Sales of 2009 one-ounce American Buffalo gold bullion coins were stopped by the U.S. Mint in early December, though collectors were pleased to see that proof examples of the popular coin were still available.
On Dec. 4 the U.S. Mint issued a memo to its authorized purchaser network declaring “no additional inventory will be made” of the Buffalo bullion coin in 2009.
Cumulative sales of the 2009 one-ounce gold Buffalo coin totaled 200,000 since they began in the middle of October.
For comparison, U.S. Mint Director of Public Affairs Tom Jurkowsky indicated that during the fourth quarter of last year, the Mint sold 25,500 2008 gold one-ounce Buffalo coins, or just a little more than one-eighth the number taken in the fourth quarter of this year.
Market attention immediately turned to the future availability of 2010 Buffalo coins, but the Mint had no information as to when sales of these coins would start.
Sales of the 2009 coins were delayed until October as the Mint fought to get a handle on unprecedented demand for its American Eagle bullion coins.
As of Dec. 6, collectors had purchased 40,233 of the proof one-ounce Buffalo coins. They were still available on the U.S. Mint’s Web site Dec. 10. Coins were being sold for $1,460, though prices are changed weekly depending on a weekly average of the market price of gold in London.
