Did anyone else puck up?

The most likely reason: The larger companies (APMEX, etc.) are able to submit a large number of coins for grading, specifying a minimum grade (probably MS-69). Coins that grade at MS-69 are slabbed with that grade. The rest are slabbed as "Brilliant Uncirculated".

If you look at APMEX's page for selling 2011 ATB pucks, there aren't any MS-68. I am going on the assumption that from 2011 on, any slabbed coins that are graded as BU are between MS-65 and MS-68.

Note that the above is not necessarily true for 2010 ATB pucks. Some of the companies selling them had all of the coins slabbed as BU (probably to make packaging and shipping easier). Other companies appear to have specified a minimum grade.

 

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Thanks for the explanation. With the lower prices, and the great Olympic picture by Cheeks, I think I'll stick with the BU if I decide to pull the trigger. That is if I can find a way to get over their shipping costs. Does anybody know if APMEX ever has a promotion to lower shipping costs for small orders (<$250)? Thanks again Cheeks and Dabbler for your help.

 

Apmex shipping isn't really flexible ($13 or so at around a $250 order?), but they do make it about as safe and secure as possible. It's unlikely that you'll have a problem with a package from them.

 

If you can buy P's from the mint at a small premium over melt, it's a "no brainer", it's "free money". With these mintages, even if they were made out of base metal, long term, they'd probably sell for a lot more than purchase price - the fact that they're made of silver, just increases their desirability. The supply side of the equation is there, when the demand side happens these things are going to the moon.

 

I got a few ATB coins when Apmex had low premiums and I like them.

 

For anyone interested, APMEX now has a sale for the raw Glacier for $1.99 over spot. Right now that puts it just over $150.

 

I love the pucks but don't think they're a good bullion play. However, if you get slabbed SP 69s priced right, I think that's a potential winner, with of course the silver safety net. You could potentially make a case for DMPLs as well...they do look nicer than the other shiny ones, IMHO.

 

Every time I've bought from APMEX it's 12.95 for shipping. But they send all their packages insured w/ tracking through the USPS. So it's not a bad price and it's the most secure way to ship a package. I bought another BU Glacier today and I'll have it by Thursday, it's crazy how fast they ship your product. They also keep you up to date on everything that is going on with your order and things like that. I find APMEX to be a good company to buy from.

-Cheeks

 

Awesome. Thanks for the info. I think I'm going to pick one up today as well.

 

Raw 2012s for cheap at Apmex. So tempting... http://www.apmex.com/Product/67056/2012_5_oz_Silver_ATB_El_Yunque_National_Park_Puerto_Rico_6_1.aspx

I gave up on ATB bullion, though, and am waiting for the peas.