I know that the ASE's that the dealers buy from the mint are bullion coins, but if you look at the coins they advertise, there is no Mint Mark on them and they advertise them as Burnished. Maybe not all of them, but check them out. I don't buy from dealers. I don't trust dealers. I don't trust the products they sell either. I only buy from those that I do trust and I do a lot of checking before I buy. Many people don't like the Mint or the tactics they use to sell low mintage items. I also got shut down by the Mint after several tries. I don't know if it will do any good, but I listed as a "Remind Me" or whatever it says. The same thing happened when I tried to buy the gold dime in 2016. I got shut down after three tries and a registered to let me know if anymore becomes available. Two days later, I got my confirmation of my purchase, and 3 additional days, it was in my hands. If I was a betting man, if I sent the coin to NGC or PCGS, the best I would get would be MS68. I really don't care. I also got the 2016 Standing Liberty and the 2016 Walking Liberty. I guess I just hold my mouth right when I buy. Anyway, if I am wrong about the ASE by dealers, let me know. I really do want to see how they do what they do.
A burnished Eagle coin has a mintmark on the coin and is sold by the mint to anyone that order them. No mint mark means bullion Eagle sold to distributors that in turn sell to dealers in bulk, usually. I want to say burnished Eagles started around 2006. Before that, only proof and bullion Eagles were minted.
Usually a W mint mark from West Point. I do not know if the San Fran S mint marks are considered burnished or not.
I wish I knew where this coin was purchased. I'm just not sure. I just dont see the difference between a burnished coin and a regular satin. Hard to find comparisons.
Can you provide a link to the article, in case someone else finds this thread later while looking for the same info?
Is it possible to have a bullion coin switched in a package then sent back to the Mint for an exchange or refund and then resold? I have a 2013 Annual Uncirculated Dollar Coin Set that has an American Silver Eagle with no mint mark. I called the Mint about it and they told me I could send it back for an exchange but I asked her if it was possible it could be an error. She said it could be and I could have something really special. But she didn't know for sure. I bought it from the Mint in December of 2013. The package does not look like it was tampered with but I guess it could have been. I mean some people will and can do things that are just not right and they are getting better at it all the time.
As per their return policy you only have 7 days to decide, I don't know who would go through the trouble to wipe a mint mark in 7 days just to give it back to Sam and if so, you think they would check it first, or better yet destroy it. Sounds like that girl you spoke to is willing to pay the shipping herself for you to send it back. LOL. I hope they're better than that over at the mint.
Of course it's possible. An error as such would be considered a packaging error and not a Mint error.