Just curious I have never been interested in buying a 5 oz puck till now. Being from Utah I want to get the Arches one. Who typically has the best prices on these and are the ones from the Mint that much better quality to justify the extra money?
Don't think of it as the quality being different. They are two totally different finishes. The bullion one is shiny proof-like while the one you can buy directly from the mint has a matte finish. The other difference is the one from the mint has a mintmark while the bullion version does not. If you can swing it, I would buy one of each.
I was in the same boat for the Smoky Mountain one. I bought a bullion on ebay for less than $130, then subscribed to the mint for about $145. Mint on was a lot nicer. I kept the subscription, but you can cancel after getting the one you want.
I'm confused... they both come from the mint, right? I have a subscription for the "P" mint version. Where would you buy the bullion version? Apologies if it's a stupid question...
Many online retailers sell the bullion pucks. I prefer the ones that send them in air-tites. My last one from APMEX was in an air-tite and Provident may also send them in air-tites.
Ebay link to the 5 oz pucks: http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odk...&_nkw=5+oz+america+the+beautiful&_sacat=39482
Ebay Utah 1 from APMEX presale link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/2014-5-oz-S...d=100034&prg=9723&rk=2&rkt=8&sd=380896041858&
both are minted by the mint, but you can only get the collector version from the mint, you have to buy the bullion version from a dealer
Actually, the collector version "specimen finish" pucks can also be bought from dealers. Here's one: https://www.mintproducts.com/2014-p-5-oz-shenandoah-special-specimen-finish.html.
I meant between the two, the collector one is the only one you can buy from the mint. Both can be purchased elsewhere.
If you are just getting the one, sign up for a subscription at the US Mint and get the Arches collector version at a discount. You can then just cancel afterwards. Better act fast though as they go on sale soon.
By subscription $ 139.45 each https://catalog.usmint.gov/webapp/w...storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&identifier=SUBS
You can certainly enter a subscription for one item. Think of a subscription as an advance order, one of those "You only keep what you want" deals from late night TV. Just don't forget to cancel after you get the one you want. My subscription story: I tried to subscribe for two of these, and it didn't work, so I subscribed again for two more, and it still didn't work, so I gave up in disgust thinking the mint web site was being wonky. You know what happened, right? Yup, I ended up with 4 of the darn things! LOL I have cancelled half of my subscription and kept the other half, so now I'll only get two...