Sales of the 2015 Dwight D. Eisenhower Coin & Chronicles Set ended just as quick, perhaps quicker, as the first release this year honoring Harry S. Truman. Ordering wasn’t as smooth for some customers this time, however, with parts of the U.S. Mint’s website having problems.
Released today at noon Eastern Time, the Eisenhower sets were gone in minutes. For collectors able to get their orders placed and confirmed, they’re breathing a sigh of relief. For those who didn’t, they’re voicing frustrations.
This year’s first Coin & Chronicles Set sold out within 15 minutes. It was limited to 17,000 and had a 5 per household ordering limit. It’s now selling on the secondary market for about triple its issue price. That alone created extra demand for the Eisenhower set. To broaden access, the Mint established a lower household ordering limit of 2 sets. We knew they’d still sell out, but we thought it would take longer.
"A total of 16,820 sets were sold in approximately 15 minutes," Lateefah Simms, public affairs specialist in the Mint’s Office of Corporate Communications, said in an email. "All accepted orders will be processed and fulfilled on a first-in, first-served basis according to existing United States Mint policies."
No additional inventory will be produced, Simms said, adding that the 17,000 sets are already at the Mint’s fulfillment center for immediate shipment to customers.
As for why some customers experienced issues while ordering, Adam Stump, deputy director of the U.S. Mint’s Office of Corporate Communications, provided the following statement:
"The main United States Mint web page, www.usmint.gov, was down from 12:04 p.m. to 12:21 p.m. due to an issue with a computer application unrelated to the launch of the 2015 Coin & Chronicles Set – Dwight D. Eisenhower. This application issue did not have an effect on any catalog pages, including the web page for the 2015 Coin & Chronicles Set – Dwight D. Eisenhower. Customers were still able to order the 2015 Coin & Chronicles Set – Dwight D. Eisenhower, which became Unavailable at 12:16 p.m., meaning the U.S. Mint is currently out of this item, but more may be available later. Any customer who may have normally entered the catalog site, which is any page that starts with catalog.usmint.gov, would not have experienced any issues. Any customer who attempted to enter through www.usmint.gov from 12:04 p.m. to 12:21 p.m. would have encountered an error trying to get to the catalog site. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused customers."
Product shipments, returns and exchanges will be monitored daily by the U.S. Mint. At this writing, the set’s product page is showing a status of unavailable with a "Remind Me" button. Those who use the feature can receive an email if ordering reopens.
Mike, as always, you do a stellar job here.
Thank you.
I know at 12:08 PM it’s at the product was going to was unavailable as I was trying to place an order. When I called the US Mint a CSR said 12:14 PM. Sure what time did they really become an unavailable and did they just throw some people that and anothers not?
I had an idea these would sell in 13 minutes… very close…
Sorry but that statement is not true. I accessed the website way before the time listed and had plenty of issues. It was so bad that I got to the checkout process but could not complete the order. I tried several times and eventually the item was unavailable. The US Mint dropping the ball again on a product they knew would be in high demand.
Mike et., al., as with Ernesto, I was on @ 9:00 SHARP, got to the pay page @ 9:01 then the fun begins, error, error, kicked back to pg. 1 w/my info there4 still (What?) then 3 more tries to pay all rejected, last time @ 9:11 “sold out” how can they sell faster w/a limit of 2 then w.a limit of 5, how can the mint have a crash & claim it is unrelated {!} caca – the mint has a ready buyer for AL the sets HSN, tey admitted slabbing 1/4 of the Truman sets, make the limit… Read more »
I got 2 of the sets exactly at 12:00 on the dot, I got lucky I was able to lock in my order, I am happy the sets sold out after I got mine, shows there is interest in these sets to collectors or at least coin dealers lol
I had only one issue when making the order, the check out crashed once when I was making order for my two sets but than reloaded page and submitted again and I got it, but I feel bad for the people who had to deal with the site crashing every few seconds or being overloaded not so much crashing, after I had made my order I noticed the site having issues
I can understand all the sets being sold out, most of the online coin dealing sites sent out mailers to customers in reference to buying those sets and selling them to the coin sites for a very nice premium, its was 250 for 120 you pay
keep me updated
this will be my last time to buy item in USMint,gov
If US mint really want to make money , they should make this set mintage UNLIMITED.
i got burned on JFK and Spouse set, cause it is Unlimited , and get Canadian Company help them.
I wont buy any Products From this XXXMint, Very Disappointed !!!!
