Mint cuts products, holds clearance sale

The U.S. Mint is holding a clearance sale.

Hundreds of current and past products are being offered to collectors to clear out fulfillment centers in Memphis, Tenn., and Plano, Texas, in preparation for a January move to a new center in Plainfield, Ind.

The news confirms online speculation that some numismatic versions of American Eagle and Buffalo precious metal coinage will not be offered again. However, the extent of program terminations offers a few surprises.

Uncirculated platinum American Eagles with the “W” mintmark in all sizes end with this year’s coinages.

American Eagle platinum proofs come to an end, too, except for the one-ounce coin.

Uncirculated gold American Eagles will be discontinued except for the one-ounce size.

All American Buffalo uncirculated “W” collector versions will be ended.

Proof American Buffalo gold coins will be stopped except for the one-ounce coin.

Other terminated products include new ones like Presidential dollar Signature Sets and the proof Presidential dollars sold individually.

Old ones, like state quarter First Day Coin Covers and Greetings from America Portfolios and Card Sets, are coming to an end after the 10-year program concludes.
“It will be limited time. First come, first served,” said Mint Deputy Director Andrew D. Brunhart. “No household limits. All sales will be final. If you’re wondering, we won’t exceed any Mint limits.”

The sale, which began Nov. 15, concludes at 5 p.m. Dec. 19, but some products are likely to be gone well before then.

Of those that don’ sell, Brunhart says, “We’re going to be doing a significant detrashing and melting (of) the products that do not sell by Dec. 19. Those products will be immediately broken down and sent to the melter.”

The clearance sale is part of a major re-evaluation of the Mint’s product line. Brunhart said the product offerings will be reduced from more than 550 available in 2008 to roughly 200.

Leftover 2008 products will stay on sale until June, when they will get the same detrashing and melting treatment.

“From now on at the end of each year, we will examine our portfolio to make sure the warehouse is not stuffed with products they (Mint customers) don’t want,” Brunhart said. “We’re undergoing a significant renewal of our numismatic portfolio in 2009. We have too many products. We have heard loud and clear from our collecting community. We are responding to that. We will be focusing our resources on key products (with the) broadest appeal.

“Fewer products to concentrate on will enable us to bring out and offer much earlier in the calendar year our key products.”

The benefit to collectors will be earlier release of hobby favorites.

“Four of these, clad proof sets, silver proof sets, uncirculated sets and silver American Eagles (will be offered) in January of each year,” Brunhart said.
Below are the complete lists of discontinued and last chance products:

Discontinued Products

United States Mint Presidential $1 Coin Historical Signature SetsTM
United States Mint Presidential $1 Coin – Individual Proof CoinsTM
American Eagle Platinum Uncirculated Coins (all options)
American Eagle Platinum Proof 1⁄2, 1⁄4, 1/10, and Four-Coin Sets
American Eagle Gold Uncirculated 1⁄2, 1⁄4, 1/10, and Four-Coin Sets
American Buffalo Uncirculated Gold Coins (all options)
American Buffalo Proof 1⁄2, 1⁄4, 1/10, and Four-Coin Sets
50 State Quarters® First Day Coin Covers (continue through 2008)
Greetings From America Portfolios and Card Sets
Coin and Die Sets
Collectible Spoons

