First Spouse Gold Coin sales were slightly better this round than last, according to the newest US Mint Sales figures. The total sold was 506, compared to last week’s 479. One factor to help sales was the $25 price cut on December 16 for each coin.
Margaret Taylor coins roared above the others, which is typical of new releases. The Proof version increased by 241 and the uncirculated by 118, following the 217 and 82 reported last Wednesday. Julia Tyler Proofs commanded more attention than the Sarah Polk Proofs with 41 sold compared to Polk’s 29.
The US Mint today revealed the design images of the upcoming 2010 First Spouse Gold Coins. The new coins feature Abigail Fillmore, Jane Pierce, President Buchanan’s Liberty, and Mary Lincoln. More information for these coins will be available soon.
The following tables compare the prior to most recent US Mint sales data: [click to continue…]
This week’s sales figures were a bit boring compared to last week’s report that included Margaret Taylor First Spouse opening sales figures. Then, a total of 3,158 Spouse coins sold. This week the total was 479. Still, that was better than November’s weekly average of 404.
Naturally, the star of the week was the new Margaret Taylor Proofs, leading the pack with 217. Taylor’s Uncirculated version was second, gaining 82. The third best seller was Sarah Polk’s Proof, climbing by just 36. Interestingly, Polk’s Uncirculated version came in last place out of ten, with just 5 being sold.
The US Mint lowered its gold coin prices today by $25. A Proof First Spouse coin is now $729 and the Uncirculated is $716. Prices went down because the Mint’s pricing policy is based on the London Fix weekly average price of gold, which fell below the $1,150 threshold that triggers cuts. The last price change — an increase — occurred on November 25.
The following tables compare the prior to most recent US Mint sales data: [click to continue…]
Coinciding with the availability of the Margaret Taylor Gold Coins on December 3, 2009, the US Mint also released the 2009 First Spouse Bronze Medal Series: Five-Medal Set.
Each set contains five medals struck from bronze with the likeness of the First Spouse gold coins that were issued throughout the year. The medals come packaged in Mylar® which is inserted into a product information containing folded card with a custom-made envelope.
All of the medals are struck at the Mint’s facility in Philadelphia (no mintmark is present) to a diameter of 1 5/16 inches. The set sells for $15.95 or individual medals may also be purchased for $3.50 a piece. A shipping charge of $4.95 per order applies.
The five former first ladies of the United States represented in this set (along with some design information) are: [click to continue…]
Margaret Taylor First Spouse Coins launched on Thursday, Dec. 3rd, with somewhat of a bang, selling a couple thousand by Sunday, the latest US Mint sales figures reveal. 1,791 Proof versions and 1,048 Uncirculated versions were purchased. The new coins were more popular, beating the inaugural sales of the Sarah Polk First Spouse coins back in September, when 1,684 Proofs and 921 Uncirculated sold.
Demand for the half ounce 24 karat gold First Spouse coins has been on the rise in recent weeks, believed in part to be the result of higher gold prices, the lack of fractional sizes in other US Mint gold products, and the holiday season. The launch of a new coin in the series also dramatically increases sales.
The Mint stopped selling the 2008 Van Buren’s Liberty coins on Dec. 3rd, but no further purchases were reported for the period between the last sales figures, Nov. 29 through Dec. 3rd. The Van Buren’s did not perform as well as the 2008 Elizabeth Monroe or Andrew Jackson’s Liberty coins, but it did outperform the 2008 Louisa Adams coins.
The following tables compare the prior to most recent US Mint sales data: [click to continue…]
The US Mint began taking orders today for the Margaret Taylor First Spouse Gold Coins. Available in either proof or uncirculated condition, the coins are struck from 1/2 ounce of 24-karat gold to a face value of $10.
Both strikes come encapsulated for protection and ship in a presentation case. An order limit of 10 per household per product option has been implemented by the Mint with an initial release price of $754 for the proof and $741 for the uncirculated.
Gold itself has been hanging above $1,200 an ounce on the markets for the last few days making it a definite possibility that the Mint will raise the price of these precious metal coins next week according to their pricing matrix. If the average London Fix for gold stays above that $1,200 mark, the First Spouse coins will increase in price to $779 and $766 for the proof and uncirculated, respectively. (For more information, see First Spouse Price Grid.)
Margaret Taylor Information
Margaret Taylor was married to Zachary Taylor for almost 40 years before he was elected as President of the United States.
Before meeting her future husband, Margaret led a life of leisure provided by the wealth of her family. Despite knowing the hardships she may have to endure, she married a young Zachary Taylor who had chosen the Army as his career. [click to continue…]
Demand for First Spouse Gold Coins is up again, as the series enjoyed another week of rising sales, according to the latest weekly US Mint sales figures.
