The United States Mint kicks off the New Year with a busy January, launching 13 different products targeted for collectors.
They include two American Eagles, three special occasion coin sets, a set of quarters, and seven options with World War I Centennial Silver Dollars and companion medals.
Proof American Silver Eagle
One of the U.S. Mint’s most popular annual products, the 1-ounce .999 fine proof American Silver Eagle from West Point, launches on Jan. 4. More than 200,000 will likely get sold on the first day.
This new issue appears as the thirty-second coin in a series dating back to 1986. The Mint has yet to publish its price. The 2016- and 2017-dated proof American Silver Eagles are still available and are $53.95 each.
The U.S. Mint will also release a proof Silver Eagle from the San Francisco Mint. That coin is set for a release summertime release.
Special Occasion Sets
The 2018 Birth Set, the 2018 Happy Birthday Coin Set, and the 2018 Congratulations Set will launch on Jan. 11. They include one or more coins in proof quality that are presented within a uniquely themed folder with space for a personalized message.
This year’s Congratulations Set holds a "W" proof American Silver Eagle while both the Birth and Happy Birthday sets contain:
- a Kennedy half dollar,
- a Roosevelt dime,
- a Jefferson nickel,
- a Lincoln penny and
- an America the Beautiful quarter.
The Birth Set’s quarter features a design honoring Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan while the Birthday Set’s quarter design celebrates Block Island National Wildlife Refuge in Rhode Island.
Pricing for the Congratulation Set is not yet available. Last year’s set was $54.95. The Birth and Happy Birthday sets are $19.95 each.
WWI Centennial Commemoratives
Look to Jan. 17 for commemorative World War I Centennial Silver Dollars and companion silver medals. The proof and uncirculated dollars honor the 100th anniversary of America’s involvement in the First World War. The five silver medals support the commemorative coin program with designs that pay homage to the Army, Navy, Air Service, Marines and Coast Guard.
The medals will not be sold separately like the dollars, nor will they available within one medal set. Instead, each is packaged with a proof WWI Centennial Silver Dollar. (Review their prices in this article.)
2018 Quarters Proof Set
The annual set of proof quarters from the San Francisco Mint debuts on Jan. 23. The U.S. Mint’s program of America the Beautiful Quarters® honors national sites throughout the United States and its territories. This year’s quarters celebrate sites in:
- Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan.
- Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in Wisconsin.
- Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota.
- Cumberland Island National Seashore in Georgia.
- Block Island National Wildlife Refuge in Rhode Island.
The five quarters of the set are packaged within a single protective lens, placed in an illustrated box, and sold for $14.95.
Proof American Platinum Eagle
On Jan. 25, the U.S. Mint will begin selling its 2018-dated proof American Platinum Eagle from West Point. This issue is the first in a new 3-year design series memorializing the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence. The three 1-ounce .9995 platinum coins bear unique obverse designs but have the same eagle-in-flight reverse design. Past coins in the series, which were introduced in 1997, share the same obverse design and have different reverse designs.
This year’s obverse features "Life" personified by Lady Liberty teaching a small child to sow seeds in a field. Its reverse shows an eagle in flight. Years 2019 and 2020 offer designs emblematic of "Liberty" and the "Pursuit of Happiness."
Pricing of the coin is based on the prevailing cost of platinum and can change weekly.
US Mint January Product Schedule
Here’s a grid breaking down the scheduled U.S. Mint products for January 2018:
| Release Dates | Numismatic Products | Prices |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 4 | 2018-W Proof American Silver Eagle | TBD |
| Jan 11 | 2018 Birth Set | $19.95 |
| Jan 11 | 2018 Congratulations Set | TBD |
| Jan 11 | 2018 Happy Birthday Coin Set | $19.95 |
| Jan 17 | 2018-P Proof WWI Centennial Silver Dollar | $51.95 |
| Jan 17 | 2018-P Uncirculated WWI Centennial Silver Dollar | $48.95 |
| Jan 17 | WWI Centennial Silver Dollar and Air Service Medal Set | $99.95 |
| Jan 17 | WWI Centennial Silver Dollar and Army Medal Set | $99.95 |
| Jan 17 | WWI Centennial Silver Dollar and Coast Guard Medal Set | $99.95 |
| Jan 17 | WWI Centennial Silver Dollar and Marine Corps Medal Set | $99.95 |
| Jan 17 | WWI Centennial Silver Dollar and Navy Medal Set | $99.95 |
| Jan 23 | 2018 America the Beautiful Quarters Proof Set | $14.95 |
| Jan 25 | 2018-W Proof American Platinum Eagle | TBD |
Collector products launch at noon (ET) on the day of their release. Orders may then be placed through the U.S. Mint website at catalog.usmint.gov or by phone at 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468).
Many splintered sets spread across the spectrum in different packages. This is a hindrance to collectors. If the annual offerings did not extend to the following year or years, there would possibly be more interest. Knowing these facts, many may decide to forego any initial offerings at the outset.
I agree, they are trying to sell far too many things. Unfortunately it appears that the people who design and package these products aren’t really numismatists, but are aiming at a mass market. Eventually this search for the lowest common denominator becomes a race to the bottom. Serious collectors will stick with what makes sense for them, within affordable limits.
