http://www.usmint.gov/reading_room/press_release.cfm?id=89

July 26, 1999

PROOF GOLD EAGLE SALES OVER TWO-THIRDS of MAXIMUM MINTAGES 12-Week Totals Running 16 Percent Above 1998 Sales

Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Mint today reported continuing strong sales of the 1999 Proof Gold American Eagle Coins, with more than 67 percent of the maximum mintage of individual denominations sold since the coins became available on April 30.

"Total sales of the proof gold Eagles are up 16 percent over the first 12 weeks of the program last year," said Mint Director Philip N. Diehl, "with sales of the one ounce and quarter ounce coins up 45 percent and 33 percent, respectively. These are the highest totals at this stage of the program since 1996, so we want to let customers know that the strong early sales we announced in mid-June are continuing at a very high pace."

Proof silver Eagle sales are also impressive, with nearly 63 percent of this years total mintage sold and sales running 23 percent above the 12-week total of 284,819 coins in 1998.

Prices remain at 1998 levels: the one-ounce Proof gold American Eagle sells for $570; the half-ounce for $285; the quarter-ounce for $150; the tenth-ounce for $70 and the Four Coin Set for $999. The proof silver American Eagle one ounce coin remains $24.

Sales of proof gold Eagles will end December 31,1999, and Proof Silver Eagles will be sold while supplies last. The Mint reserves the right to limit quantities and to stop accepting orders. Coins may be delivered in multiple shipments at different times. To order Proof American Eagle Gold and Silver Coins, visit the Mints online catalog at www.USMINT.gov or call 1-800-USA-MINT.

Contact:Lynn Parrish (202) 874-3134

. . .

http://www.usmint.gov/reading_room/press_release.cfm?id=90

July 26, 1999

SALES OF GEORGE WASHINGTON GOLD COIN SURPASS 51,000 More Than Half of Authorized Mintage of 100,000 Sold in 10 Weeks Strong Sales Of Dolly Madison Silver Dollar Echo Upward Trend For Commemoratives

Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Mint today reported strong early sales of the George Washington Gold Five Dollar Coin celebrating the life and achievements and commemorating the 200th anniversary of the death of George Washington.

Ten weeks after the coin went on sale, total sales have reached 51,726 coins - more than half the maximum authorized mintage of 100,000 - including 33,435 proof coins and 18,291 uncirculated coins. Sales by individual options total 18,806 proof coins; 3,662 uncirculated coins and 14,629 Two Coin Sets.

Sales of the George Washington $5 Gold Coin after ten weeks are 34 percent higher than the 1997 Franklin D. Roosevelt $5 Gold Coin and the highest since the 1995 Civil War Battlefield $5 Gold Coin ten week total of 56,455.

In addition, sales of the Dolly Madison Commemorative Silver Dollar now total 277,894 coins, 27 weeks after the program was launched, 47 percent higher than the Robert F. Kennedy Commemorative Silver Dollar total of 189,523 coins for the same period in 1998. The Dolley Madison Silver Dollar is the strongest silver commemorative since the 1995 Civil War Battlefield Silver Dollar with sales of 376,400 coins.

"Sales of the George Washington and Dolley Madison commemoratives this year suggest that were finally turning the corner in the U.S. commemorative coin market," said Mint Director Philip N. Diehl. "The Commemorative Coin Reform Act of 1996 is having its intended effect: fewer programs, lower mintages, and higher secondary market values. Weve added stronger designs to the mix, and as a result, collectors are starting to return to modern commems."

Sales of the Dolley Madison Silver Dollar include 197,985 proof coins and 79,909 uncirculated coins. Sales by individual options total 137,779 proof coins; 19,703 uncirculated coins and 60,206 Two Coin Sets.

A portion of the proceeds from sales of the coin are authorized to be used by the Mount Vernon Ladies Association for preservation of George Washingtons Mount Vernon and to educate the American people about this great man and his incomparable gifts to his nation.

The George Washington Commemorative Gold Five-Dollar proof coin is available at $225; the uncirculated version for $205; and the proof and uncirculated set for $399. The Dolley Madison Commemorative Silver Dollar, celebrating one of the nation's most famous first ladies, proof coin is available for $37, the uncirculated coin for $32 and the Proof and Uncirculated Set for $64.95. Proceeds from sales of the coin are authorized to be used by the National Trust for Historic Preservation to maintain Montpelier, James and Dolley Madison's Virginia home.

For information about how to order the George Washington $5 Gold Coin and the Dolley Madison Commemorative Silver Dollar, call 1-800-USA-MINT or visit the Mints website at www.USMINT.GOV.

