Mint Stats: Bullion demand highlights dull week

I have put so many asterisks on sales numbers this week it looks like an outbreak of measles. I am not finished. With so many 2011-dated coins and sets going off sale, I expect many more asterisks to appear next week as final sales numbers become available.

Thanks to a reader suggestion, I have placed the sales number for the two-coin 2012 San Francisco proof silver American Eagle set under the Miscellaneous Offers under Sets and Singles. This is a set that sold out in July.

One-ounce gold bullion American Eagles continue to sell. The December monthly number rose by 6,500 coins during the holiday-shortened week. The annual sales total now stands at 667,000.

New information on 2009 and 2010 circulating issues, proof sets, uncirculated sets, America the Beautiful Quarters and Native American Dollars.

Next week we should see the first wave of demand for 2013-dated gold American Eagles appear in the chart as they become available Jan. 2. Will demand surge beyond normal seasonal increases as bullion investment forecasters suggest? We will soon know. Sales of 2013 silver bullion Eagles were slated to begin five days later on Jan. 7. Collectors will scramble to get the new date.