During the month of December 2011, the US Mint sold 2,009,000 of the one ounce Silver Eagles. This marks an increase from the 1,384,000 coins sold in the previous month, but still represents the second lowest monthly total for the year. The monthly sales for the five ounce America the Beautiful Silver bullion coins reached 4,400, up from the 3,300 sold in the previous month.

American Gold Eagle bullion coin sales measured 65,500 ounces during the month, comprised entirely of one ounce coins. This is up from the 41,000 ounces sold in the prior month. Sales of the American Gold Buffalo bullion coins jumped to 21,000, more than double the 8,500 sold in the prior month and representing the third highest monthly figure for the year.

December 2011 US Mint Bullion Coin Sales

The annual sales total for Silver Eagles has reached 39,868,500, setting a record for the fourth consecutive year. Starting in 2008, demand for Silver Eagles increased sharply, resulting in periodic sales suspensions and frequent allocation of available supplies. In the ensuing years, the US Mint has managed to increase the number of coins available. Most recently, the Mint announced that they intend to begin accepting orders for the 2012-dated coins without allocation.

The America the Beautiful Five Ounce Silver Bullion Coins achieved sales of 397,700 for the year. This is only the second year for the program. In 2010, only 165,000 coins were sold due to delays in full scale production.

The annual sales for Gold Eagle bullion coins reached exactly 1,000,000 troy ounces. This represents a decline from the 2010 annual total of 1,220,500 ounces. Starting today, the US Mint will begin accepting orders for 2012 Gold Eagles, including both one ounce and fractional weight coins.

American Gold Buffalo annual sales were 174,500, down from the 209,000 sold in the previous year. The US Mint still has an inventory of 2011-dated coins that will continue to be available to authorized purchasers. The 2012-dated coins are expected to be available in March.

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Sales of the one ounce American Silver Eagle bullion coins were 1,384,000 for November. This is down by more than 50% from the previous months total of 3,064,000. It is down by nearly two-thirds from the year ago period when sales of 4,260,000 were achieved.

Lower monthly sales for the typically popular Silver Eagles have not been seen since July 2008. Around this time, sales levels were frequently impacted by periodic suspensions and an ongoing allocation program, which limited the number of bullion coins that authorized purchasers could order from the United States Mint.

According to Michael White of the United States Mint's Office of Public Affairs, during November 2011, there was no disruption in the availability of American Eagle gold and silver bullion coins. The sales figures constitute the orders placed by authorized purchasers.

American Gold Eagle bullion coin sales totaled 41,000 ounces for November 2011. This is down from 50,000 ounces in the previous month, and down more significantly from the 112,000 ounces sold in the year ago period. Lower monthly sales for Gold Eagles have not been seen since June 2008.

During the month, the United States Mint offered two additional bullion options. The 24 karat one ounce American Gold Buffalo coins had sales of 8,500. The five ounce America the Beautiful Silver Bullion Coins experienced sales of 3,300, accounting for 16,500 troy ounces of silver.

November 2011 US Mint Bullion Coin Sales

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The United States Mint offers 22 karat American Gold Eagles in one ounce, half ounce, quarter ounce, and tenth ounce sizes. Their other gold bullion option is the 24 karat American Gold Buffalo coins available in one ounce size only. For the month, total sales across all options reached 62,500 ounces. This was comprised of 46,000 one ounce Gold Eagles, 12,500 one ounce Gold Buffaloes, and the balance in fractional Gold Eagles.

The monthly total represents a decline from the prior month sales of 104,000 ounces. It is also a decline from the year ago period when 94,000 ounces were sold.

October 2011 US Mint Bullion Coin Sales

Silver bullion coin options include the one ounce American Silver Eagle and five ounce America the Beautiful Silver Coins. The sales total across both options was 3,095,000. This was comprised predominantly of the one ounce Silver Eagles.

The monthly total is down from the prior month when 4,475,000 ounces were sold, and relatively flat from the year ago period when sales reached 3,150,000 ounces.

For the year to date American Silver Eagle sales are in record territory at 36,475,000. Record breaking annual sales have now been achieved for four years running. In 2008, the US Mint sold 19,583,500 coins, followed by 28,766,500 in 2009, and 34,662,500 in 2010.

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While September is typically one of the US Mint's slower months for silver bullion sales, monthly sales for the current year rank as the second highest total to date. Only January 2011 experienced higher sales when 6,422,000 ounces were sold, which also represented an all time monthly sales record.

For the year to date, American Silver Eagle sales have now reached 33,411,500. The record for annual sales is 34,662,500, which was achieved in 2010.

