bgasc american silver eagle

American Silver Eagles Sales Soar 122%

Silver News
Sales of American Silver Eagle Coins Accelerate in May

The U.S. Mint sold 4,498,500 one ounce American Silver Eagle coins (ASE’s) in May 2016. This reflects a 122% increase over sales of ASE’s in May last year when 2,023,500 were sold.

Sales of American Silver Eagle coins in May were the most ever sold in the month of May since ASE’s were first minted in 1986. The nearly 4.5 million ASEs sold in May beat the prior May record of 2014 by over 500,000. May’s sales of 4,498,500 million ASEs were the fifth month in a row that the U.S. Mint has sold at least four million.

As of May 31, 2016, the U.S. Mint had sold 23,413,000 ASE’s which is 38% more than the mint sold through May 2015. Last year the U.S. Mint set a record by selling 47 million American Silver Eagle coins.

Sales of American Silver Eagle Coins in May 1987 – 2016
may sales american silver eagle 1987-2016 bgasc
May 2016 sales of American Silver Eagles were the largest ever.

May’s record sales follow record sales in the first quarter of 2016.

A Record First Quarter For American Silver Eagle Sales in 2016

Sales of American Silver Eagles in the first quarter of 2016 were 23% higher than first quarter 2015 sales. The U.S. Mint sold 14,842,500 ASE’s from January through March 2016. In 2015 during the comparable period the U.S. Mint sold 12,071,000 ASEs.

First Quarter 2016 sales of American Silver Eagles Were Higher than Entire Year Mintages of Each of 1986-2007
BGASC 1st quarter 2016 mintage vs 1986-2007
Sales of American Silver Eagles in the first quarter of 2016 were higher than every mintage from 1986-2007.
U.S. Mint Sold Nearly 70 Times More American Silver Eagles Than One Ounce American Gold Eagles in May 2016

While American Silver Eagle sales are on record pace, sales of American Gold Eagle (AGEs) coins which have been lackluster the past few years, have sprung to life this year. Due to surging ASE sales and tepid gold eagle sales, the silver to gold sales ratio in 2014 climbed to 106 to one and in 2015 it was 110 to one. Through the first quarter of 2016 the ratio was about 80 to one. That ratio dropped to just 43 to one in April, as the U.S. Mint also sold 93,000 American Gold Eagles during the month. In May, the silver to gold sales ratio was 69.74 to 1 as the U.S. Mint sold 4,498,500 American Silver Eagles and 64,500 one ounce American Gold Eagles.

American Silver Eagle 2016 Sales Projection

American Silver Eagle Sales Headed for Another Record in 2016

Sales of American Silver Eagles have hit records in each of the past three years. Last year the U.S. Mint sold 47,000,000 ASEs up from the prior record of 44,006,000 sold in 2014 which was up from a record 42,675,000 sold in 2013.

If sales of one ounce American Silver Eagle sales continue at the pace set through the first five months of 2016, on average of 4,682,000 per month, sales will exceed 56,000,000 in 2016, another record. Sales may be curbed, however, by the U.S. Mint’s continued rationing of ASE coins to about one million a week.

American Silver Eagle sales 1986 - 2016 bgasc
Sales of American Silver Eagle coins through May 2016 have exceeded all annual mintages from 1986-2008.

About the American Silver Eagle coin

American Silver Eagle coins are .999 pure silver (ASE’s contain .0007 copper), rather than .9999 silver. The obverse of an American Silver Eagle coin boasts the same design as the obverse of the “Liberty Walking” U.S. $.50 piece that was minted from 1916-1947 of 90% silver and 10% copper. The front of a Liberty Walking Half Dollar and an American Silver Eagle coin features a walking lady liberty depiction designed by Adolph A. Weinman who also worked with Augustus Saint Gaudens, whose design appears on the U.S. gold Double Eagle coin (1907 – 1933) and the contemporary American Gold Eagle coin (1986 – present)

American Silver Eagle sales data from USMINT.GOV

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This article by BGASC is not, and should not be regarded as, investment advice or as a recommendation regarding any particular course of action.