When the U.S. Mint informed its authorized purchasers Sept. 8 that the weekly allocation of American Eagle silver bullion coins was 1 million pieces, orders were immediately placed for 909,500 of the total allotment.

That left authorized purchasers a paltry 90,500 coins available until the next weekly allocation announcement Sept. 14. Those 90,500 coins were sold Sept. 10, bringing September’s cumulative sales to 1,245,000 coins.

Cumulative calendar year 2015 American Eagle silver bullion coin sales reached 33,495,000 coins.

Connect with Coin World:  

• Sign up for our free eNewsletter
• Like us on Facebook  
• Follow us on Twitter

The U.S. Mint does not sell the American Eagle silver bullion coins directly to the public. Instead, the bullion coins are sold through a network of 13 authorized purchasers in the United States, Europe and Japan, who buy the coins based on the closing London PM spot price per troy ounce on a given day, plus a $2 premium per coin.

The coins are then resold, at a further markup, to other customers.

The U.S. Mint has been allocating American Eagle silver bullion coins for more than six months to it authorized purchasers as the bureau continues to struggle to secure sufficient planchets for production to meet investment demand.

The American Eagle silver bullion coins are struck at the West Point Mint in New York, but do not bear the facility’s W Mint mark. 

More from CoinWorld.com:

1933 double eagle sighting leads to eventual call from FBI office: Guest Commentary

Roman coin hoard found in England near Welsh border in 2013 just revealed

2015 John F. Kennedy Coin and Chronicles set awaits numismatic community's response to Sept. 16 release

Seeking a different challenge for your collecting pursuits?: Q. David Bowers

Silver Roosevelt dime strikes elicit discussion: Varieties Notebook