Im not even going to try for the next one
I logged on at 8:55AM, refreshed the page at 9:00:01 MDST (according to my GPS clock). Took several seconds to get in, but I did place my order. The site did burp a couple of times, but I kept re-trying and got my order in.
Done by 9:06AM MDST.
Not sure what folks expect from this computer site, but when several thousand access it at once, it’s bound to get peptic !!
rs
The truth is, some of us got lucky and others didn’t.
The dealers did the same thing with the “Truman Chronicles” set.
I watched dealers selling between 10-25 sets in one auction.
Blood pressure rises for these events, Tried to buy my two, got knocked off at payment sereral times. my order disappeared without a confirmation. I checked my email and found an order number and a confirmation. I guess I got lucky!
yes truth is some got lucky. however at only 900 seconds ( 15 approx ) 17000 orders ( lets say if everyone ordered 2 that makes 8500 orders ) got placed. then you turn around and see dealers seeing nearly 500 or more on various sites including ebay. this creates a pretty unfair competition for the average guy who is collecting coins compeating with dealers paid loners who get them for these people. these very same dealers do not disclose labor paid to these people which is then illegal ( IRS code ). i am hopping mint enforces the policies… Read more »
Next month the John F. Kennedy “Coin & Chronicles” sets go up for sale.
With a mintage of 50,000–who knows what will happen.
I got my order placed an was headed to checkout by 12:03.tried for 20 minutes to get the damn thing to accept my payment info. This was about as bad as trying to get Rolling Stones tickets on ticketmaster
People that are not collectors see the opportunity to get some quick profit so they poured into the Mint Web site at the bequest of Dealers with tons of money. Dealers don’t mind paying double when they can sell at 5 Times or more. A mintage of at least “50,000” wouldn’t be so bad and would keep those “premiums” down. The Mint “paid” attention by reducing per household from “Five” to “two”. Now lets see what they do about the mass funneling by quick buck artists.
I am quite upset at the US Mint. I had the two Eisenhower Sets in my basket at 12:05….order placed, order # emailed to me. The actual order line in my web account was locked for a few hours then I received confirmation and could access the order. It was the 2014 Roosevelt Set. Somewhere during the process it placed the wrong order. Everyone better check their orders. Keep in mind I clicked through the home page banner…I never went into the online catalog.
Jack, after reading your comment, I got a bit nervous and checked my “Order Status” and it is the “2015 Eisenhower Coin & Chronicles.”
Whew!!!
You know what, this got everyone’s attention on the mint after all of the years crappy returns on issues such as proof sets etc. You can snag a 1982 proof set for $4-$5 less than what you paid for it 33 years ago. How fun is that? 2014’s proof set is sure to sell our soon as well and should be a lower mintage than the 2012’s. This is exciting! I don’t think there was a lot of though put into the 17,000 mintage for the reverse proof items and everything was hastily decided on the poor performance of the… Read more »
Jack, you make an excellent point. Well written.
Thanks so much Chris! Mark my words on the 2014 proof set! I think it is within a few weeks if not days.
Personally, and it’s just my opinion, but I find it unethical to sell anything before you actually have it in your possession.
Within a week of today, I bet we sell Ebay sellers listing the John F. Kennedy “Coin & Chronicles Set.”
Sorry about the above typo…I meant to write “I bet we see Ebay sellers…..”
What would be really interesting is to find out, is the number of sellers who sold their sets on “Presale” and never got their order through.
boycott people trying to turn a buck on ebay..hsn..let them get stuck with the coins
The mint should cut out the middle men (dealers & flippers) and sell the coins on Ebay & HSN.
Mike “Sold Out, Limited Edition” Mezak will be hawking them in no time on HSN.
Had order in at 12:02. Went to payment page all my info there but would not let me confirm. Coin collecting isn’t what it used to be!
Ordered at 1206..confirmation at 1232
Only one out of 5 guys who tried…..
Did I want this set,yes.Did I get this set,no.Where was I when this set went up!On my boat prepping for 10 days in the Ca delta waterways.Later.
Coin collection is Hobby or Money Maker ? Anyone know?
