Last chance to buy

With immediate sellouts being the exception, collectors have gotten used to the fact that many standard Mint products seem to be around for something close to forever.

Don’t have the $31.95 for a proof set at the ready? No worries. Next week, next month, even next year it is often available.

Well, even what seems like forever availability does eventually come to an end.

On Friday, the Mint issued a lengthy list of products that are going off sale on the last two days of the year.

Would-be buyers now will find themselves having to scrape up the cash to make any purchases during the holiday season when money often is tight.

The fact that commemoratives go off sale is no surprise.

That has been the legal requirement for many years.

However, the imminent disappearance of some silver American Eagle products might startle some.

For the 2014 sets, the reaction might simply be, “about time.”

Here is the text of the announcement: Section 73002 of Public Law 114-94, enacted on December 4, 2015, requires that all proof and uncirculated versions of the American Eagle Silver Dollar issued during calendar year 2016 have a smooth edge incused with a designation that notes the 30th anniversary of the first issue of the American Eagle Silver Bullion Coin.

American Eagle Silver Bullion Coins (which the United States Mint does not sell directly to the public/are sold only to Authorized Purchasers) will continue to be issued without edge lettering as usual. The U.S. Mint will begin taking orders for the 2016 American Eagle Silver Bullion Coins on Monday, January 11, 2016.

Due to this provision of the law, the following products will go off sale at 12 noon, Eastern Time, December 30, 2015:

the American Eagle 2015 One Ounce Silver Proof Coin - ES6;

the American Eagle 2015 One Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coin – ES7;

the 2013 Congratulations Set – N17;

the 2014 Congratulations Set – CS1;

the 2015 Congratulations Set – N63;

the 2014 Annual Uncirculated Dollar Coin Set – XA6;

the 2015 Annual Uncirculated Dollar Coin Set – XA7;

the 2014 Limited Edition Silver Proof Set – LS3.

Of special note, the planned Limited Edition Silver Proof Set for 2015 will not be issued.

In addition, and not in relation to the products listed above, current commemorative coins will no longer be available after December 30, 2015:

the U.S. Marshals Service 225th Anniversary 2015 $5 Gold Proof Coin – SR1;

the U.S. Marshals Service 225th Anniversary 2015 Uncirculated Clad Half-Dollar – SR6;

the March of Dimes 2015 Proof Silver Dollar – DM 1;

the March of Dimes Silver Dollar Uncirculated Coin - DM2;

Also not in relation to the products listed above, the following annual sets will no longer be available after December 31, 2015:

the 2014 United States Mint Proof Set – P16;

the 2014 United States Mint Uncirculated Set – U14;

the 2014 United States Mint Silver Proof Set – SW1;

the America the Beautiful Quarters 2014 Proof Set – Q5E;

the America the Beautiful Quarters 2014 Silver Proof Set – Q5F;

the Presidential 2014 One Dollar Coin Proof Set – PE4.

See anything on this list you like?

You've got just over two weeks to act.

Buzz blogger Dave Harper has twice won the Numismatic Literary Guild Award for Best Blog and is editor of the weekly newspaper "Numismatic News."

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