Mint Stats: Buyers barely move numbers

Just because the two-coin San Francisco proof silver American Eagle set is no longer available doesn’t mean collectors can’t buy other Eagles. However, they are behaving as if even the other sales options are no longer available, taking just 3,524 additional 2012-W proofs and 782 more of the 2011-W uncirculated pieces. Neither item has hit the next nearest round number as the 2012-W proof’s running total is 492,789 and the tally for the 2011-W uncirculated is 296,741.

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However, silver Eagles are downright exciting compared to this year’s commemorative coin offerings. The proof Star-Spangled Banner silver dollar did pass the 100,000 mark, moving up 1,284 to 100,508. The Infantry proof dollar will likely hit that mark soon as its current total is 98,200. Our old friend, the Defenders of Freedom Set, still has not reached 50,000 and this week’s number was reduced by Mint accountants to stand at 43,421.

Even though you see claims online about a shortage of gold and silver bullion, would-be buyers are not purchasing from the Mint’s authorized purchasers. Only 9,000 more one-ounce gold Eagles sold this week and 248,000 additional silvers.