American Silver Eagle San Francisco Two-Coin Proof Set Update

More details have emerged for the 2012 American Silver Eagle San Francisco Two-Coin Proof Set since the first article on the topic appeared here three days ago. As a reminder, the two-coin proof set includes one 2012-S Reverse Proof American Silver Eagle and one 2012-S Proof American Silver Eagle.

Whereas before the United States Mint only had the proof set listed as a single item within its product schedule and no other information, the bureau on Thursday published a product page for it on http://www.usmint.gov/catalog. This page continues to see updates, with the latest addition on Friday providing a small image of the set which is shown above.

New information now known as a result of the product page includes:

• Mintage details, an
• Ordering deadline, and
• Confirmation of the two American Silver Eagle coins offered

Collector demand will determine the set’s mintage level. A mintage ceiling has not been specified, and the United States Mint specifically states that the mintage amount will be "To demand."

The two-coin proof set will go on sale for four weeks only, beginning on June 7, 2012 and lasting through July 5, 2012. Based on past product release dates, times and imposed deadlines, the set should get released at noon ET on the 7th and then go off sale at 5:00 PM ET on the 5th.

These details will effectively ensure that anyone who wants to buy a set can, which will reduce if not eliminate entirely the problems many collectors experienced with the launch of last year’s 25th Anniversary American Silver Eagle Set. But it also means that mintages could explode, especially if there are no per household order limits in place. Currently, none are specified. But that detail is usually added closer to a product’s release.

Additionally, the new product is not a 75th Anniversary San Francisco Set which celebrates the opening of the current SF Mint building. This CoinNews.net article reveals that. The possibility has been mentioned on several numismatic sites, including here.

Still unknown is the price of the proof set, although it will certainly at least be 2X the cost of the individually sold proof American Silver Eagle from West Point which went on sale two weeks ago for $59.95. Based on the Mint’s image of the attractive box containing the two coins, that will add a few bucks to the total.

Also not know, is whether the coins in this set will be unique. In other words, will they also be sold separately? It seems unlikely that they would.