Last Chance Product Listing

Annual Sets
2007 United States Mint Proof Set®
2007 United States Mint 50 State Quarters Proof SetTM
2004 United States Mint Uncirculated Coin Set®
2006 United States Mint Uncirculated Coin Set®
2007 United States Mint Uncirculated Coin Set®
2007 United States Mint Silver Proof SetTM
2007 United States Mint 50 State Quarters Silver Proof SetTM
50 State Quarters® Bags & Rolls
Wisconsin Two-Roll Set
Minnesota Two-Roll Set
Minnesota 1,000-Coin Bag (P)
Minnesota 1,000-Coin Bag (D)
Oregon 1,000-Coin Bag (D)
Colorado 100-Coin Bag (P)
Nebraska 1,000-Coin Bag (P)
Nebraska 1,000-Coin Bag (D)
Nebraska 100-Coin Bag (D)
Colorado 1,000-Coin Bag (P)
Colorado 1,000-Coin Bag (D)
North Dakota 100-Coin Bag (D)
North Dakota 1,000-Coin Bag (D)
South Dakota 100-Coin Bag (D)
Montana 1,000-Coin Bag (P)
Wyoming 100-Coin Bag (P)
Wyoming 1,000-Coin Bag (P)
Wyoming 100-Coin Bag (D)
Wyoming 1,000-Coin Bag (D)
Utah Two-Roll Set
Utah 1,000-Coin Bag (P)
Utah 1,000-Coin Bag (D)
Oklahoma Two-Roll Set
Oklahoma 100-Coin Bag (P)
Oklahoma 100-Coin Bag (D)
Oklahoma 1,000-Coin Bag (P)
Oklahoma 1,000-Coin Bag (D)
New Mexico Two-Roll Set
New Mexico 100-Coin Bag (P)
New Mexico 100-Coin Bag (D)
New Mexico 1,000-Coin Bag (P)
New Mexico 1,000-Coin Bag (D)
Arizona Two-Roll Set
Arizona 1,000-Coin Bag (P)
Arizona 100-Coin Bag (D)
Arizona 100-Coin Bag (P)
Arizona 1,000-Coin Bag (D)
Other Bags & Rolls
2001 Sacagawea Golden Dollar Roll (P)
2001 Kennedy Half-Dollar 200-Coin Bag
2001 Kennedy Half-Dollar Two-Roll Set
2002 Sacagawea Golden Dollar 2000-Coin Bag (P)
2002 Sacagawea Golden Dollar 2000-Coin Bag (D)
2003 Jefferson Nickel Two-Roll Set
2004 Sacagawea Golden Dollar 2000-Coin Bag (D)
2005 Ocean in View Nickel 1,000-Coin Bag (P)
2005 Ocean in View Nickel 1,000-Coin Bag (D)
2005 Sacagawea Golden Dollar 2000-Coin Bag (P)
50 State Quarters® First Day Coin Covers
New Jersey
Georgia
Connecticut
South Carolina
New Hampshire
Virginia
New York
North Carolina
Rhode Island
Vermont
Kentucky
Tennessee
Ohio
Louisiana
Indiana
Mississippi
Illinois
Alabama
Maine
Missouri
Arkansas
Michigan
Florida
Texas
Iowa
Wisconsin
California
Minnesota
Oregon
Kansas
West Virginia
Nevada
Nebraska
Colorado
North Dakota
South Dakota
Montana
Washington
Idaho
Wyoming
Utah
Presidential $1 Coin Coin Covers
George Washington
John Adams
Thomas Jefferson
James Madison
50 State Quarters® Coin & Die Sets
North Carolina (P)
Rhode Island
Tennessee (D)
Maine (D)
Iowa (P)
Oregon (P)
Nebraska (D)
Nebraska (P)
Colorado (P)
North Dakota (D)
North Dakota (P)
South Dakota (D)
South Dakota (P)
Montana (D)
Montana (P)
Washington (P)
Idaho (D)
Idaho (P)
Wyoming (P)
Wyoming (D)
Utah (D)
50 State Quarters® Collector’s Spoons
Iowa
West Virginia
Nevada
Nebraska
Colorado
North Dakota
South Dakota
Montana
Washington
Idaho
Wyoming
Utah
Oklahoma
New Mexico
Arizona
50 State Quarters® Greetings from America Series
1999 Card Set
1999 Portfolio
2000 Card Set
2000 Portfolio
2001 Card Set
2001 Portfolio
2002 Card Set
2002 Portfolio
2003 Card Set
2003 Portfolio
2004 Card Set
2004 Portfolio
2005 Card Set
2005 Portfolio
2006 Card Set
2006 Portfolio
2007 Card Set
2007 Portfolio
Card Set Album
Portfolio Album
Westward Journey Nickel Sets
2004 Westward Journey Nickel SeriesTM Coin Set
2006 Westward Journey Nickel SeriesTM Coin Set
Special Sets
50 State Quarters® And Euro Coin Collection
Official Coin Collecting Starter Kit