Mint Markets to Former Customers

A lot of attention is focused on the rare coin market segment, but there is a lot more to both the business and hobby of coins than this. The entry point into the hobby is often through new U.S. Mint products. The U.S. Mint has recently focused on bringing back former customers, using a 40 percent discount on the 2021 proof, uncirculated and silver proof sets. The Mint has also offered a “free” 2018-W 1/10-ounce American Eagle to targeted dormant clients who would purchase a 2017-W 1-ounce American Liberty gold coin.

While the Mint tries to regain these “lost” clients, sales of the 2022-W palladium American Eagle $25 coins appear to be successful. These sales are important, considering the spot price of precious metals has been in decline recently, with many investors taking a wait-and-see posture on future bullion coin purchases.

The market for reasonably available yet collectible coins remains in strong hands, as does the scarce to rare coin market. There is some caution in both of these segments, considering that discretionary money with which hobbyists make their purchases continues to dry up due to inflation and the poor performance of equity markets. Economists and bankers are cautioning of a pending recession by the first quarter of 2023, but at this point it does not appear that the market for collectible coins will be overly impacted. Collectors collect. There isn’t anything on the horizon at this time that suggests the pace at which they collect is going to change in the near future.