Contact:Lynn Parrish (202) 874-3134

. . .

http://www.usmint.gov/reading_room/press_release.cfm?id=82

June 14, 1999

SALES OF 99 PROOF GOLD EAGLES STRONG More Than 50 Percent of Maximum Mintage Sold in First Six Weeks

Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Mint today reported strong early sales of the 1999 Proof Gold American Eagle Coins, with more than 50 percent of the maximum mintage sold since the coins became available on April 30.

After less than six weeks on sale, between 50 and 60 percent of individual fractional denomination mintages have been sold.

"Sales are running well ahead of last years pace," said Mint Director Philip N. Diehl. "I want to alert our customers that we appear headed for a sellout of the individual denominations so they have to act fast."

1999 Proof American Eagle sales so far total:

One ounce - Mintage limit, 8,000; coins sold, 4,224; percent sold 53%.

Half ounce - Mintage limit, 7,000; coins sold, 3,680; percent sold, 52%.

Quarter ounce - Mintage limit,11,000; coins sold, 5,773; percent sold, 52%.

Tenth ounce - Mintage limit,25,000; coins sold, 14,848; percent sold, 59%.

Four Coin Set - Mintage limit, 25,000; sets sold, 11,705; percent sold, 47%.

Silver one ounce - Mintage limit, 550,000; coins sold, 236,701; percent sold, 43%.

Prices remain at 1998 levels: the one-ounce Proof gold American Eagle sells for $570; the half-ounce for $285; the quarter-ounce for $150; the tenth-ounce for $70 and the Four Coin Set for $999. The proof silver American Eagle one ounce coin remains $24.

Sales of proof gold Eagles will end December 31,1999, and Proof Silver Eagles will be sold while supplies last. The Mint reserves the right to limit quantities and to stop accepting orders. Coins may be delivered in multiple shipments at different times. To order Proof American Eagle Gold and Silver Coins, visit the Mints online catalog at www.USMINT.gov or call 1-800-USA-MINT.

Contact:Lynn Parrish (202) 874-3134

. . .

http://www.usmint.gov/reading_room/press_release.cfm?id=69

April 19, 1999

American Gold Eagle Tops 10 Million Ounces

Worlds Number One Gold Bullion Coin Continues Dominance

Platinum and Silver Eagles Also Lead World Markets

Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Mint today announced that the American Eagle Gold Bullion Coin has surpassed 10 million ounces in sales since the program was launched on October 20, 1986.

"Investors worldwide are attracted to the inherent value of the American Eagle because of the U.S. government guarantee of weight and volume," said Mint Director Philip N. Diehl.

"We have worked closely with our distributors and blank suppliers to make the Eagle the world market leader. Four years ago, the Gold Eagle owned 18 percent of the world bullion market. Today it has a market share of 60 percent while Silver and Platinum Eagles hold shares approaching 80 percent of their markets."

Customers ordered 819,000 ounces of Gold Eagles in calendar year 1999 to date, with sales of 281,000 ounces in January; 144,000 ounces in February; 269,000 ounces in March; and 125,000 ounces in April. Bank of Nova Scotia-Scotia Mocattas April 19 order for 7,000 ounces of American Eagle Gold Bullion Coins pushed total sales over the ten million-ounce mark.

Sales of the tenth-ounce Gold Eagle have been particularly strong, with 127,500 ounces of that denomination sold to date compared to 15,000 ounces sold through April 1998.

After years as one of the top three Gold Bullion coins in world markets, the Eagle ascended to the number one position in mid-1997. Industry expert cited increased demand for gold bullion in North America, which now dominates bullion coin markets, as the main factor that lifted the Eagle to number one. Prior to 1997, sales of the Gold Eagle averaged between 300,000 to 350,000 ounces per year, but as gold prices approached 18-year lows, demand rose dramatically.

Authorized by the Gold Bullion Act of 1985, the American Eagle Program is designed to provide investors with a U.S.-made and-backed alternative to foreign produced gold bullion investment coins. Gold Eagles are, sold in bulk quantities to pre-qualified wholesalers called Authorized Purchasers, and intended for investors seeking to add gold to their portfolios.

The gold used in the production of the American Eagle, by law, comes from domestically mined sources in the United States, which is the second largest gold producer in the world.

To find out how to order Gold, Platinum or Silver American Eagle Bullion Coins, call 1-888-USA-EAGLE or visit the Mints website at www.USMINT.gov.

Contact:Michael White (202) 874-3134

-- Stan Faryna (info@giglobal.com), August 02, 1999

Answers

Thanks Stan!

Father

-- Thomas G. Hale (hale.tg@att.net), August 02, 1999.

Commentary:

While gold bullion prices have suffered recently, demand remains high for the gold bullion American Eagle coins. Word among the coin dealers selling American Eagle coins online at auction sites such as Ebay, Yahoo, and Coin Universe is that they can't understand what the big deal is, but they are more than happy to accomodate investors driven by anticipation of Y2K problems. In the past, American eagle coins (silver and gold) was supposedly considered a bad investment for coin dealers as they were hesitant about holding gold and silver and losing money if the prices dropped on the one hand and profits were low per coin. Things seem to be changed and there is great interest among internet savvy dealers in American gold and silver eagles.

