US Mint Sales: 2010 Buffalo Gold Proof Coins Top 21,000

Excitement is generally muted in the latest batch of United States Mint coin sales figures.

There were a few standouts that either jumped or passed new thresholds.

The 2010 American Veterans Disabled for Life Silver Dollars qualify for the former with sales surging 5,243, more than doubling the level of recent weekly gains. If that pace could be maintained, the commemoratives would actually sell out by year’s end and join the 2010 Boy Scouts coins at 350,000. The DAV coins are currently are at 214,808 or 61.37% of their maximum. Collectors are buying 2.34 proofs for every 1 uncirculated coin.

2010 American Buffalo Gold Proof Coins topped 21,000. Interest in the numismatic 24-karat gold pieces have been progressively declining since their June 3, 2010 opening day, with weekly reported gains starting at 17,465 and then falling to 2,054 and now 1,540. Their bullion counterpart rose mildly by 2,000 to 160,500 for the year.

1/10 oz fractional American Gold Eagles hit the 280,000 milestone. Those, along with the 1/2 oz and 1/4oz sizes, were issued on June 10, 2010. Aside from their debuting numbers, sales of late have been sluggish despite record high gold prices. Price is clearly a factor, with the more affordable 1/10 oz fractionals far outpacing their brethren. Their sales have now passed the 260,000 sold in 2008 and in 2009.

As expected, American Silver Eagles did top 18 million for the year in June, but their pace slowed during the month as is more traditional during the summer season. It appears their June level will hold at 3,001,000, making the month the fourth best of 2010. Then again, six months of sales added up to the aforementioned 18+ million — more, by far, than have ever been sold during the same time frame. Sales could plummet to 1.8 million a month through the rest of the year and 2010 would still break last year’s annual, all-time record of 28,766,500.

The Mint’s June 30 deadline for 2009 DC and U.S. Territories First Day Coin Covers attracted buyers. The covers again shot up. The below numbers are likely to be the final figures provided by the Mint this year, as it seldom offers updated unaudited tallies after a product is taken off sale.

Finally, the Pierce Presidential $1 Coin & First Spouse Medal Set debuting sales are in at 1,340, which covers from their release on Thursday, June 24, to Sunday, June 27. As a comparison, the prior Fillmore set opened at 2,362.

US Mint Collector Coin Sales

(Data compare previous to current Mint sales reports)

*NLA – No Longer Available.

The collector coin sales figures above have an "as of date" of June 27, 2010.