Community Voice Responses (February 7, 2017)

From the Jan. 13 Numismatic News E-Newsletter:

Do you buy the new date Eagles as soon as they are available in January?

Here are some answers sent from our e-newsletter readers to Editor Dave Harper.

No, I usually wait a few months. In January they are priced at full retail. By waiting, I get offers in the mail from the major coin companies to buy them at a lower price.

Peter Glassman
Schaumburg, Ill.

Once I am relocated in the States, I’ll resume the purchase of the one-ounce Eagles. As for the price of silver, I presume a couple (of the past five years) have decreased in price. I think I’ll average out in the long run.

Gary Kess
Berkel en Rodenrijs, Netherlands

Do I buy new Eagles each year? Uncirculated – yes. Burnished holo refractor double reverse gimmicky versions – no. Proof – no, not since they botched the proof series by not producing in 2009. The uncirculated silver American Eagle is the only currently produced coin that I buy from the U.S. Mint (through distributors). In my opinion, the rest of the junk they sell is designed to manipulate people who have more dollars than sense!

Max Stucky
Colorado Springs, Colo.

You betcha! Pre-buy silver Eagles on a pre-sale from a reputable dealer online. It’s a gamble as far as spot moves, but usually you can save a few dollars relating to spot and relating to premiums.

I have never done a study, but it would be interesting to track the silver spot prices around the release date of the silver American Eagle bullion coins. My gut would tell me that spot price goes up around the release date, and that it would be prudent to pre-buy early during the lull period of the beginning of the pre-sales from a large reputable dealer. Not from some hokey website. We all know the large dealers who are probably on the approved listing to buy directly from the Mint. It would be interesting to see a formal study to see if there is some correlation. Perhaps Dave, you can have your staff research that and have it in a topic of an NN article?

Robert Matitia
Address Withheld

Yes, I do buy them as soon as they are out.

Bob D. Allen
Address withheld