I have one of these 1/10ths coin it's 24k and the coin itself looks high relief and if you look at sales on the bay most of the ads listed, state high relief within their description. That said, I don't really think it qualifies as high relief or the Mint website would state that. Anyways, here's a question I have! Why are they still selling the 1 ounce gold coin from 2017 and the 1/10th from 2018 on their website?? Anyone know? Is this a normal practice for the Mint or is something special about these gold coins? Are there other coins on the US Mint website where they're selling 4 and 5 year old coins? Just wondering as I like my coin and if the mintage is left to be low as it is now, better for me! Just wondering here, as I don't deal with the US Mint much. https://catalog.usmint.gov/american...2018-gold-proof-coin-18XF.html?navid=xsellpdp
Because they made a bunch of them ahead of time and then sales weren't great so they still have a bunch on hand. So they are just keeping them on sale. It happens sometimes when they don't just strike to order. The 1999 P proof SBA dollars were on sale for over four years before they finally sold out. Usually this happens when an authorization specifies a mintage that shall be struck rather than a mintage of "no more than XXX". One thing they don't do is coin more of them after the date that is on the coin. The law doesn't allow that unless specific legislation is passed allowing a date to be frozen.
It should be noted that the mint is not allowed to do that with all coins. The determining factor is always the wording of the specific law that ordered the coins to be minted to begin with. For example, with some coins the law dictates that any unsold examples can no longer be sold once the following year's issue is offered for sale, and the unsold examples have to be melted down.
Doug is right, you have to look at the authorizing legislation. On some of the commemorative coins they actually specify a sales period and they can't be sold after late day of the sale period. Others don't specify a sales period and they can be sold until all on hand are gone.