The mint has turned it’s target sheep into the opposing party….is politix bleeding into life & coins, no one seems listen @ the mint, THEY know best, like raising silver prices when they already exceed almost 3x spot for proof ASEs……….making the medals only available by buying a fugly WW1 commem….PA$$
That’s 13 items I will not be buying.
The Mint has the nerve to raise the price of the 2018 Proof ASE $1 1-ounce .9993 fine silver coin from an already ridiculous price of $53.95 to $55.95 this year when silver is at $17 an ounce! They are out of control with way fewer customers since 2014 & raising their prices too. Stupid plan!
-NumisdudeTX
Seth,
You got that right in more ways than one.
Agree. I decided to to put up with the us mint shinaenigans anymore n I will only buy the case burnished from now on to keep my set going.
Maybe they bought the silver for the 2017 ASE production in March 2016 at about $15 / oz spot, and the 2018 ASE silver in March 2017 at about $17 / oz., so the $2 price increase gets passed on to us? Either that, or we’re picking up the tab for the for the new “free” budget shipping? So my 5 coin order (x $2 more), will cost me $10 more, but I’ll get the $4.95 “free” shipping savings… Bottom line, still $5 more expensive for me. FYI, my comment about the silver acquisition price is only a guess, not… Read more »
And for those who only want to get the medals, hey the Mint is gonna screw them too … saddling them with the atrocious looking coin bearing the likeness of the designer so that the Mint can goose up the sales of the dollar and try to look good and and. .. make the medals to order … so the medal buyer has to wait and wait .. but wait! they will probably have to pay in advance for that privilege! Wow so many ways the Mint screws its regular customers (a dwindling population …) but not it’s masters the… Read more »
So the medal+proof WWI sets are limited to 100,000 total, and there are 5 different sets (one for each branch). So there can only be 20,000 full sets (at most). Does anyone think this will be a good investment?
As a Canadian collector, I have started to focus my efforts on mints from other country’s due to my country’s crazy premium prices of coins. I understand your concern as Americans with your mints increase in premium costs but for me they are a steal of a deal. My collection now is focused on graded American based gold and silver bullion with the exception of first production international coins. Sorry my RCM, but until you lower the price, you lost a collector. We as consumers control the market, if we do not like the price, don’t buy, they will figure… Read more »
Dan,
NO!
Dan – hi, if you have the founds and buy all the sets from the mint*, then send them out to “”NGC or PCG” grading company’s, forget about ‘ANEC’s or ICG” for that stuff, those two company’s are good for other type of coin’s, & you might save a few “$’s” with them also. Now, this is only me* speaking, but if i were in my* twenty’s or thirty’s, & had the ”cash”, wish* i did back then, un,forth’,chin,’ly my collecting came to a halt, only accept for a few item,s during those two decades of my life.* ”I”” would… Read more »
Can someone help me out, what’s with Joe Brown’s grammar and weird syntax. Can’t tell is he’s joking or if there is some earnestness in this code speak
Dan – just the way i* am, what i said above i would have, can’t do it now $ tho, going try & sit on what i* have & keep up with my *SAE for now, but i* mean what i say always, and it’s all true, good luck*.
Dan – my grammar is a lot better than what it was, every thing is spelled correct, u must have a dry sent, i* rather watch grass grow, get out and wander some, sea whats out there, i* was born at night & it was not last night, peace*+*.
btw, Dan, u did ask a ? to any1 & u got 2 answers, 1 no, 1 yes, answer, up 2 u now. I have over the years sent out a good share of modern coins & sets, & most of them came back grade 70 ngc, if you have good eyes ”’which i had at one time”, you might stand a good chance at all 70’s, it’s very possible, and it’s kind of exciting for me anyhow.
G, Wizz, Dan, did someone “”HELP”” you out yet*, or are you still sucking your thumb behind mommy,s skirt waiting for an answer. Please do not run for *office or anything of that nature, this country can’t take know more, just from your comment, i* know you have not met the many type*s of people of Gods*+* world, ether you think your too good or you been shelter’d to to long, if your lucky enough to have a *degree, put it to good use, do something useful for all* not just the ones who think their the choice few, take… Read more »
Will the WW1 Centennial Coin in the Medal *SET* ever be graded first strike / early release? If I’m reading it correctly, the Centennial coin will go on sale 1/17/18 and ship immediately. At the same time, 1/17/18, they will take orders for the coin + medal sets, but wait until May to ship the sets, because they will base production on how many orders they get. So the Centennial coin will be in people’s hands for 4 months before the sets ship. The Coin in the set may be strike # 350,000 out of the 350,000 mint limit, if… Read more »
Craig B. – *Good Point, i wouldn’t be surprised if the label company,s comes out with the ” wording ” ”’ *WW1 Centennial Coin & Medal Set ”’ first strike, early release, first release, or something to that nature for a label, just so they don’t lose a $buck$, even tho the ”coin” is not ”first or early,”’ just so they can justify them self’s, thanks for pointing that out.
just what i* thought’ the Lion*s had Danny boy for a snack.