Bullion silver eagle sales ended down in September — their worst month of this year. But it also registered as the second best September of all time going back to 1986. So there’s a mixed picture of sorts on demand and perhaps blank inventories.

This month will be telling. US Mint holiday marketing material will be designed and created soon in preparation for December — printing hundreds of thousands of brochures, getting them to the mail house and delivering them takes a lot of upfront time before they even arrive on collector’s doorsteps. The behind the scenes requirements for all that is at least a cause for the Mint to internally discuss proof eagles again. Perhaps that will initiate a public announcement.