Demand in September for United States Mint bullion coins improved from a six-year low for American Gold Eagles but slowed a bit for American Silver Eagles even as their sales drive toward an annual record.
These changing levels happened in a month that is seasonally slower for American bullion coins and in a bearish precious metals market where silver prices plunged by about 8% and gold prices dropped by about 5%.
2013 American Eagle Silver Bullion Coins
September sales of American Eagle silver coins hit 3,013,000, the lowest monthly total since December. While easily the softest point of the year, it’s nothing to sneeze at given the series kicked off in 1986 and it wasn’t until 2009 when a 3 million month became a reality.
Last month ranks as the third highest September and the 26th strongest month in the 323 that have passed since the series debuted. The level was down 16.9% from the August total of 3,625,000 (the 12th best month) and it was off 7.4% from the 3,255,000 sold during the same time last year.
For the January through September period, American Silver Eagles notched sales of 36,088,000. Only one year through all 12 of its months scored higher, and that was record year 2011 with its annual sales of 39,868,500. Back then, it took until October 20, 2011 for sales to reach where they are now.
2013 American Eagle Gold Bullion Coins
All four sizes of American Eagle gold coins advanced in September. Sales accumulated to 13,000 ounces, marking a 13% increase from the prior month yet tumbling 81% from the same time last year.
Demand for the 22-karat gold coins opened the year strong but has slowed significantly since April. August sales at 11,500 ounces were notably the weakest since July 2007, and September only upped that amount by 1,500 ounces.
Still, year-to-date sales at 704,000 ounces ranks 7th highest since the series debuted in 1986. Stronger years through the same time period include:
- 1987 at 871,500 ounces,
- 1998 at 1,175,000 ounces,
- 1999 at 1,742,000 ounces,
- 2009 at 954,000 ounces,
- 2010 at 954,500 ounces, and
- 2011 at 743,500 ounces
American Buffalo Gold Bullion Coins
For a second straight month, September sales of American Buffalo gold coins made it to 10,000. The monthly showing is 17.6% stronger than the 8,500 coins sold during the same time last year.
Orders for the 24-karat gold coins through the first nine months of this year are at 200,000. The level is 68,000 higher than the 132,000 coins sold in all of 2012.
2013 America the Beautiful Five Ounce Silver Bullion Coins
Three-inch America the Beautiful sales totaled 22,900 coins in September, up 20.5% from the previous month and 55.8% higher than September 2012. The month-over-month uptick is a second in a row for the 99.9% pure silver coins. August sales were supported by the Fort McHenry release. September was without a new release.
Monthly and total numbers for the first four 2013 America the Beautiful Five Ounce Silver Bullion Coins include:
- 2013 Fort McHenry America the Beautiful Silver Bullion Coins, adding 14,700 in September for a new total of 25,000.
- 2013 Great Basin America the Beautiful Silver Bullion Coins, climbing 3,000 in the month for a new total of 25,000.
- 2013 Perry’s Victory America the Beautiful Silver Bullion Coins, gaining 1,400 in September for a new total of 25,000.
- 2013 White Mountain America the Beautiful Silver Bullion Coins, rising 3,800 in the month for a sellout at 35,000.
Max mintages are 30,000 each for the three coins still available. This year’s final ATB silver coin is scheduled to launch in November. Its design depicts Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota and its mintage is capped at 35,000, like this year’s first release. The Mint started striking Mount Rushmore coins as early as August. (Read how the ATB silver coins are made.)
For the year so far, demand for the five ounce coins has jumped. A total of 173,100 coins for 865,500 ounces have already moved, which is markedly higher than the 118,100 coins, or 590,500 ounces, sold during all of 2012.
2013 Sales of U.S. Mint Bullion Coins
Two tables are below with breakdowns of U.S. Mint bullion sales by product. The first table lists monthly sales between January and June while the second table offers monthly sales figures between July and December. Sales totals are in the number of bullion coins sold, not in the amount of ounces.
| January – May 2013 Sales of US Mint Bullion Coins (# of coins) |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | YTD | |
| American Gold Eagle (1 oz) | 124,500 | 68,000 | 54,000 | 187,500 | 61,500 | 605,000 |
| American Gold Eagle (1/2 oz) | 17,000 | 5,000 | 4,000 | 14,000 | 2,000 | 53,000 |
| American Gold Eagle (1/4 oz) | 24,000 | 12,000 | 10,000 | 26,000 | 6,000 | 104,000 |
| American Gold Eagle (1/10 oz) | 110,000 | 70,000 | 35,000 | 85,000 | 60,000 | 465,000 |
| American Buffalo Gold (1 oz) | 72,500 | 11,500 | 11,000 | 37,000 | 12,500 | 200,000 |
| ATB Silver Coins (5 oz) | 28,960 | 14,340 | 19,800 | 0 | 25,800 | 173,100 |
| American Silver Eagle (1 oz) | 7.498M | 3.3685M | 3.3565M | 4.087M | 3.4585M | 36.088M |
| June – September 2013 Sales of US Mint Bullion Coins (# of coins) |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun | Jul | Aug | Sept | YTD | |
| American Gold Eagle (1 oz) | 49,000 | 43,000 | 9,000 | 8,500 | 605,000 |
| American Gold Eagle (1/2 oz) | 1,000 | 4,000 | 1,000 | 5,000 | 53,000 |
| American Gold Eagle (1/4 oz) | 8,000 | 8,000 | 6,000 | 4,000 | 104,000 |
| American Gold Eagle (1/10 oz) | 55,000 | 35,000 | 5,000 | 10,000 | 465,000 |
| American Buffalo Gold (1 oz) | 17,000 | 18,500 | 10,000 | 10,000 | 200,000 |
| ATB Silver Coins (5 oz) | 25,300 | 17,000 | 19,000 | 22,900 | 173,100 |
| American Silver Eagle (1 oz) | 3.275M | 4.4065M | 3.625M | 3.013M | 36.088M |
Sales above are aggregated from data published by the U.S. Mint on its website found here.
