![[Most Recent Quotes from www.kitco.com]](http://www.kitconet.com/images/quotes_2a.gif)
American Silver Eagle Coin Sales Soar as Silver Prices Dive
September 30, 2014 by Darrin Lee Unser · Leave a Comment
Sales of bullion American Silver Eagles accelerated in the last half of September, more than doubling the number sold in the previous month. Demand for the silver coins surged as silver prices tumbled to lows not seen in over four and a half years.
September sales of bullion American Silver Eagles ranked ninth highest for a month, dating back to the coin’s start in 1986.
For the third quarter which ended with September, silver futures turned down a dismal 19%. The lion’s share of the loss happened this month as the market hemorrhaged $2.44 an ounce, or 12.5% of its value from the end of August.
Silver for December delivery closed at $17.06 an ounce. It reached as low as $16.85, the weakest price since March 2010. Year-to-date, silver prices have dropped $2.31, or 11.94%.
Other New York precious metals futures posted the following monthly, quarterly and year-to-date results:
- Gold for December delivery at $1,211.60 an ounce shed 5.9% for the month and 8.4% for the quarter. It is up 0.8% for the year.
- Palladium for December delivery at $775.15 lost 14.8% for the month and 8.1% for the quarter. It is 7.9% higher on the year
- Platinum for January delivery at $1,300.50 an ounce fell 8.7% for the month, 12.3% for the quarter and 5.3% for the year.
LBMA Silver Price Silver Prices
LBMA silver showed similar results at $17.11 an ounce, dropping for the month by $2.36, or 12.1%. Prices fell 18% in the third quarter and 12.3% on the year.
Other London precious metals fixings include:
- Gold at $1,216.50 an ounce lost 5.4% for the month and 7.5% for the third quarter.
- Palladium at $775 an ounce fell 13.7% in September and 8.2% for the quarter.
- Platinum at $1,300 an ounce dropped 8.7% for the month and 12.2% in the third quarter.
Year-to-date has gold down 12.3%, palladium up 9% and platinum down 4.3%.
United States Mint Sales of Bullion Silver Coins
Investors flocked to bullion American Silver Eagles, driving sales in September to numbers not seen since March. September sales of 4,140,000 coins more than doubled the 2,007,500 sold in August.
This month marked the second best September, behind September 2011 sales of 4,460,500. More pointed, the month also ranks ninth highest since the series debuted in 1986. The table below shows the top ten sales months for the 99.9% pure silver coins.
Top Ten Monthly Sales of American Silver Eagles
| January 2013 | 7,498,000 |
| January 2011 | 6,422,000 |
| January 2012 | 6,107,000 |
| March 2014 | 5,354,000 |
| January 2014 | 4,775,000 |
| September 2011 | 4,460,500 |
| July 2013 | 4,406,500 |
| November 2010 | 4,260,000 |
| September 2014 | 4,140,000 |
| April 2013 | 4,087,000 |
Year-to-date, the United States Mint has recorded American Silver Eagle coin sales of 32,251,000. This year already ranks as the fifth best year ever for the program. To top the chart, however, more than 10.4 million more will have to be sold in the next three months. Doing so would drive past last year’s record total of 42,675,000.
Sales of America the Beautiful Five Ounce Silver Bullion Coins
Solid sales gains were also seen in America the Beautiful Five Ounce Silver Bullion Coins. Here is a breakdown of September sales and total sales for this year’s three-inch, five-ounce coins:
- 2014 Great Smoky Mountains National Park 5 Ounce Silver Coins rose 3,500 to 33,000
- 2014 Shenandoah National Park 5 Ounce Silver Coins climbed 1,000 to 21,500
- 2014 Arches National Park 5 Ounce Silver Coins added 800 to 22,000
- 2014 Great Sand Dunes National Park 5 Ounce Silver Coins gained 4,500 to 12,000
The 2014 Everglades National Park 5 Ounce Silver Coin is expected to launch in November.
Melt Values of US Silver Coins
Collectors and investors also sometimes hold significant numbers of common U.S. silver coins because of their intrinsic melt values. These coins have varying percentages of silver in them. As such, associated melt values of the coins fluctuate in direct correlation with the silver market.
The chart below offers a comparison of the values of these silver coins. (SilverCoinsToday.com also offers a melt calculator for more personal comparisons.)
| US Silver Coins | Melt Values (8/31/2014) |
Melt Values (9/30/2014) |
Net Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1942-1945 Jefferson Silver Nickels | $1.10 | $0.96 | -$0.14 |
| 1892-1916 Barber Silver Dimes | $1.41 | $1.24 | -$0.17 |
| 1916-1945 Mercury Silver Dimes | $1.41 | $1.24 | -$0.17 |
| 1946-1964 Roosevelt Silver Dimes | $1.41 | $1.24 | -$0.17 |
| 1892-1916 Barber Silver Quarters | $3.52 | $3.09 | -$0.43 |
| 1916-1930 Standing Silver Liberty 25c | $3.52 | $3.09 | -$0.43 |
| 1932-1964 Washington Silver Quarters | $3.52 | $3.09 | -$0.43 |
| 1892-1915 Barber Silver Halves | $7.05 | $6.19 | -$0.86 |
| 1916-1947 Walking Liberty 50c | $7.05 | $6.19 | -$0.86 |
| 1948-1963 Franklin 50c | $7.05 | $6.19 | -$0.86 |
| 1964 Kennedy Half Dollars | $7.05 | $6.19 | -$0.86 |
| 1965-1970 Kennedy Half Dollars | $2.88 | $2.53 | -$0.35 |
| 1878-1921 Morgan Silver Dollars | $15.07 | $13.23 | -$1.84 |
| 1921-1935 Peace Silver Dollars | $15.07 | $13.23 | -$1.84 |
| 1971-1976 Silver Eisenhower $1s | $6.16 | $5.41 | -$0.75 |
| 1986-2013 American Eagles | $19.49 | $17.11 | -$2.38 |
| 2010-2014 ATB Silver Coins | $97.45 | $85.55 | -$11.90 |
The melt values above are based on the London price for silver at the end of August and September of 2014.