September 2011 US Mint Bullion Coin Sales

The US Mint's other silver bullion option did not fare nearly as well. The America the Beautiful Silver Bullion Coins sold only 2,900 units. This series has experienced significantly less interest than the traditional one ounce Silver Eagles. See a breakdown of 2011 ATB Silver Bullion Coin Sales.

Meanwhile, the Mint sold 104,000 ounces worth of gold bullion coins. This consisted of 91,000 ounces worth of American Gold Eagles across the available one ounce, half ounce, quarter ounce, and tenth ounce sizes, and 13,000 of the one ounce American Gold Buffalo coins.

Last month, gold bullion sales had reached 140,000 ounces across all options. In the year ago period, gold bullion sales were 98,000 ounces.

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During the month of August 2011, the Mint recorded sales of 112,000 troy ounces of American Gold Eagles, across the available one ounce, half ounce, quarter ounce, and tenth ounce options.  This compares sales of 64,500 ounces in the prior month, and 41,500 in the year ago period.

Meanwhile, monthly sales for the one ounce American Silver Eagles reached 3,679,500. This compares to sales of 2,968,000 in the prior month and 2,451,000 in the year ago period. For the year to date, Silver Eagle bullion coin sales have now reached 28,951,000. This is quickly approaching last year's record annual sales total of 34,662,500.

August 2011 US Mint Bullion Coin Sales

Sales of the one ounce 24 karat Gold Buffalo bullion coins were also higher during August, with sales of 28,000. This is the second highest monthly total for this year, behind the 38,000 coins sold in March, when the coins were first made available for sale.

The one slow spot in the United States Mint's bullion product line up was the America the Beautiful Silver Bullion Coins. Sales were a mere 4,100 for the month, which accounted for less than one percent of overall silver bullion sales. See a breakdown of sales for the five ounce silver coins by design.

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Available gold bullion coins included the 22 karat American Gold Eagle in one ounce, half ounce, quarter ounce, and tenth ounce sizes, and the 24 karat American Gold Buffalo in one ounce size only. Silver bullion products included the one ounce American Silver Eagle and the five ounce America the Beautiful Silver Bullion Coins. For the latter product, three different designs remained available featuring Olympic National Park, Vicksburg National Military Park, and Chickasaw National Recreation Area.

The breakdown of US Mint bullion sales appears below. The first number column represents the total sales for the month of July 2011. The second number column represents the total sales for the year to date through July 31, 2011.

July 2011 US Mint Bullion Coin Sales

For the month, sales of gold bullion across all options reached 76,500, with the most popular choice being the one ounce Gold Eagle. Sales showed an increase from the prior month total of 67,000 ounces, however sales were down significantly from the year ago period of July 2010 when sales reached 175,000 ounces.

Silver bullion sales reached 3,086,500 for July 2011, compared to 3,497,000 in the prior month and 2,981,000 in the year ago period. During the month, the US Mint suspended production of the popular Silver Eagle bullion coins at the San Francisco Mint. Production continues at the West Point Mint. For many years, the bullion versions of the coins had been struck exclusively at West Point, but this year the additional facility was used to increase the number of coins available for sale. The total number of coins struck at the San Francisco Mint during 2011 was 2,305,000, although production may be restarted later in the year.

The US Mint released the final design for the 2011 America the Beautiful Silver Bullion Coins this month, but it failed to spur significant additional interest in the large sized coins. For a breakdown of year to date sales for each design released by the Mint, refer to this previous Coin Update News article.

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During June 2011, the United States Mint offered the 22 karat American Gold Eagle bullion coins across four different weights and the 24 karat American Gold Buffalo in one ounce size. Silver bullion offerings included the one ounce American Silver Eagles and the five ounce America the Beautiful Silver Bullion Coins. These bullion products are distributed by the United States Mint through a network of authorized purchasers who are able to order the coins based on the market price of the precious metals plus a fixed or percentage mark up.

June 2011 US Mint Bullion Coin Sales

For the month, gold bullion sales reached 67,000 troy ounces across all available options. This was down sharply from the previous month when sales totaled 122,500 ounces and also down from the year ago period when sales had reached 185,000 ounces.

For the year to date, gold bullion sales across all options are now 655,500 ounces. If the same sales can be achieved in the second half of the year, annual sales would exceed last year's total of 1,220,500 ounces.

Silver bullion sales were impacted by the continued slow down in sales for the recently introduced America the Beautiful Silver Bullion Coins. When the first two designs of the year were released in April, the US Mint sold 225,400 of the 5 ounce coins. With the next design released in May, monthly sales were 108,700 units. For June, sales were only 19,000, despite the release the fourth design and continued availability of the third design.

