2015 Bombay Hook 5 Oz Silver Bullion Coins Debut

Today, September 28, the U.S. Mint’s network of authorized purchasers began ordering 2015 Bombay Hook 5 Ounce Silver Bullion Coins, the 4th of this year’s five America the Beautiful 5 Ounce Silver Bullion Coins. Its design is emblematic of Delaware’s Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge.

First-day sales jumped to 35,600 coins, accounting for 178,000 ounces in silver. The first three 2015 coins are no longer available, having sold out with orders totaling 35,000; 42,000; and 45,000. Those coins have designs honoring Homestead National Monument of America, Kisatchie National Forest and Blue Ridge Parkway.

Sales Update: The Bombay coin sold out on the second day of its release, September 29. The U.S. Mint announced final sales of 45,000 coins.

Each 5-ounce coin is made at the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia, has a 3-inch diameter and a composition of .999 fine silver.

Authorized purchasers buy them at their melt value plus a $9.75 premium per coin. The coins eventually make their way into the secondary market. Today, the public can order them from dealers for about $115 per coin.

These bullion coins have a brilliant finish. On Thursday, Oct. 8, the U.S. Mint will directly sell the collector version to the public for $149.95. These are exactly like the bullion 5-ounce silver coins, except they have an uncirculated finish and carry a ‘P’ mint mark.

Earlier, this Wednesday, September 30, the U.S. Mint will begin selling Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge quarters. Product options include rolls and bags of them in circulating quality.

The silver coins and quarters share the same obverse and reverse designs. The reverse depicts a great blue heron and an egret in the refuge’s tidal salt marsh. Joel Iskowitz created the design and Phebe Hemphill sculpted it.

American Eagle Silver Bullion Coins

In related bullion news, the U.S. has set the weekly allocation of bullion American Silver Eagles at 1 million coins, up from the prior week’s limit of 750,000 coins. The Mint has been restricting weekly sales of the coin since they temporarily ran out of them in July.

Despite the limits, the coins are on track to break last year’s annual record. 2015 Silver Eagle sales at 35,054,500 are 12.5% higher than through the same time in 2014.