were launched Thursday, March 26. The first figures show 40,844 Braille coins have sold in less than one week. While they are not exactly instep with the blast-off pace of the Lincolns, the numbers are solid thus far.
Finally, sales of the UHR $20 gold coins slowed substantially. Only 1,104 more have been purchased since the last report. It may be time for the Mint to remove the one-coin per household order limit.
Here are the latest US Mint sales figures for each coin:
US Mint Sales Figure Tables
(Sales figures compare March, Week 4 to April, Week 1)
2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle Gold Coin |
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Old Sales
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New Sales
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Unit Change
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% Increase
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Notes
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| 1 ounce | 55,513 | 56,527 | 1,014 | 1.8% | ||
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US Mint coin information page: 2009 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle Gold Coin |
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Louis Braille Silver Dollars |
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Old Sales
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New Sales
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Unit Change
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% Increase
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Notes
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| Proof | 0 | 28,880 | 28,880 | – | ||
| Uncirculated | 0 | 11,964 | 11,964 | – | ||
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US Mint coin information page: Commemorative Coins |
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Lincoln Silver Dollars* |
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Old Sales
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New Sales
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Unit Change
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% Increase
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Notes
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| Proof | 312,075 | 329,821 | 17,746 | 5.7% | ||
| Uncirculated | 135,793 | 135,793 | – | 0.0% | ||
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US Mint coin information page: Commemorative Coins |
Lincoln Cent (Two-roll set)* |
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Old Sales
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New Sales
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Unit Change
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% Increase
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Notes
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| Birthplace |
97,149
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97,149
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–
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0.0
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US Mint coin information page: Lincoln Cent Two-Roll Sets |
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*Sold out, although there is a waiting list option for the proof Lincoln Silver Dollar.
The CoinNews collector tool page Mint Price Guide has been updated with the latest prices, coin premiums over bullion spots, and Mint sales figures.
The last reported sales figures are located at Lincoln Bicentennial Dollar, Lincoln Cent & UHR Sales Figures – Mar 26. NumisMaster has an image of all US Mint coin sales here.
