I have debated and debated with myself about purchasing this coin. Today is the last day to pre order it. I have decided to buy it even though I think the coin should have honored everybody on the mission. It's also kinda pricey, but I have time to save for it. It;s not a question of flipping it, or mintage numbers for me. But more a coin I would just like to have......even though it really doesn't fit in with my collecting interests. It honors the everyday teacher that reached for the stars, gambled and lost, I have to wonder what would have happened if the mission were successful. Who else is ordering one?
I ordered the proof and uncirculated silver and clad coins for both commemorative issues to keep my modern commemorative collection complete.
I stopped collecting modern commemoratives about 2 years ago. So, my set ended. Up until then I had a complete set. The US Mint changed my mind with all the junk. Now I find that dealers are privy to large lots at a discount. I think it is illegal but don't know for sure. We should file one of those freedom of information actions to find out what dealers are getting discounts and what the discounts are.
Commemoratives aren't sold in bulk. Numismatic Bulk Purchase Program (subject to product availability) Under the current terms and conditions of this program, a discount is applied to all purchases of $10,000 or more. Budget shipping is free on domestic orders. Shipping on international orders will be assessed on each order processed. The following products are part of the Numismatic Bulk Purchase Program: United States Mint Proof Set® United States Mint Silver Proof Set® United States Mint Uncirculated Coin Set® American Eagle Gold and Silver Proof and Uncirculated Coins American Buffalo Gold Proof Coin United States Mint America the Beautiful Quarters Proof Set™ United States Mint America the Beautiful Quarters Silver Proof Set™ America the Beautiful Five Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coins™ Full text here... https://catalog.usmint.gov/bulk-pur...811.52861946.1614533077-2069580579.1518133450[/QUOTE]
I might pick one up, might not. I think the next one should honor Judy Reznik. And one for each other member of the crew following that.
Thats been the case for a long long long long time. This is nothing new. You can get the discount too if you want to start ordering in those quantities It's not
@LakeEffect @baseball21 Thanks for the feedback. I didn't know those things. And, I am not very savvy at searching.
I believe the only change they've really made to it in recent years is they finally started offering the coins in just the capsules for those bulk purchases instead of wasting a ton of packaging for the people that are going to send in bulk submissions
I am guessing this is going to be a low mintage item, particularly the uncirculated version. I don't believe there is a whole lot of awareness that it is being made - not like there is other news like trying not to catch a virus takes precedence.
The modern commemorative sales have for the most part been declining for a while. Most people just get some here or there now instead of trying to do the whole set after so many bad ones came out the last few years
I agree; I think the Law Enforcement Museum uncirculated coins could end up with some pretty low mintage numbers.
Jan 28, 1986 was a tragic day, for the crew of that fateful mission, and for the nation. Today private companies and individuals going to space almost seems like no big thing. But back in 1985, S. Christa McAuliffe was chosen to be the first civilian in space out of more than 11,000 applicants. At the time of the Space Shuttle Challenger tragedy Christa was a wife, a mother, a teacher, and a New Hampshire resident. I pre-ordered both an uncirculated coin and a proof. One for my 7070, the other for display.
She wasn’t anymore special than the rest of the crew. They all had family’s and they all beat out 10s of thousands of people to earn their jobs
It has a 350,000 coin AUTHORIZED mintage which means they can make up to that many, but won't sell anywhere close to that. They have been on sale for a month now and so far they've sold around 27,000. 19,789 proofs and 7,092 unc. They sold 16,647 proofs and 5,868 unc the first week so sales have dropped to a crawl now. This has pretty much been standard for several years now. The Womens Suffrage also had a 350,000 authorization, it ended up selling 33,470 proofs and 12,619 uncs for a total mintage of 46,089 or 13% of the authorization.