Another surprise to dealers is interest in the Washington modern gold commemorative. In the past, I am told that commemoratives drop in value very quickly after their introduction to the coin collecting market. Sometimes, by half. That's why dealers don't understand the high demand for the modern gold commemorative. Of course, the U.S. Mint happily thinks that modern gold and silver commemoratives must be in fashion and they are glad to see such high interest in them. This is not the case from what I'm hearing. This demand is also Y2K driven.

Sincerely, Stan Faryna

-- Stan Faryna (info@giglobal.com), August 02, 1999.

http://www.newswire.ca/releases/April1999/26/c6268.html

Ottawa April 26

(snip)

The Royal Canadian Mint reported a net profit of gold bullion of $4.7 million in 1998. Strong gold bullion sales and record foreign circulation coin shipments contributed to revenues of $511 million for the year, and increase of $85 million over 1997. Seventy-eight percent of 1998 revenue came from export sales.

Gold Maple Leaf 1998 Sales: 0.6802 million Troy ounces Gold Maple Leaf 1997 Sales: 0.5562 million Troy ounces

For further information: Diane Plouffe Reardon Executive Director, Communications (613) 993-2239, (613) 991-5342, (613) 762-6518 cellular reardon@rcmint.ca

Pierre Morin Communications Advisor (613) 993-9999, (613) 991-5342, (613) 797-9125 cellular morin@rcmint.ca.

For more information on the Royal Canadian Mint, its products and services, visit us on the Web at www.rcmint.ca.

-- Stan Faryna (info@giglobal.com), August 02, 1999.

http://www.newswire.ca/releases/April1999/26/c6268.html

Ottawa April 26

(snip)

The Royal Canadian Mint reported a net profit of gold bullion of $4.7 million in 1998. Strong gold bullion sales and record foreign circulation coin shipments contributed to revenues of $511 million for the year, and increase of $85 million over 1997. Seventy-eight percent of 1998 revenue came from export sales.

Gold Maple Leaf 1998 Sales: 0.6802 million Troy ounces

Gold Maple Leaf 1997 Sales: 0.5562 million Troy ounces

For further information: Diane Plouffe Reardon Executive Director, Communications (613) 993-2239, (613) 991-5342, (613) 762-6518 cellular reardon@rcmint.ca

Pierre Morin Communications Advisor (613) 993-9999, (613) 991-5342, (613) 797-9125 cellular morin@rcmint.ca.

For more information on the Royal Canadian Mint, its products and services, visit us on the Web at www.rcmint.ca.

-- Stan Faryna (info@giglobal.com), August 02, 1999.

http://www.newswire.ca/releases/April1999/26/c6268.html

Ottawa April 26

(snip)

The Royal Canadian Mint reported a net profit of gold bullion of $4.7 million in 1998. Strong gold bullion sales and record foreign circulation coin shipments contributed to revenues of $511 million for the year, and increase of $85 million over 1997. Seventy-eight percent of 1998 revenue came from export sales.

Gold Maple Leaf 1998 Sales: 0.6802 million Troy ounces

Gold Maple Leaf 1997 Sales: 0.5562 million Troy ounces

For further information: Diane Plouffe Reardon

Executive Director, Communications

(613) 993-2239, (613) 991-5342, (613) 762-6518 cellular

reardon@rcmint.ca

Pierre Morin

Communications Advisor

(613) 993-9999, (613) 991-5342, (613) 797-9125 cellular

morin@rcmint.ca

For more information on the Royal Canadian Mint, its products and services, visit us on the Web at www.rcmint.ca.

-- Stan Faryna (info@giglobal.com), August 02, 1999.

People are not looking for something "collectible", they are looking for something that they can use in a Y2K meltdown/barter situation with no muss, no fuss, and easy convincing of the validity of the coins to the otherwise gold-ignorant John Q. Public.

-- Jack (jsprat@eld.net), August 02, 1999.

RightO Jack: "Proofs" and "rarities" in coins are the same type of good as original paintings by "names". "Collectibles" held not because they are wanted for their own sake, but to sell at (hopefully) a profit, depending on the "greater fool" syndrome. Collectibles are nice to look at, and provide a certain "ego-boo", but are worth no more than the metal content (or the frame). Anything more is "premium".

For Y2K purposes you need what are called "bullion" coins -- coins that have only a few percent (e.g., 2%, 5% range, not 100%, 200% +) "premium" over the actual value of the metal. Coins like Krugerrands, Maple Leafs, in addition to the common date actually circulated real U.S. gold coins.

-- A (A@AisA.com), August 02, 1999.