IF US MINT want really Big Profit, they should cooperate with American Business make some Unique coins and insert it to the merchandise box like Cheerio , Charge the Company 100 Million dollar , lol
Did anyone know where is the 18 of 24k gold Sacagawea coin ? That coin is Amazing ever made by Modern US Mint, ( Legal Tender) , may be more valueable than 1963 Peace Dollar
I also was on the mint site prior to the noon release. Nothing but problems trying to place the order. Actually it was my wife that did the order since I was not available. She got so distraught, she was crying. Even though she did get the order in at 12:07, somehow we were charged a second time at 12:43. I also got two emails 45 minutes apart and both had the same order number. Also the order changed to budget shipping even though the $12.95 option was chosen. When I called the mint I was told the only order… Read more »
There’s a lot of complaining on here – we should be pleased that the Mint actually produced a set that is WORTH MORE THAN ONE PAID FOR IT! HALLELUJAH! Praise God we have items they make that actually rise in value – the Mint got it right! 1st come, 1st serve + low mintage = valuable product that makes people want to keep investing in US Mint products. That said, I also experienced the same nonsense of item in the cart, but somehow Mint doesn’t record my shipping address and once I put it in it still doesn’t accept it… Read more »
And the set was sold out at 12:09 or earlier, because I couldn’t place my order since it was sold out by then. 12:14 is a bold faced lie by the US Mint.
These offerings are only more valued than the offered price is plane and simple .Produce far below product demand.These are manufactured commonities.Artifically created rarities.Hello.
Don’t be discouraged,Save your collector credits for future opportunities
I wished everyone “GOOD LUCK” on the ordering before it was time to order. Well I should have wished MYSELF GOOD LUCK. I was not one of the lucky one that got theirs. But I am happy for the collectors that got theirs. As for the dealers who paid others to buy for them so that they can make money off these sets, they are not collectors but only money makers. It seems like the mint is selling most of it’s “COLLECTABLES” to dealers like HSN’S Mike “SOLD OUT LIMITED EDITION, EXCLUSIVE TO US” Mezak. And he is not the… Read more »
Thank you, Joe. I gave Mike “Sold Out, Limited Edition” and Mezak and Alan “I Get My Coins In A Sandwich Bag” Cranston those “names” while I was doing a YouTube video on them years ago.
I had it in my cart, and crashed multi times 12:15 finally finished checkout to get the “this product is no lomger avail.” I was on redial with my phone to.
MCM sent emails offering double. They would even do the order.
guess they sent a memo to coin dealers that they would shut down site then restart it at 12:21 for them to place orders
Was on the U.S. Mint website at exactly 12:00 noon and kept getting disconnected when trying to confirm my order. I was very frustrated, but finally was able to confirm my order. I wonder if MCM’s robocalling in of hundreds of orders all at once had anything to do with the website problems. Perhaps the mint’s IT people should find a way to only accept one order from each customer’s computer or telephone.
What ? MCM Robocalling??? then we (the real Collectors) need to stop buying from them or BOYSCOTT them
As I commented following yesterday’s article, this was designed to gin everyone up to buy the JFK CC sets, now slated for 50,000 mintage, and destined to be the dog of the series. Don’t give in!
Here’s a response I got from the Mint just now —- Dear Valued Customer, This letter is in response to your recent correspondence to the United States Mint. Due to the much anticipated release of this product, we have now sold through all available inventory, and the product is currently unavailable for purchase. The main United States Mint web page, http://www.usmint.gov, was down from 12:04 p.m. to 12:21 p.m. due to an issue with a computer application unrelated to the launch of the 2015 Coin & Chronicles Set – Dwight D. Eisenhower. This application issue did not have an effect… Read more »
I signed into my account a few minutes before noon and went to the Eisenhower C&C page (I forget which site I went through). After refreshing the page a few times I clicked on the Add to Bag button as soon as I could. In the checkout page I selected my credit card, added the security code and chose the address I wanted to coins sent to. Next a box showed up and said I couldn’t continue. So I refreshed the checkout page and tried again. Next the page wouldn’t even load. This happened quite a few times. I even… Read more »
I too was lucky and got my one set. That’s all I figured I could afford at the time. I didn’t even try for the Trumsn set, don’t know why but I really don’t like the dollar series. I’m thinking that one of the basic problems is that everyone is sitting on the site with their fingers on the button than at 12:00 noon everyone hits the button at about the same time, I think that site would be overloaded by that. It just seems logical. I got knocked off several times but finally got an order through. It seems… Read more »
Broadwing, I entirely agree with your post. My experience was similar to yours.
I am also getting tired of hearing the whining of most of the people writing the postings in this or the previous article. Hey folks, sometimes you win, sometimes you loose. What amazes me the most is how important the clock minutes precision IS to all these people. OMG! Were you trying to get your coins or watching the time? All I cared was that I started after 12:00 like the directions said.