American Silver Eagle bullion sales fared better for the month at 3,402,000. This was slightly behind last month's total sales of 3,653,500. For the year to date Silver Eagle sales have reached 22,303,500, well on pace to exceed last year's record annual sales of 34,662,500.

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The US Mint currently offers gold bullion coins in the form of 22 karat American Gold Eagles in 1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, and 1/10 oz sizes and 24 karat American Gold Buffalo coins in 1 oz size. Silver bullion coin offerings include the 1 oz American Silver Eagles and 5 oz America the Beautiful Silver coins. These bullion coins are distributed through a network of authorized purchasers who acquire the coins directly from the US Mint based on the market price of the metals plus a fixed or percentage mark up. The authorized purchasers then resell the coins to other bullion dealers, coin dealers, and the general public.

Across all options, silver bullion sales reached 4,160,500 troy ounces. The American Silver Eagle continues to be subject to the US Mint's allocation program, which rations available quantities. However, the US Mint Mint did begin production and distribution of coins struck at the San Francisco Mint this month, which may have served to increase the available supply. Sales of the Olympic National Park America the Beautiful Silver Bullion Coins also began during the month.

In the prior month, silver bullion sales were 3,946,000 ounces. In the year ago period when only the Silver Eagles were available, monthly sales were 3,636,500.

May 2011 US Mint Bullion Coin Sales

Across all options, gold bullion coin sales measured 122,500 troy ounces. Earlier in the month, there were some premature reports from the mainstream media stating that monthly sales were heading for the highest total in more than a decade. Although orders were unusually heavy during the first week of the May, the final monthly total ended up lower than the previous month's sales of 128,500 ounces.

In the year ago period, gold bullion sales were a whopping 260,500 troy ounces. At the time, this actually was the highest monthly total in more than a decade.

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On April 25, the US Mint began accepting orders from authorized purchasers for the first two designs of the 2011 ATB Silver Bullion Coins. By the end of the month orders had been received for 225,400 of the five ounce coins, accounting for 1,127,000 troy ounces. Sales of the one ounce American Silver Eagle bullion coins were little changed from the prior month at 2,819,000.

Considering both options, silver bullion sales reached 3,946,000 troy ounces. As mentioned, this is the highest monthly sales level since January when 6,422,000 ounces worth of Silver Eagles were sold.

April 2011 US Mint Bullion Coin Sales

Gold bullion coin sales continue to be concentrated in the one ounce size. The one ounce American Gold Eagles sold 94,500 and the one ounce American Gold Buffalo sold 20,500. The additional contribution of 13,500 ounces from fractional weight Gold Eagles brought total sales to 128,500 troy ounces.

In January of this year, gold bullion sales had reached 133,500 ounces. The lowest monthly sales this year occurred in February with 92,500 ounces.

The US Mint has still not offered any platinum bullion coins and the status of this offering remains uncertain. The last time the American Platinum Eagle was available in bullion format was late 2008. The US Mint has struck collector versions of the coin in proof format, for each of the past two years. This year's proof coin is due to be released later this month.

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Across all available options, the US Mint sold 111,500 troy ounce of gold bullion during March. This is up from the prior month total of 92,500 ounces and also up from the year ago sales level of 102,000 ounces.

This year, the Mint has been more rapidly releasing the gold bullion coin options that have typically been available. Last month, sales of the fractional weight 2011 American Gold Eagles began, and this month on March 14, the 24 karat Gold Buffalo bullion coins were made available. During 2010, sales for these bullion products did not begin until June 10 and April 29, respectively.

March 2011 US Mint Bullion Coin Sales

Sales of silver bullion coins were reported as 2,767,000 for March. This is comprised entirely of the one ounce American Silver Eagles. The US Mint expects to release the 5 ounce America the Beautiful Silver Bullion coins in late April.

Last month silver bullion coin sales were 3,240,000 ounces. Sales from the year ago period were also higher at 3,381,000.

Since the release of the 2011-dated Silver Eagles, the US Mint has conducted sales under their allocation program. This program serves to limit the number of coins that authorized purchasers are able to order. The US Mint has used the program at times when demand for bullion coins exceeds the available supply.

In an effort to increase the number of Silver Eagle bullion coins available, the US Mint recently indicated that trial strikes were being produced at the San Francisco Mint with the intention to begin temporary production in May. Currently, all Silver Eagles are struck at the West Point Mint.

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