Author Archives: Dave Harper

Silver Eagle still flying high

  I arrived at my desk this morning knowing that I would have to write something about the end of the sales for the two-coin West Point silver American Eagle set. The Mint closed the order period at 5 p.m. … Continue reading

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Mint Stats: Sales evaluation depends on yardstick

Sales of the 2013-W uncirculated American Eagle silver coin began strong at 104,570 if you compare it to the 2012-W total sales of 202,504, but seems less so if you compare the number to the 320,898 sold in 2011. Continue reading

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What’s platinum’s place?

Should the United States begin striking platinum American Eagle bullion coins again? They were victims of the financial crisis when the Mint hunkered down to focus on demand for gold and silver American Eagles. Since their elimination after the 2008 … Continue reading

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Silver Eagle info in plain sight

How much information do you need to make a smart purchase? I am sure you are familiar with the radio ads that feature fast talking announcers reading legal boilerplate at the end. Do we need something like that in numismatics? … Continue reading

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Silver Eagle set end game begins

The end game is starting for the two-coin 2013 West Point silver American Eagle set. Sales by the U.S. Mint as of yesterday afternoon stood at 231,500, which was the first time the quantity has exceeded the sales level of … Continue reading

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Gold collector and investor

Bullion gold American Eagle buyers relaxed in May after their incredible buying frenzy in April when 187,500 one-ounce gold American Eagles were sold by the U.S. Mint to its Authorized Purchasers. The May figure dropped by roughly two-thirds to 61,500. … Continue reading

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Value shock hits 83-year-old reader

One of “those” letters arrived on my desk this week. It came from a reader who is 83 years old. Continue reading

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Dot hopes dashed

The late Fort Worth, Texas, dealer Helen Wallace, told me on more than one occasion that she hated it when the headlines mentioned the 1943 copper cents. She said her coin shop phone would then ring off the hook for … Continue reading

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Mint Stats: Buyers happy with return of 10th oz

Though the final day of May has not yet passed as this is written, it is clear that demand for gold American Eagles has ebbed dramatically from the excited push in April. Continue reading

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Buffalo bests American Eagle?

In the first four days of sales, collectors purchased 4,863 of the 2013 one-ounce gold Buffalo proof coins. This number proves there are still collectors of the coin out there, but it is also a number that indicates that the … Continue reading

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