American Silver Eagle Sales Plagued By Mint Shortages in 2019
Strong 2019 American Silver Eagle sales curbed by intermittent production.
Sales of American Silver Eagle Coins in 2018 were 15,700,000 down from 18,065,500 in 2017 and down from 37,701,500 in 2016. American Silver Eagle (ASE) sales in 2019, started out as strong with sales of 4,017,500. February sales also spiked to 2,157,500 in the first two weeks of February. Sales momentum, however, was thwarted by a silver round planchet shortage that caused the U.S. Mint to announce a cessation of production and sales in mid- February.
The charts below show American Silver Eagle sales by month in 2018 and 2019:
Sales of American Silver Eagle Coins in January 1987 – 2019
Sales of American Silver Eagles hit consecutive records in each of the 2013-2016. In 2015 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.
Sales of American Silver Eagles in 2016 of 37,701,500 were down 20% from 2015’s sales. 2017 ASE sales fell 52% to 18,065,000 from 2016’s sales. 2018 ASE sales fell a further 13.1% from 2017’s sales. Despite the halting of sales of American Silver Eagles in 2019, through April 8, 2019 sales are at 7,575,000.
American Silver Eagle Sales 1986 – 2019
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
This article by BGASC is not, and should not be regarded as, investment advice or as a recommendation regarding any particular course of action.