October turned out to be a mixed month for 2012 American Eagle gold and silver coins, sales figures from the United States Mint show. Demand for the investment-grade bullion coins dipped from September, but monthly sales for the first time in 2012 were higher than the same month a year ago.
Stronger-than-expected bullion sales came despite inconsistent daily advances and tumbling gold and silver prices. There was not a single week during the month in which sales of American Eagle gold and silver coins occurred on more than two days — atypical to be sure, and highlighting a cautious investment landscape.
October sales of American Eagle gold coins totaled 59,000 ounces as every size — one ounce, one-half ounce, one-quarter ounce, and one-tenth ounce — advanced for only the fourth month this year. The tally is down from the 68,500 ounces in September yet above the 50,000 ounces in October 2011. Four previous months this year logged higher sales but two of those were by less than 2,501 ounces.
Year-do-date sales for the 22-karat gold coins are 540,500 ounces, marking a significant drop from the 893,500 ounces during the same time in 2011 and the lowest level since safe-haven bullion demand started surging in 2008 as a result of the Great Recession.
October sales of American Eagle silver coins reached 3,153,000, down from the 3,255,000 in September but higher than the 3,064,000 in October 2011. It was only the third time this year that the Silver Eagles topped 3 million in a month. Aside from September, the only other better 2012 month was January’s 6,107,000 — the second all-time high monthly total going back to the Silver Eagle’s introduction in 1986.
Year-to-date sales for the 99.9% fine silver coins are 28,948,000. The only ten-month period that was better was last year’s 36,475,500.
October sales of American Buffalo gold coins were 11,000, up from the 8,500 in September but lower than the 12,500 in October 2011. The only better months in 2012 were the 26,000 in March and the 13,500 in January.
Year-to-date total for the 24-karat gold coins stands at 107,500. That compares to 145,000 in the first ten months of 2011.
Finally, October sales of America the Beautiful Five Ounce Silver Bullion Coins were 22,100 coins or 110,500 ounces. The monthly amount is the best this year, easily outpacing the previous month’s 14,700 coins or 73,500 ounces. Sales were lifted by the October 22 release of the coin depicting Denali National Park. U.S. Mint distributors ordered 12,500.
Other five-ounce bullion sales figures for the month include:
- 2012 El Yunque National Forest Silver Coins at 200 for an all-time total of 18,100
- 2012 Chaco Culture National Park Silver Coins at 1,000 for a new total of 18,200
- 2012 Acadia National Park Silver Coins at 3,800 for an all-time total of 21,800
- 2012 Hawai’i National Park Silver Coins at 4,600 for a new total of 15,000
Offered below is a breakdown of U.S. Mint bullion coins sold each month and their sales for 2012.
| January-October and YTD 2012 US Mint Bullion Coin Sales | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2012 | Feb 2012 | Mar 2012 | Apr 2012 | May 2012 | Jun 2012 | Jul 2012 | Aug 2012 | Sept 2012 | Oct 2012 | YTD 2012 | |
| Gold Eagle (1 oz) | 84,500 | 20,000 | 57,500 | 19,000 | 49,000 | 55,000 | 28,500 | 34,000 | 63,000 | 54,000 | 464,500 |
| Gold Eagle (1/2 oz) | 49,000 | 0 | 2,000 | 0 | 3,000 | 2,000 | 0 | 3,000 | 2,000 | 2,000 | 63,000 |
| Gold Eagle (1/4 oz) | 38,000 | 2,000 | 0 | 2,000 | 4,000 | 6,000 | 2,000 | 4,000 | 4,000 | 4,000 | 66,000 |
| Gold Eagle (1/10 oz) | 85,000 | 5,000 | 40,000 | 5,000 | 15,000 | 25,000 | 15,000 | 25,000 | 35,000 | 30,000 | 280,000 |
| Gold Buffalo (1 oz) | 13,500 | 7,000 | 26,000 | 9,000 | 9,500 | 10,000 | 4,000 | 9,000 | 8,500 | 11,000 | 107,500 |
| ATB Silver Coins (5 oz) | 5,700 | 300 | 1,800 | 200 | 5,600 | 7,900 | 18,700 | 19,400 | 14,700 | 22,100 | 96,400 |
| Silver Eagle | 6.107M | 1.49M | 2.542M | 1.52M | 2.875M | 2.858M | 2.278M | 2.87M | 3.255M | 3.153M | 28.948M |
All sales above are in number of coins sold, not in the amount of ounces. This site’s American Eagle guide provides at least weekly updated figures.
