2012 American Silver Eagle San Francisco Proof Set Scheduled

With limited details yet available, the United States Mint has unofficially confirmed that an American Silver Eagle set will be issued in 2012. The confirmation comes in the form of a projected release date listed on the Mint’s store website for a 2012 American Eagle San Francisco Two-Coin Silver Proof Set. The set is currently scheduled with a release date of June 7, 2012.

The likelihood of a special set was speculated upon earlier this year based on surveys sent out to U.S. Mint customers. Additional details of a pending set have started to appear in trade publications.

Found within the new two-coin proof set will be a 2012-S Proof American Silver Eagle and 2012-S Reverse Proof American Silver Eagle, both struck at the U.S. Mint’s facility in San Francisco. Currently, these two coins are not scheduled to appear elsewhere, making them unique releases likely only available in the set.

The combination of a special proof set and the fact that coins found within it may be unique will undoubtedly increase the demand for the upcoming release. Collectors will recall the 25th Anniversary American Silver Eagle Set issued last year which sold out within hours of release. The entire mintage of 100,000 was accounted for in short order, owing in large part to the inclusion of two coins only available as part of the set — a 2011-S Uncirculated Silver Eagle and a 2011-P Reverse Proof American Silver Eagle.

While not titled to acknowledge the event, the 2012 American Eagle San Francisco Two-Coin Silver Proof Set will coincidentally get released at a time which is also the 75th anniversary of the San Francisco Mint at its current location. Operation of a minting facility in San Francisco actually started in 1854 to produce coins from the gold mined during the California gold rush. The original facility (nicknamed the Granite Lady) operated for many years and was one of the only structures in the city to survive the earthquake and subsequent fires of 1906. In 1937, the U.S. Mint moved operations out of the original location into a new facility where it still strikes coins today.

As of yet, the United States Mint has not announced any additional details for the pending 2012 American Eagle San Francisco Two-Coin Silver Proof Set. Those interested in pricing, mintage limits, order limits and packaging details will have to wait. Silver Coins Today will publish the details as they become known.