United States Mint’s Authorized Purchasers snapped up more American Eagle Silver bullion coins in April 2011 than in any other April since the .999 fine silver coins debuted in 1986. And compared against other months through the years, April 2011 ranks in the top fifteen.
2,819,000 Silver Eagles were sold last month, exceeding previous March figures by 52,000, or 1.9 percent, and those from the same period in 2010 by a more impressive 311,000, or 12.4 percent.
Despite silver prices that surged 28.3 percent last month, however, April ranked only third best in monthly sales this year, falling behind the record 6.422 million in January and the 3.240 million in February. But then, April also tends to be one of the weaker months for bullion coins and, more importantly, true demand can not be measured as the United States Mint has been allocating the amount of Silver Eagles it sells due to tightness in its supply of silver coin blanks. These facts make April all the more impressive as it attained an all-time monthly sales ranking of 13.
Top Fifteen American Eagle Silver Monthly Sales
| 1 | January 2011 | 6,422,000 |
| 2 | November 2010 | 4,260,000 |
| 3 | December 1986 | 3,696,000 |
| 4 | May 2010 | 3,636,500 |
| 5 | January 2010 | 3,592,500 |
| 6 | March 2010 | 3,381,000 |
| 7 | February 2011 | 3,240,000 |
| 8 | October 2010 | 3,150,000 |
| 9 | March 2009 | 3,132,000 |
| 10 | June 2010 | 3,001,000 |
| 11 | July 2010 | 2,981,000 |
| 12 | October 2009 | 2,939,000 |
| 13 | April 2011 | 2,819,000 |
| 14 | July 2009 | 2,810,000 |
| 15 | December 2009 | 2,773,500 |
Even with rationing of the coin in effect, sales remain on a record pace. Over the first four months in 2011, the United States Mint has delivered 15,248,000 American Eagle Silver bullion coins. That equates to a monthly average of 3,812,00 and, if maintained, would put 2011 in the record books with over 45.7 million. The all-time annual sales record currently belongs to 2010 at 34,662,500.
The bullion Silver Eagle is different than the collector counterparts. All Silver Eagles are composed of .999 fine silver and share the same obverse and reverse designs. An easy means of telling the coins apart is searching for a mint mark. The collector proof and uncirculated versions bear a West Point "W" mint mark on their reverse. The bullion Silver Eagle has no mint mark. The coins are also sold differently. The United States Mint offers proof and uncirculated collector coins directly to the public. The Mint sells bullion coins through a network of authorized purchasers who resell them for a small premium over the current spot of silver.
