Annual Silver Eagle Sets Possible in 2012 and Beyond

In a move sure to delight some collectors, the United States Mint has indicated that a San Francisco struck 2012-S Uncirculated Silver Eagle will be released. In addition, the possibility of new annual Silver Eagle Sets has been alluded to by the Mint, although any details at this point must be called sketchy at best.

The new annual sets could contain a variety of special Silver Eagles — high reliefs, reverse proofs and differing mint marks. Apparently, exactly what those special options would be are still being decided with the Mint seeking feedback from the public through a survey. While set options are currently being considered and could actually change from year to year, the 2012-S Uncirculated Silver Eagle is evidently a sure thing.

Uncirculated Silver Eagles are not a new idea from the U.S. Mint. The coins first appeared in 2006 and were struck for three years before the bullion Eagle demand of 2009 resulted in a cancellation of both the uncirculated and proof varieties. Uncirculated Silver Eagles did not make a return until 2011 when the U.S. Mint released the standard 2011-W Uncirculated Silver Eagle struck at the U.S. Mint’s facility in West Point.

In addition, a special San Francisco facility minted 2011-S Uncirculated Silver Eagle was exclusively included as part of the 25th Anniversary Silver Eagle Set released by the U.S. Mint. Interest in the set as well as the two exclusive coins (the 2011-S Uncirculated Silver Eagle and a 2011-P American Silver Eagle Reverse Proof Coin) was intense and likely led the U.S. Mint to consider making the San Francisco Uncirculated Eagle a new product option going forward.

"We …reprised the West Point mint mark for the American Silver Eagle Uncirculated Coin in 2011 and look forward to expanding this offering to include the San Francisco mint mark in 2012," stated Richard A. Peterson, Deputy Director of the United States Mint in the agency’s 2011 Annual Report.

Looking at possible annual Silver Eagle Sets, the U.S. Mint enlisted the help of National Analysts Worldwide who created a survey focused on the subject. According to that survey which was sent to a group of U.S. Mint customers, 2012 Silver Eagle Sets could include the aforementioned 2011-S Uncirculated Eagle and/or a 2012-S Reverse Proof American Silver Eagle.

That same survey alluded to the fact that the sets could become an annual occurrence:

"This set will be the first in a series of annual special silver coin sets that the U.S. Mint will begin producing once per year, beginning in 2012."

The cited mintage level for the potential 2012 Silver Eagle Set was 300,000, with a one per household limit at an approximate price of $125.

In order to ensure excitement and interest in future sets, unique and perhaps always changing annual options are being considered for inclusion. According to the survey, among those options are special finishes like reverse proof, unique design features like ultra high relief, and even Eagles with special ‘D’ mint marked coins struck at the U.S. Mint’s facility in Denver.

Finally, recognizing potential customer concerns, the survey requested input for possible household limits and maximum mintages for later annual Silver Eagle sets.