US Mint Coins Sales Versus Coin Websites

Apples and oranges. The US Mint sells collector versions of the Eagles(Proof and Burnished/Uncirculated w/ West Point mintmark) that have much lower mintages than the standard investment grade bullion Eagles sold by retailers. The US Mint does not directly sell bullion Eagles to the public.

If silver is your primary interest, the ASE are great coins to get. You might want to consider getting a few of the proof or burnished issues on the secondary market.

In most cases, the Proof and Burnished keep their values high for about the first three years after they are produced. My guess for this is that you still have collectors trying to complete and update their set.

After about 5 years or more, those Proof and Burnished often fall below the initial issue price. So you could get some very pretty coins still in their boxes of issue with COA's for about double what you are paying for a bullion eagle.

It is a fun way to get some great looking coins, keep getting silver, and expand your interests a bit.

Thanks for all the input, great advice. I do collect more than silver but it is my preferred choice to collect. Not so much into the bars and bullion but like the coins.