Sales of US Mint 2011 Commemorative Silver Dollars End Friday

This is the last week for several 2011 commemorative coins, including four silver dollars. The United States Mint plans to take them off sale on Friday, December 16, 2011 at 5 PM Eastern Time.

As stated in a SilverCoinsToday.com article in October, the United States Mint posted a ‘Last Opportunity‘ section on its online store with ordering deadlines for some of its numismatic products. Since that time, the prices have increased for the commemorative gold coins (+$24.30 currently) but not for the silver dollars or the clad coins.

The last chance products concluding on Friday, December 16, at 5 PM ET are:

 

*The above sales figures are as of December 12, 2011.

As a comparison to the prior year’s commemorative coins, demand has been significantly weaker for the 2011 strikes. For reference, the last known sales totals for the older coins are listed in the table below.

 

A few variables, however, may account for the large sales differences. First, there were no other competing commemorative coins in 2010, in gold or clad, nor were there any silver commemorative medals like the 9/11 National Medals.

Second, the price of one ounce of silver in the precious metals market has been experiencing pronounced fluctuations compared to last year, and this year’s commemorative silver dollars are thusly priced higher.

Brief Background on 2011 Commemorative Coins

The proof and uncirculated U.S. Army Commemorative Coins had been on sale since January 31, 2011. They were authorized by Public Law 110-450 to recognize and honor the traditions, history, and heritage of the U.S. Army, and its role in American society from the Colonial period to today.

The United States Mint came out with six versions of the U.S. Army commemoratives. They were the proof and uncirculated strikes of gold, silver, and clad coins. In particular, the silver dollars weigh 26.73 grams, have a diameter of 1.5 inches and are composed of 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper. With only a matter of days left, sales will not reach the maximum of 500,000 across the proof and uncirculated options.

As for the Medal of Honor Commemorative Coins, their proof and uncirculated strikes went on sale on February 25, 2011. Per Public Law 111-91, the coins were minted to recognize and celebrate:

"…the establishment of the Medal of Honor in 1861, America’s highest award for valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States, to honor the American military men and women who have been recipients of the Medal of Honor, and to promote awareness of what the Medal of Honor represents and how ordinary Americans, through courage, sacrifice, selfless service and patriotism, can challenge fate and change the course of history."

Two Medal of Honor coins were struck in gold and the other two were struck in silver. The silver dollars had the same dimensions as the U.S. Army commemoratives with their 1.5 inch diameter, 26.73 gram weight, and 90% silver and 10% copper composition.

In related news, a bit more time is left for two of the United States Mint’s silver sets. The last day of sales for the 2010 Silver Proof Set and the 2010 America the Beautiful Quarters Silver Proof Set is Friday, December 30, at 5 PM ET.

Where to Order

Collectors wanting to take advantage of the US Mint’s Last Opportunity sale may make their purchases online at www.usmint.gov/catalog or call the toll-free number at 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468).