Mint Stats: Cherry-picking time arrives for buyers

Somebody pounced. Sales of the Star-Spangled Banner $5 gold uncirculated coin soared 22 percent this week to 6,257 coins, up 1,131. It is the end of the year and buyers are looking for potentially scarce issues. That makes this issue more common than the proof. Will the proof jump next week? Sales are scheduled to continue until Dec. 17. Sales numbers for other commemoratives were more restrained.

Gold was also the theme of the week for American Eagles. Sales of the 1-ounce gold coin rose by 13,500, bringing the November monthly total to 53,000. That is just 1,000 less

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than the October monthly number and there is still more than a week to go. The top sales months are January at 84,500, September at 63,000 and October at 54,000.

Silver was somewhat sleepy, perhaps owing to the fact that this data was assembled during Thanksgiving week. The bullion silver Eagle number rose by just 102,000 to 2,297,500 while the 5-ounce bullion coins had zero sales. Collector 5-ounce coins were led by a 2,002 increase in the Denali total.