9/11 Silver Medals Price Increases

Collectors who are considering buying one or more of the popular 9/11 Silver Medals should take action soon, before the United States Mint increases their prices. Their price tags are scheduled to rise $10 on Thursday, August 18, 2011 at 5 PM Eastern Time.

When the commemorative medals were released on June 20, 2011, each was made available with an introductory price of $56.95. Buyers can choose the United States Mint facility that produces them, either West Point or Philadelphia. Since their release, a total of 117,364, or 5.86 percent of the maximum 2,000,000 mintage, have been purchased up as of Monday, August 8.

Because the medals did not sell-out before August 18, 2011, the regular price of $66.95 will be implemented on Thursday. That fact, and volatile silver prices, could be what has fueled higher demand over the last couple of weeks. Their cumulative weekly advances moving toward mid-July hovered around 3,000 range, and then sales spiked. Weekly gains were first 16,488 and then 13,410. They jumped all the way to 22,312 in the last weekly round.

The United States Mint has not shipped any of the medals yet, although they expect to begin in early September. As a consolation for the delay, they are including a free gift in all orders placed between June 20 and August 18, 2011. That gift is an 8" x 10" frameable document, signed by the Acting Director of the United States Mint, which features the artwork and descriptions for the medal designs.

The medals are produced to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the U.S. in 2001 and the establishment of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center. Nearly 3,000 people were killed during the attacks in New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia which involved the hijacking and crashing of three commercial passenger airplanes.

The law that created the medals required the designs on each side to be: "emblematic of the courage, sacrifice and strength of those individuals who perished in the terrorist attacks; the bravery of those who risked their lives to save others that day; and the endurance, resilience and hope of those who survived." The law also set up a $10 surcharge on each sale to help support the National September 11 Memorial & Museum (www.911memorial.org).

9/11 Silver Medal Designs, Specifications and Order Details

Much like a commemorative coin, the silver medals have designs on both sides and are struck in collectible proof condition. On the obverse (front) side is a rendition of Lady Liberty holding up a Lamp of Remembrance. Behind her are two beacons of light stretching skyward. According to the U.S. Mint, Lady Liberty, the lamp and the light together symbolize the mournful loss on 9/11 as well as the resiliency and triumph of those who persevered. Inscriptions include ALWAYS REMEMBER and 2001 – 2011.

The reverse (back) design depicts an eagle in front of cascading water. The U.S. Mint says the eagle represents the strength of the survivors, families and the Nation while the flowing water represents peace, serenity, healing and the continuity of life. Inscriptions include HONOR and HOPE. The mint mark is either ‘P’ or ‘W’, depending on whether the medal is produced in Philadelphia, PA, or West Point, NY.

Each 9/11 Silver Medal contains one ounce of .999 fine silver, has a 1.598 inch diameter, and a smooth edge. The commemoratives may be purchased directly from the United States Mint website at http://www.usmint.gov/ or via its toll free phone line at 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468).

Availability will last through December of next year, 2012, or until orders reach their maximum of 2 million. There are no household ordering limits.