Sales for the 2011 Gold Commemorative Coins, and 2011 Silver Commemorative Coins will end on Friday, December 16, 2011 at 5 PM Eastern standard Time, when the United States Mint takes them off of their website.
2011 United States Army Commemorative Uncirculated $5 Gold Coin
In 2011, two commemorative coins were minted. The first coin honored the United States Army, and the second commemorative coin honored the Medal of Honor, and its recipients.
Compared to last year's sales figures for commemorative coins sold by the United States Mint, 2011 saw a significant drop in the number of coins sold. Last year, the Boy Scouts of America Silver Dollar Proof saw sales figures of 245,000 , while the Uncirculated Silver Dollar saw 105,000 units sold. Compare that with this year's sales figures for the Medal of Honor Silver Dollar Proof with 109,270 units sold so far, and the Uncirculated Silver Dollar selling 43,414 units.
This may be an opportunity for coin collectors to own a Gold commemorative coin with a lower mintage. In the past, Gold commemorative coins with lower mintage have benefited from higher premiums on the secondary market.
Only the 1997 Jackie Robinson, and 2001 Capital Visitor Center Uncirculated Gold Commemorative coins have seen lower mintages. Those two coin sell for a premium on the secondary market.
Uncirculated $5 Gold Commemoratives
1997 Jackie Robinson 5,174
2001 Capitol Visitor Center 6,761
2011 Army 7,718 current figure with two days to go
2011 Medal of Honor 7,910 current figure is two days to go
1996 Smithsonian 9,068
Proof $5 Gold Commemoratives
2011 Army 17,002 current figure with two days to go
2011 Medal of Honor 17,739 current figure with two days to go
1996 Smithsonian 21,840
1997 Jackie Robinson 24,072
2001 Capitol Visitor Center 27,652
For coin collecting enthusiasts, this year's commemorative coin designs maybe all that they need to enjoy these commemorative coins. If you're speculating on the possibility of a higher premium for these coins in the future, you definitely have to look at their mintage numbers. This doesn't automatically indicate that their prices will rise. A few caveats that may have changed things this year for collectors include the rapid price rise of spot silver and spot gold. At the current price of $500 for the uncirculated gold versions, and $510 for the Proof Gold Commemorative Coins, collectors may have tapped out their collecting funds before purchasing these two silver or gold commemorative coins.