Supplies of silver American Eagle bullion coins are going to get scarcer from the U.S. Mint for a while.
The Mint informed its authorized purchasers June 6 that its silver blank suppliers will cut deliveries by half in the week beginning June 9.
In the week prior, the Mint sold 425,000 silver American Eagles.
Supply of blanks to the Mint will then be increased week by week from the new lower level.
The Mint says it is working to increase the number of blanks it buys. Currently it is supplied by two vendors, Sunshine and VSL.
Rationing of the bullion silver American Eagle supply to Authorized Purchasers began April 21.
The reduction of blank supply has caused the Mint to suspend production of the 2008-W proof and uncirculated collector coins. Sales are continuing as supplies last.
The Mint did not project what it expected to be able to produce in the next three months, but did point out that production so far in 2008 is 10.07 million coins, a number higher than the total produced in all of last year, which was 9.03 million pieces.