The Sarah Polk Uncirculated coins outpaced the rest of the group, including Polk’s Proof version for the first time. Collectors purchased 139 more of the coins. The Van Buren Liberty Proof was the second most popular, rising 131 during the week.
Since the new Margaret Taylor First Spouse Gold Coins launch tomorrow, today is the last full day for the Van Buren’s Liberty coins. The Van Buren’s have not reached the same final sales level as the Jackson’s Liberty coins, but they did pass the Louisa Adams coins. The Louisa Adams remain the lowest sold of all the First Spouse Gold coins that are no longer sold by the Mint.
The following tables compare the prior to most recent US Mint sales data: [click to continue…]
It’s seems likely that the demand for gold has helped US First Spouse Gold Coin sales rise. Overall sales have been experiencing a steady upward trend for the last three weeks, despite their increases on Nov. 12th to the highest level since the series started in 2007.
The Julia Tyler Proof coins gained the most by adding 87 this week, according to the latest US Mint sales figures. Last week, none were sold. The second and third biggest sellers were the Sarah Polk Proofs, adding 71 to their sales figure, and the Van Buren Liberty Proofs, adding 70.
The Van Buren’s Liberty coins will only be available another nine days, since the deadline to complete an order is December 3rd. December 3rd is also the launch date of the next coins in the series, the Margaret Taylor First Spouse Gold Coins.
The following tables compare the prior to most recent US Mint sales data: [click to continue…]
Last week’s price increase of $25 on Nov. 12 actually seemed to boost US First Spouse Gold Coin sales, because the commemorative series recovered from the prior report’s “slow down”. The latest US Mint sales figures show sales for seven of the ten available gold coins improved.
More likely, the quick rise in gold prices provided opportunities for collectors to look again at the series. Also, since it was a U.S. federal holiday last Wednesday, the Mint did not raise gold coin prices (in response to higher gold) until Thursday. That gave collectors a full day’s notice to buy them with the understanding that they would go up $25 the next day.
The Van Buren’s Liberty coins saw the biggest sales gain. Last week’s report showed increases of only 63 and 36 for the proof and uncirculated, but this week they jumped by 80 and 64. As a reminder, the Van Buren coin sales end on December 3rd.
The launch for the new Margaret Taylor First Spouse Gold Coins is only 15 days away and will be just in time for delivery by Christmas. According to the US Mint’s website, orders placed by December 7th for any in-stock items will be delivered by December 25th via standard delivery, and orders placed by December 11th can still make it by December 25th via express delivery.
The following tables compare the prior to most recent US Mint sales data: [click to continue…]
The weekly London Fix gold average jumped, reaching the next rung on the US Mint’s pricing slide rule. As a result, expect the US Mint to increase First Spouse Gold Coin prices by $25 sometime before noon on Thursday. According to Mint policy, the prices will be $729 for the proofs and $716 for each uncirculated. Those will be never-before-seen, all-time highs.
These prices are a far cry from where they started at the beginning of the series. In 2007, the Martha Washington First Spouse Coins were only $429.95 and $410.95. Those sold out within hours, all 40,000 of them. Sizable profits could be realized in selling them for their gold values alone. When the 2008 Van Buren’s Liberty coins launched, they were priced at $549.95 and $524.94.
In this week’s US Mint sales data, only one of the ten available First Spouse coins experienced higher sales than the last report. The Van Buren’s Liberty Proof rose by 63 compared to last week’s 36. It was the second most popular coin in this report. Sarah Polk Proofs earned top honors at 76.
The Mint posted a countdown on their web site to show that there are only 22 days left to purchase the 2008 Van Buren’s Liberty coins. As it stands, the Van Buren Proofs are at 7,234 and the uncirculated at 4,165. They are not far behind the lowest minted 2008 Louisa Adams coins with their 7,454 proofs and 4,223 uncirculated. The deadline for the Van Buren coins signify the release of the next coin in the series. The Margaret Taylor First Spouse Gold Coins will launch December 3rd.
The following tables compare the prior to most recent Mint sales data: [click to continue…]
First Spouse Gold Coins recovered from last week’s low. The United States Mint sold almost twice as many this time. Plus, there was not any negative numbers reported due to customer returns, cancellations, etc.
Sarah Polk Proof sales increased by 113, coming in at the top spot for best seller. The second highest increase went to the Julia Tyler Proofs with their 57 gain. Rounding out the top three was the Sarah Polk Uncirculated coin with 51.
The release of the next coin in the series, the Margaret Taylor First Spouse Coin, is about four weeks away. In the past, the Mint stopped selling the oldest coin when it launched the newest. If sales for the 2008 Van Buren Liberty coins don’t pick up, then Van Buren will rank behind the 2008 Jackson Liberty in scarcity.
The following tables compare the prior to most recent Mint sales data: [click to continue…]