Buchanan’s Liberty Gold Sizzles, Medal Set Debuts

Last week’s report showed First Spouse Coins had hotter sales. This week’s numbers are colder. Only two out of eight First Spouse Coins managed to exceed their prior weekly increase, per the most recent United States Mint sales report. In total, almost half as many sold, 846 versus 1,593 previously.

The 2010 James Buchanan’s Liberty Gold Coins have been experiencing exceptional collector demand during their first three full weeks on sale. Collectors purchased a total of 9,055 between their launch September 2 and Sunday, September 26. The addition in this round was 420 for the proofs, but it was a dramatic slowdown for the uncirculated. 67 sold compared to 562 in the prior round. With a mintage limit of 15,000 across all options, only 5,945 were left. A sell out could occur before the end of the year if interested parties scoop up an average of 460 per week.

Jane Pierce’s proof declined slightly, picking up 78 compared to 87 previously. Tying for second were the Margaret Taylor proofs, and then third went to her uncirculated, at 77. Taylor’s coins were the only two in the series that beat their prior performance, which was 52 and 72 respectively.

One thing on gold collectors’ radar is the the London Fix weekly average of gold, because the United States Mint’s pricing policy uses London’s numbers to bases its gold coin prices. The London Fix weekly average of gold would have to move outside the range of $1,250.00 to $1,299.99 per ounce in order for the Mint to change prices again. That could happen next week if the trend continues to move upward as it did yesterday and today. Both Thursday and Friday’s London Fix price of gold was above $1,300.00 an ounce.

Right now First Spouse coins are $804 for the proofs and $791 for the uncirculated.

The first round of numbers came in for the Buchanan Dollar & Liberty Medal Set. Sales were strong, compared to Pierce’s inaugural numbers. Buchanan’s initial sales started at 2,080, beating Pierce’s at 1,340. The prior Fillmore Set, however, opened much higher, at 2,362.

In all, 2,637 Presidential $1 and Medal Sets sold. Pierce’s Set in this round jumped by 266, compared to 77. Fillmore’s Set rose by 172 versus 58 previously.

The following tables compare the prior to most recent U.S. Mint sales data:

The “as of date” for the latest Mint figures is Sunday, September 26. Visit the First Spouse Gold Coins home page for more information on the series.