The U.S. Mint is running low on inventory for the majority of its gold and silver numismatic products. Seven of eight America the Beautiful five-ounce silver Uncirculated coins are currently listed as “Sold Out” or “Unavailable” on the Mint’s Web site, with only the 2015 Homestead National Monument issue — which had sold 21,123 of a possible 30,000 units as of Monday — in stock on the Mint’s Web site. The Shawnee 5 oz. Uncirculated Coin, released less than two weeks ago, became Unavailable on March 3. As noted in the comments of the last post, the 2014 50th Anniversary Kennedy Half Dollar Silver Coin Collection is very close to going into Unavailable status after a particularly long stay amidst the Mint’s offerings. The set launched on October 28, 2014 and had sold 220,964 of a possible 225,000 sets at the time of the most recent sales report. Aside from the above products, only the 2015 Silver Proof Set, the 2015 America the Beautiful Quarters Proof Set, and the 2016 Mark Twain Silver Proof and Uncirculated Coins include silver pieces at this time, and the Twain issues are currently on Back Order. Collectors have more options among the Mint’s gold options, but only because there are 13 First Spouse gold offerings in stock across Proof and Uncirculated issues. Both Mark Twain gold commemorative coins are currently available as well. Luckily for precious metals enthusiasts, the month of March should see the release of several new gold and silver product options. This year’s American Eagle gold coins — which include 1/10 oz., 1/4 oz., 1/2 oz., and 1 oz. pieces, as well as a four-coin set — will launch on March 17, while the National Park Service Commemorative gold and silver coins are set to debut a week later.
It's simply a question of the US Mint buying more silver from the countries that can sell it to them. The ONLY product sold by the US Mint that is "required" to be produced from precious metal mined in this country, is the Eagle Program. Every thing else can come from foreign suppliers.
More than likely they're just producing a lower number of things for an initial offering since they have countless products that just sit and sit and sit and sit until they're eventually pulled and melted down.
I'll sell them all of my silver at $45/oz. It's only fair since they normally charge triple what their collectibles are worth. Chris
