American Silver Eagles again proved their popularity as opening sales of the 2012-W Proof American Silver Eagle soared. The United States Mint reported five-days sales of nearly $18 million between their Thursday release and Monday.
As is typical for the 99.9% pure silver coin each year, the latest issue generated the best debut total for a U.S. Mint numismatic product this year. Unit sales reached 299,539 for a daily average of 59,908 coins. At its $59.95 price, the sales total over the five days summed exactly to $17,957,363.05.
Silver Eagles minted for investors and collectors are the most popular coins offered by the United States Mint. The newest bullion version, released on January 3, 2012, topped 11 million in sales on Monday. Sold at a bit over the going price of silver, it features the same design as the proof but lacks its mint mark and collector proof finish.
In returning to proofs and in recent sales comparisons, last year’s issue started with sales of over $22 million, or 367,623 units, during the first six days. The year prior, over $12.5 million, or 273,212 units, was attained in three days. The proof was not released in 2009. Debut four-day sales attained $5.9 million, or 185,232 units, in 2008.
Final sales of all the proof coins over their 26-year history are provided in the following table:
1986-2011 Proof American Silver Eagle Final Sales (Mintages)
| Year | Final Sales | Year | Final Sales | |
| 1986-S | 1,446,778 | 1999-P | 549,330 | |
| 1987-S | 904,732 | 2000-P | 600,743 | |
| 1988-S | 557,370 | 2001-W | 746,398 | |
| 1989-S | 617,694 | 2002-W | 647,342 | |
| 1990-S | 695,510 | 2003-W | 747,831 | |
| 1991-S | 511,924 | 2004-W | 801,602 | |
| 1992-S | 498,543 | 2005-W | 816,663 | |
| 1993-P | 405,913 | 2006-W | 1,092,477 | |
| 1994-P | 372,168 | 2007-W | 821,759 | |
| 1995-P | 407,822 | 2008-W | 700,979 | |
| 1995-W | 30,125 | 2009 | N/A | |
| 1996-P | 498,293 | 2010-W | 860,000 | |
| 1997-P | 435,350 | 2011-W | 950,000 | |
| 1998-P | 450,728 | 2011-P | 100,000 |
Maximum mintages have not been announced for this year’s proof, with the U.S. Mint stating that customer demand will dictate how many of them are produced.
Forthcoming collectible 2012 Silver Eagles include an uncirculated version from West Point, the possibility of an uncirculated issue from San Francisco and talk of a 75th Anniversary San Francisco Set containing a proof and reverse proof. As of today, the only other collector Silver Eagle for sale by the Mint is the 2011-W Uncirculated American Silver Eagle for $45.95. Having been released on September 15, 2011, its latest sales stand at 283,797 as of Monday, April 16.
Collectors may order the 2012-W Proof American Silver Eagle from the United States Mint website at http://catalog.usmint.gov or by calling the bureau’s toll free number 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468)
Looking at the Mintage Table, it appears that we aren’t including Reverse Proofs. I wonder if most collectors of Proof Siver Eagles consider their collection complete without them. I have the full set from 1986. It includes all 3. I wouldn’t consider my collection complete without them. Of course, it won’t be complete until I decide to hock everything in order to get the 1995-W.