When waiting is a good thing

The waiting list notice is back on the U.S. Mint’s website for the 2010 Yosemite 5-ounce silver uncirculated collector coin.

This time the Mint means it. It really does.

As of July 18 the Mint had reported a total of 26,740 spoken for, just 260 shy of the 27,000-coin sellout.

Collectors had been faked out a bit when the first waiting list notice went up inadvertently June 23 and stayed there for more than a week.

So it looks like a sellout for the third 2010 design and the fourth design, the Grand Canyon, is doing rather well.

With sales at 22,026 pieces, the Mint has just 4,974 left of the Grand Canyon coins and these should be moved out before we turn the calendar page to August. Collectors got an extra incentive to buy these because Numismatic Guaranty Corporation has recognized two kinds of finishes on these coins, the regular vapor-blasted matte surface and a light finish with a somewhat more lustrous surface.

That’s just in time. The fifth and final 2010 design for Mount Hood National Forest goes on sale on July 28.

Then we can watch the fun begin with the offerings of the five 2011 collector coin designs.

Will the price of the 2011 coins still be $279.95? Will mintages still be 27,000?

Let’s hold our breaths and see.