Refunds are being offered to buyers of the American Eagle 20th Anniversary Gold and Silver Set who feel they were misled into purchasing the $850 set when it went on sale Aug. 30 and want to return them.

The set has a maximum mintage of 20,000. Some buyers assumed that was it as far as availability of 2006-W uncirculated one-ounce American Eagle gold and silver coins. That turned out to be an incorrect assumption. On Sept. 28, individual coins became available for sale.

The Mint issued a statement to correct the problem and in an interview with Numismatic News, Mint Director Edmund C. Moy apologized.

?While the United States Mint is pleased to offer both the special Anniversary Sets and the first new Uncirculated American Eagles to our customers in the year celebrating the 20th anniversary of the American Eagle program, we do acknowledge that our communication regarding the intent, timing and pricing of these two programs could have been clearer. We regret any confusion that occurred, and have offered a full refund to any customer who is not satisfied and wishes to return their sets,? the statement said.

Telephone the Mint at (800) USA-MINT. Visit the Web site at www.usmint.gov.