US Mint Gold Coins: A Popular Investment Medium

The latest sales report of the US mint gold products indicates improved demand for collector products. The sales figures also include the debut figures from the newly released Glacier Quarters, part of the series honoring national parks and sites. The US mint had initiated the sales of the2011 Glacier National Park Quarters numismatic bags and rolls on April 4, 2011. As on the sales reporting date of April10, the sales of Glacier Quarters had reached 19,927 of the two roll sets, 2,697 of the 100-coin Philadelphia bags and 2,655 of the 100-coin Denver bags.

Collector Coins: The Most Sought After US mint Gold Coins

US mint gold coins continue to be a popular investment medium. Investors generally buy gold as a hedge against economic, political, social or currency bases crisis. Of the various varieties of US mint gold coins available for sale. Since these collector coins are available in limited numbers, they offer great scope for appreciation. The rare gold coin market is dominated by the US gold coins that were minted from 1838 and 1933. These coins for produced for use in commerce within the US and with its overseas trading partners. Before 1933, US gold coins were issued in six denominations of $1, $2.50 (known as the Quarter Eagle), $3.00, $5 (Known as the Half Eagle), $10 (the Eagle) and $20 (the Double Eagle). Significantly less of these coins are available today then were originally minted, while a majority has been lost due to mishandling, hoarding by collectors or melting (confiscation of 1933). The value of the collector coins is driven by their age, condition, the number of coins and the number actually available in the market.

A major reason for the depletion of the US mint gold coins is their melting. The US governments have melted the gold coins on two occasions thus reducing their availability and turning them into long-term numismatic investments. The first time the US mint gold coins were melted was in the year 1834 when the gold content of these coins was reduced. The second melting was taken up as part of the gold confiscation order passed by Franklin Roosevelt in 1933. Consequently all gold coins held by banks, individuals and the treasury were recalled and thrown into hot melting pots.

Types of US Mint Gold Coins

Several varieties of foreign gold coins and US mint gold coins are available in the market. However, the most readily available and the highly liquid ones include the $20 Liberty coins and the $20 Saint Gaudens. The US mint sells a variety of gold coin sets for collectors, national medals, American Eagle gold, silver and platinum bullion coins and commemorative coins to mark national events. In 2010, the US mint began to issue 56-quarter dollar coins featuring designs depicting national parks and other national sites as part of the United States Mint America the Beautiful Quarters Program. In the second year of this program, the US mint has offered quarter coins that feature the Glacier National Park.

The Glacier National Park Quarter series is available directly from the US mint in the form of following products:

1. in 2-roll sets from the Philadelphia and Denver mints
2. in 100-coin bags from the Philadelphia and Denver mints
3. as part of the 2011 America the Beautiful Quarter Proof Set and Silver Proof Set
4. as part of the 2011 Uncirculated Mint Set
5. as part of the 2011 Proof Set and Silver Proof Set
6. in the 2011 Glacier National Park Quarter Three-Coin Set
7. as part of the 2011 America the Beautiful Quarters Uncirculated Coin Set
8. as part of the 2011 America the Beautiful Quarters Circulating Coin Set