Friday, December 23, 2011

U.S. Mint product offerings outlook 2012

U.S. Mint product offerings outlook 2012 : Highlights of the Mint’s 2012 product offerings, at least based on what is currently known, include silver and gold commemoratives for the Star Spangled Banner and a silver dollar for infantry soldiers; the five 2012 America the Beautiful five-ounce coins, which have very eye-catching designs that may help spur renewed interest in this series; the year’s First Spouse gold coins, which are likely to include more unusually low mintage issues; and the proof Buffalo coin.

The Mint at one point planned to release the first U.S. palladium coin next year, an American palladium eagle with an obverse based on the Mercury dime and a reverse based on a medal designed by Adolph Weinmann. The Mint is apparently still in the process of determining whether there is sufficient demand to produce such a coin.

The Mint will probably continue issuing burnished silver eagles, and it may also issue one ounce burnished American gold eagles, as it did in 2011.

The Mint plans to implement a new ordering system during the second half of the year that will be designed to better handle high-volume ordering periods. It will be interesting to see if this results in even faster sell-outs of high demand, limited edition issues, as the playing field becomes more level.

Native American dollars, which have reverses that change each year will feature a male Indian profile and a horse. Presidential dollars will only be issued for collectors.

Classic coins
There were three major trends in the classic segment of the numismatic market in 2011.

First, premiums on generic, PCGS and NGC-graded pre-1933 gold coins remain very low by historic standards. When gold hit a new all-time high of $1906 on August 22, premiums briefly rose to more normal levels, but they have since retreated and continue to represent good value.

Second, the same trend emerged for generic, common-date slabbed Morgan and Peace dollars in MS63-MS66. When silver approached $50, demand for these coins and retail prices reached levels not seen since the late 1980′s, but they have since retreated to just a little above the levels they were at before silver rose.

Third, as has been the case for some time, it became harder to find decent quality, good eye appeal 19th century coins that have not been graded, especially those with original surfaces.

Astute collectors can still spend a few hours at a major coin show and find coins that fit this bill, but I do not recommend purchasing them from a mail order dealer unless they are a very high end company like Legend or Stack’s, or a company that you trust from experience.

There is just too much polished, cleaned, unattractive material of this kind, especially at mail order companies.

All in all, 2012 promises to be an interesting year for numismatists and coin investors. If bullion resumes its bull run, collectors will have tough decisions to make about which coins they can afford to acquire, and they will worry about losing money if bullion crashes.

Stay tuned to this column, and I will do my best to keep you informed about important developments and significant opportunities in U.S. and world coins and precious metals.For the latest updates on the stock market, visit Stock Market Today

U.S. palladium coin 2012, American gold eagles 2012, 2012 America the Beautiful five-ounce coins, NGC-graded pre-1933 gold coins 2012,
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