Single–Day Eagle Sales Again Among Highest in Program History
Silver Proof Eagle Sales Rise, Defying Predictions
Bulk Program Drives Up Proof Set Sales
‘W’ Mint Mark Dime Spurs Uncirculated Set Increase
Limited Edition Smithsonian, Community Service & Olympic Sets Sell Out
Washington, D.C. — The United States Mint today announced that year–end, single day sales of American Eagle Gold Bullion Coins were again among the highest in program history, generating $23.6 million, as the Mint for a second year allowed authorized purchasers to buy newly–dated coins.
"Gold Eagle purchasers for the second consecutive year have reacted positively to our efforts to respond to the needs of the market," said Director of the Mint Philip N. Diehl.
Gold Eagle sales on December 27 reached 42,500 ounces of gold, exceeding the 30,000 ounces sold during 1995's three day year–end ordering period. The single–day surge helped drive December sales of Gold Eagles to 71,000 ounces, surpassing the previous December high of 70,000 ounces in 1987.
Single–day Uncirculated Silver Eagle sales totaled 1,183,000 ounces down from 1,400,000 ounces tallied during the year–end 1995 ordering period. Uncirculated Silver Eagles sales for 1996 totaled 3,466,000 ounces compared to 4,590,000 ounces sold in 1995.
Sales of individual denominations of Proof American Eagle Coins also rose, with the Proof Silver Eagle performance particularly significant.
"Despite the controversy and criticism surrounding the issue of the 'W' Mint mark Silver Proof Eagle and predictions in the numismatic community that customers would desert the coin wholesale, sales rebounded and rose 15 percent," Diehl said.
Individual denominations of Proof Gold Eagles racked up gains of more than 25 to 30 percent per coin:
1996 | 1995 | |
Proof Gold 1 oz. | 9,901 | 7,548 |
Proof Gold 2 oz. | 8,596 | 6,568 |
Proof Gold 1/4 oz. | 11,541 | 8,706 |
Proof Gold 1/10 oz. | 30,185 | 23,847 |
Proof Silver 1 oz. | 465,629 | 407,822 |
Sales of the Proof Four–Coin Set decreased to 25,779, down from 38,820 for the Proof Four– and Five–Coin Sets in 1995. Director Diehl said this was not unexpected, since the set was offered without a premium.
"Our core recurring numismatic products performed strongly in 1996 after suffering from the overall pressure on the market in 1995 from the proliferation of coins available," said Marketing Director David Pickens. "We began the year with a bulk program for the Proof Set, selling 280,000 sets to dealers in the first two weeks of the program. The addition of the 'W' Mint mark Roosevelt dime made our most affordable product, the Uncirculated Set, even more appealing, and several sellouts demonstrate the continuing popularity of our limited edition products."
The 1996 numismatic highlights:
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
# # #
United States Mint – Connecting America through Coins
Contact
Press Inquiries: Office of Corporate Communications (202) 354-7222
Customer Service Information: (800) USA MINT (872-6468)