2011 American Silver Eagles
The 2011 American Silver Eagle will celebrate the twenty-sixth year in which the bullion version of the coin has been struck by the United States Mint. The coin was authorized by The Liberty Coin Act of 1985 and introduced to the public the following year.
Coinciding with the economic downturn that began in 2008 demand for the Silver Bullion Eagle has continued to be grow, offering many concerned investors a safe haven through which to diverify their portfolio. As a matter of fact, in each of the years following 2008, the US Mint has gone on to set new heights, breaking many of the previously established sales records for the coin. The 2011 version of the American Silver Eagle shows no signs of slowing down as the initial interest in the coin has been phenomenal.
Purchasers that have been authorized by the US Mint were able to start placing orders for the 2011 American Silver Eagle starting back in early January. The starting date for sales of the silver bullion coins is earlier than in the previous year. This is due to the fact that a situation had come about where there had been a surge of demand late in the year that delayed the production of coins which were to bear the date of the following year.
With the typical ordering process, the United States Mint’s primary distribution group are able to place 2011 Silver Eagle orders at a minimum quantity of twenty-five thousand ounces. These coins are then packaged in 500 count “monster boxes” that contain packages of twenty-five rolls each containing twenty coins. This group of distributors will then resell the coins to other coin and bullion dealers along with the general public to ensure availability.
The release of the 2011 Silver Eagle Proof coin is expected to happen by July 6, 2011. Recent modifications to the legislation that covers the program will allow the Secretary of the Treasury a greater amount of flexibility in the production of collector verions of the coin. This change came about at the request of the Mint, which sought to ensure that they would have the ability to continue to produce collectible coins through times where even the demand for bullion coins was unmet. Under this new law, it is possible that we will see the release of the 2011-W Uncirculated Silver Eagle. These uncirculated collectible coins are struck on burnished blanks and carries the “W” mint mark, but have not been issued since 2008.