Demand would have to rise sharply for the 2014 Civil Rights Act of 1964 Silver Dollars to reach their authorized 350,000 mintage, according to the latest sales figures from the United States Mint. They are moving at a snail’s pace compared to opening sales of past commemoratives.
Sales kicked off Thursday, Jan. 2, for the coins commemorating the semicentennial of the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Available in proof and uncirculated qualities and at introductory prices of $49.95 and $44.95, debut sales through Sunday, Jan. 5, reached 14,480 across both coins. The breakdowns were:
- 10,056 for the 2014 Proof Civil Rights Act of 1964 Silver Dollar and
- 4,424 for the 2014 Uncirculated Civil Rights Act of 1964 Silver Dollar
Proof coins tend to widely outperform uncirculated coins but the proof Civil Rights Act of 1964 Silver Dollar also has the added advantage of its "enhanced proof quality." The reverse design incorporates multiple laser frosting and polishing techniques in a combination of finishes never used on a United States Mint coin.
Comparing Debut Sales of Recent Commemorative Silver Dollars
As for starting sales of the 2014 Civil Rights Act Silver Dollars, they are handily the weakest among recent silver commemorative coins.
| Debut Sales | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Proof | Uncirculated | Total | |
| 2014 Civil Rights Act Silver Dollars | 10,056 | 4,424 | 14,480 |
| 2013 Girl Scouts Silver Dollars | 29,331 | 12,293 | 41,624 |
| 2013 5-Stars Generals Silver Dollars | 19,188 | 8,110 | 27,298 |
| 2012 Star-Spangled Banner Dollars | 44,479 | 18,763 | 63,242 |
| 2012 Infantry Solider Silver Dollars | 42,484 | 12,191 | 54,675 |
| 2011 Medal of Honor Silver Dollars | 25,156 | 10,346 | 35,502 |
| 2011 US Army | 46,895 | 20,698 | 67,593 |
| 2010 Boy Scouts Silver Dollars | 144,732 | 69,941 | 214,673 |
| 2010 Disabled Veterans Silver Dollars | 66,209 | 32,149 | 98,358 |
The authorizing law for the commemoratives states that sales of the coins must close by the end of the year. If they continue to show weakness as the year progresses, some collectors will grow increasingly more interested in them based alone on lower mintages.
What are the chances of the mint lowering the price due to slow or sluggish sales? I believe that price should reflect the demand, not the other way around.
I bought one set, just to have it. I figure because of the subject matter, it’s not going to be a big seller. Released today, “More than $17,000,000,000,000 dollars spent on the poor since the “civil rights act” was passed. How many is Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson going to buy?
Cant say that this is a particularly popular theme or attractive design. But slow sales likely are because half the country is preoccupied with diggingout, trying to stay warm, and finding food at cleaned out stores.
January is a tough month for optionals too. Most buyers wainting for new eagles, upcoming standard sets, and licking wounds as their December credit card bills come in.
Our reponsibility is to keep the malls and car dealerships in business, not to buy every ugly coin that our govermnent cooks up.
But wait a few weeks and perhaps sales will come around.
I think the mint gets a pass for some of the recent less than inspiring offerings, but to consistantly offer them is not going to gain buyers. I know many who bought the Boy Scout coin even though they were perplexed by the presence of a girl on it. Then the Girl Scout coin which was really not very well done, and that is followed by this offering – which is an apparent continuation of the 3 figures on the coin plan. This is probably less inspiring to me than either of the others. The subject is fine, the presentation… Read more »
Ugly, ugly, ugly!!!! They are so STUPID to have chosen this design compared to the LB……
Well, aside from collectors’ obligatory purchases maybe these will be among the lowest minted commemorative coins and rarity will change their popularity near December time.
I echo the statements – it is the ugly 3 person design (Jamestown, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, on and on), a subject that no one wanted, and as usual over priced. The spot price plus the $10 fee means the mint is taking in $20 per coin on the proof. The mint isn’t to blame for the subject and the design – they just handed garbage and are forced to mint what they are told. I blame the CFA and the CCAC for allowing an agenda to guide design and not having the guts to say no to stupid designs.… Read more »
Hello collectors,
I agree that commemorative designs are lacking of late. There seems to be no effort in design beauty and intricacy of design features (within reason) that coin collectors want to see.
There is however, one up side to the low mintage. For example, the uncirculated mintage for the Girl Scout Coin was just above 37,000 (including the young collectors set). As ugly as this coin is, an MS 70 will increase in value due to the low total mintage.
I received my set, on Saturday, February 1st. They look nice and a lot of care was taken to produce an attractive coin. However, whether they sell out or not, depends on whether those who benefitted from the law, show some gratitude and buy one, for themselves. The mint could have gone one step further and printed on the outer sleeve and the inner box top, the type of coin, inside. Uncirculated and Proof goes a long way to identifying the coin inside.