Buyers demonstrated a healthy appetite for 2016 silver American Eagle bullion coins, but by the third day of availability, the Mint was still staying ahead of demand.
When sales began Jan. 11, the Mint said it had 4 million coins for the week.
First-day purchases totaled 2,756,500. By the third day the number taken by buyers had moved up to 3,500,000.
In the entire month of January 2015, the Mint sold 5,530,000 2015-dated coins. Clearly, this number will likely be surpassed easily in 2016.
Relative to one year ago, the first three days of sales of 2016 gold American Eagle bullion coins were even stronger than their silver counterparts.
Buyers grabbed 72,000 ounces, which is 89 percent of the 81,000 ounces sold in January of 2015.
Silver Eagles by contrast achieved 64 percent of the January 2015 monthly sales level in the first three days of availability in 2016.
For gold sales in the first three days, buyers took 50,500 one-ounce coins, 13,000 half-ounce, 26,000 quarter ounce and 85,000 tenth-ounce pieces.
Demand for gold Buffaloes stands at 68 percent of the January 2015 total. In three days sales were 23,500 coins compared to 34,500 for the entire month of January 2015.
With such a strong start to the year, sales totals in January 2016 should handily beat the monthly numbers from one year ago – as long as the Mint can keep up with demand.
The Mint rations silver Eagles, but it can supply whatever number of gold coins the market desires.
This article was originally printed in Numismatic News.
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