Sales in 2015 of the American Buffalo 1-ounce gold bullion coins are the third highest annual total since the series was introduced the third week of June 2006.

Gold dealer and market forecaster Mike Fuljenz believes physical demand for gold in 2016 is expected to climb over 2015 levels.

2015 was the year of the silver American Eagle, with the U.S. Mint selling 47 million coins, more than any other previous year.

"American Gold and Silver: U.S. Mint Collector and Investor Coins and Medals, Bicentennial to Date" is written by Dennis Tucker and being put out by Whitman.

If you like gold, but not necessarily in coin form, then Heritage Auctions has alternate options — gold nuggets.

So far in December, 2,000 ounces in gold bullion coins (American Eagle and American Buffalo combined) have been sold, along with 2.3 million ounces of silver.

And then there were none. The U.S. Mint exhausted its remaining inventory of 2015-dated American Eagle silver bullion coins Dec. 15.

The U.S. Mint sold 68 percent of its final weekly allocation of 1.13 million 2015 American Eagle silver bullion coins Dec. 14.

Treasury Department and U.S. Mint officials have authority to change the 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper alloy used for commemorative silver dollars.

Beth Deisher shares the story of how U.S. Mint Director Mary Brooks and Coin World Editor Margo Russell absconded with gold from Fort Knox.

Both gold and silver American Eagle bullion sales in 2015 have been significantly higher than 2014, according to U.S. Mint figures.

Demand for American Eagle silver bullion coins in 2015 has been like no other in the nearly three decades the coins have been struck and sold by the U.S. Mint.

The U.S. Mint sold all 4,000 Proof 2015-W American Eagle platinum $100 coins Dec. 3 in less than 10 minutes at $1,200 per coin and just one coin per customer.

The U.S. Mint sold out of its inventory of 2015 Saratoga National Historical Park 5-ounce silver bullion coins Nov. 30.