United States Mint 2010 Gold Eagle Bullion Coins stumbled in December. However, previous monthly levels helped lift their annual sales to a sixth all-time high during a year when gold prices rallied nearly 30 percent for their 10th annual gain. Buyers in 2010 scooped up 1,220,500 ounces of the 22 karat American Eagle Gold bullion coins which were introduced in 1986. The level marks a 14 percent decline from the previous year.
December, historically one of the strongest months of the year for US Mint bullion coin sales, turned out to be dismal for the 2010 Gold Eagle. Authorized buyers ordered 60,000 ounces during the month, making it the second lowest sales month of the year and marking a 74 percent drop from the same period a year ago. Sales tumbled 46 percent from November 2010.
December’s decline broke a string of three consecutive monthly increases that began following the weakest performance in 2010 when buyers ordered just 41,500 ounces of Gold Eagles in August.
The following table provides a breakout by month and gold coin size — both in total ounces and in the number of coins sold.
2010 Gold Eagle Bullion Coin Sales
| Month | One ( oz. / # ) |
Half ( oz. / # ) |
Quarter ( oz. / # ) |
Tenth ( oz. / # ) |
Total ( oz. / # ) |
| January | 85,000 85,000 |
0 0 |
0 0 |
0 0 |
85,000 85,000 |
| February | 84,000 84,000 |
0 0 |
0 0 |
0 0 |
84,000 84,000 |
| March | 102,000 102,000 |
0 0 |
0 0 |
0 0 |
102,000 102,000 |
| April | 60,500 60,500 |
0 0 |
0 0 |
0 0 |
60,500 60,500 |
| May | 190,000 190,000 |
0 0 |
0 0 |
0 0 |
190,000 190,000 |
| June | 97,000 97,000 |
15,500 31,000 |
11,000 44,000 |
28,000 280,000 |
151,500 452,000 |
| July | 147,500 147,500 |
1,000 2,000 |
500 2,000 |
3,000 30,000 |
152,000 181,500 |
| August | 39,000 39,000 |
500 1,000 |
500 2,000 |
1,500 15,000 |
41,500 57,000 |
| September | 82,500 82,500 |
1,000 2,000 |
1,500 6,000 |
3,000 30,000 |
88,000 120,500 |
| October | 89,500 89,500 |
1,500 3,000 |
500 2,000 |
2,500 25,000 |
94,000 119,500 |
| November | 107,500 107,500 |
3,000 6,000 |
1,000 4,000 |
500 5,000 |
112,000 122,500 |
| December | 58,500 58,500 |
500 1,000 |
500 2,000 |
500 5,000 |
60,000 66,500 |
| Total Sales | 1,143,500 1,143,500 |
23,000 46,000 |
15,500 62,000 |
39,000 390,000 |
1,220,500 1,641,000 |
Demand in December for the one-ounce and fractional one-half and one-quarter ounce Gold Eagle sizes retreated from November while the fractional one-tenth ounce size remained the same at 5,000 coins. As for total coin sales, figures had not reached as low in a December since 2007.
December Gold Eagle Bullion Coin Sales: 1986-2010
While annual Gold Eagle Bullion Coin sales ranked sixth all-time last year, it was also only the sixth time annual sales topped the 1 million milestone. The years above 1 million include: 1986 (1,787,750); 1987 (1,253,000); 1998 (1,839,500); 1999 (2,055,500); 2009 (1,425,000); and 2010 (1,220,500).
Annual Gold Eagle Bullion Coin Sales: 1986-2010
Final mintages for each 2010-dated Gold Eagle is not yet known. The mintages will be different than the annual sales figures as the US Mint sold 51,000 of the one-ounce 2009-dated coins in 2010 and continued to sell the remaining inventory of 2010-dated coins in early 2011. The bullion 2011 Gold Eagles were released January 3, 2011.
American Gold Eagle bullion coins are different than the numismatic counterparts coin collectors most prefer. All Gold Eagles are composed of .9167 fine gold and feature the same designs on the obverse and reverse. However, unlike the collector versions, the investment-grade bullion coins are not sold directly by the US Mint to the public, they do not feature the collector proof or uncirculated finishes, and they do not bear the West Point "W" mintmark (although they are all produced there).
