2026 Best of the Mint forcing gold buyers into medal sets
HalfDime
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The new 2026 mint schedule shows that the Best Of The Mint gold coins are actually part of a set, and each release includes the accompanying medal. So one can only assume buyers can only get the gold coin if they pay for the set that also includes a medal. For many this may not be a big deal, as the medal may only add about $100 to the cost of a single set ($500 for those who purchase all five), however it could make the medals less valuable than had they been sold as individual limited products (with medals usually having far fewer collectors than coins).
One could assume that the gold coins will sell at high numbers, which means the medals will also be sold at the same high numbers. However if they had been sold individually, they likely would have sold far less of the medals than they will as a set, since collectors are now forced into buying them. The mint must have weighed this and decided to include them as a way to get more bang out of collectors.
Another consideration is the choice made by the mint to backdate the gold coins instead of using the 1776-2026 date as many might have hoped for. This could be another factor in the future popularity of these sets.
For those who purchase the sets, many will get the gold coins graded, but what to do with the medals? That will be the dilemma of many buyers of the Best of the Mint sets (barring any changes to the product listings). Also the US Mint appears to be releasing these gold coin and medals sets in order of gold content, with the lowest "dime" denomination first. This means collectors will be paying more and more as each new set gets released throughout the year, with the one ounce gold coin sets getting a late in the year release. It will be a tall order for most collectors, and may impact the last release sales numbers due to the high cost of a complete set of all five issues (perhaps costing an eye popping $20,000 or more).
It will be interesting to see the mintage limits imposed once they update the products prior to their release. If anyone can only afford one gold coin of the bunch, it may be the last one which ultimately holds the highest value after some early buyers eventually drop out. Or perhaps it is the 1804 gold dollar, since it is the only coin out of the five that is a new issue for gold.
Comments
Interesting points, but I view it from a different angle. Like annual proof sets, they chose to market the medal and coin as a single matched set rather than making them available individually.
Totally their right, and there is a case to be made that it was the right call, given that the medal is a companion piece to the coin, and not merely the same thing in another metal. The issue is not that the silver adds $100 to the cost of the gold (actually likely to be more like $150-200, given the price of silver today), but rather, that people who cannot afford the gold will be shut out of the silver.
Which sucks, but it is what it is. It's a 5 coin and medal set, and it won't be for everyone. Just like the 232 cents weren't. People complain when things are so accessible that they don't hold their value in the secondary market, and people also complain when things are so special that they find themselves priced out.
Can't please everybody. I don't have a problem with the Mint selling these as a matched set.
Meh, don't like any of them anyway.
Tens of thousands of dollars for a complete set of all the issues? Pass.
With the escalating cost of silver and the mint's markup, I wouldn't order the medal even if it was a separate option.
I'd suggest they offer the medals in antiqued bronze, but the mint's bronze medals have also gotten expensive.
Liberty on the medal that accompanies the half dollar appears to be giving a certain WWII salute. Can’t believe someone did not say maybe we should bend the arm.
These are now the playground of the wealthy. Ordinary collectors are priced out of the market.
Pareidolia. Her arm could well be bent inside her sleeve, and the pose mimics the original design.
If the Mint can muster up reasonable restraint with regard to Mintage Limits - ie; Liberty Series/FHG Mintages(10-12.5k); not only will the Gold coins be a hit and sell out on day one, their companion Medals will also be a hit imo. However, we'll likely see Mintage Limits double/triple the Limits of the Lib/FHG. Especially the smaller coins?
Having all five offerings with the same Mintages could be create some buzz(and potential legs) for those chasing a full set because not everyone will be chasing a full set, and in turn limiting the number of full sets in the end?
If one decides that they dislike their companion Medal, the aftermarket will happily pay (in spades) for one's Medal if they decide to sell?
Since three of the designs are retreads from the 2016 tributes 10 years ago , I'm not terribly interested in the whole (expensive) set.
I'm interested in the fourth offering...⇊... I like both the 1oz Gold and the 1oz Medal. But a potential $6k price tag will be a tough pill to swallow...
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Pareidolia, and the WWII comparison was expressed in extremely poor taste.
Nothing new though.
Very interesting points.
However, I wonder if people who are just after the gold will be selling the medals on ebay thus making them available to those who just wabt the medals.
Gold prices will make these so expensive next year. Ugh.
All of these in a matched set with really nice OGP would look so cool!
Of course, they'd just get stabbed making it pointless.
I enjoy virtually all moderns in the OGP for that matter. The market just makes it hard to resist slabbing.
Buy all 5 and that's likely to be $25,000+
MANY are priced out.
Should be interesting to see the mintage sold on these afterwards.
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
I love all the medals except the St Gauden's interpretation so I'm a little disappointed they are only sets. Maybe I'll get the sets and sell most or all of the gold coins separately. Depends on the crazy gold price at the time.
Agreed. Given how expensive they are bound to be, I'm quite sure they are not also going to try to flood the market.
That said, it's highly unlikely they won't make more of the less expensive ones in order to not create a frenzy, and to give people who cannot afford a full set, or the more expensive flavors, an opportunity to buy something to commemorate the 250th.
They don't always get it right, but they have moved away from minting special things like this to demand, and they do try to calibrate mintage to allow there to be a secondary market value. Maybe undershooting demand by a little to create a buzz. It's when they say one thing and then short mint by a substantial amount that my head starts to hurt.
They might. Just like people break up proof sets. But I think there will be value in keep the sets intact, given that the medals are going to be unique companion pieces.
Yeah, well, everything isn't meant to be for everyone. Gold and now silver are pretty expensive. On top of that, they have been charging large numismatic premiums for precious metal collector coins for what seems like at least a decade now.
And they WILL be doing something for everyone next year. Even if it's just redesigned circulating coinage with dual dates.
Making these in base metals in unlimited quantities also wouldn't make people happy. It just so happens that people who can afford them are going to want them to be rare and exclusive.
And those who can't afford them are going to feel shut out. Just like with the FH gold privies and the 232 cents. It is what it is.
They will be expensive, the mintages will be relatively low, and they will sell out the first day they are offered. Won't be that interesting.
With a gold dime, quarter, half and two dollars, these are not going to average over $5K each, and the set won't be $25K+. It will, however, contain 5 ounces of silver, which could possibly cost $1K in total, and almost 3 ounces of gold, which won't cost more than $18K in total, unless the price of gold keeps exploding from here.
So likely something less than $20K, rather than $25K+. Still expensive, but it is a lot of gold and silver, and it is a once every 250 years thing.
Again, not meant to be for everyone. Which is fine. Everyone doesn't need to be able to acquire everything, and there is no reason for the Mint to need to market everything down to the lowest common denominator.
"Again, not meant to be for everyone. Which is fine. Everyone doesn't need to be able to acquire everything, and there is no reason for the Mint to need to market everything down to the lowest common denominator"
I could not agree more!
Maybe fewer coins, and less cartoonish designs would be better. I like when the medals are low mintage, and decent designs.
The 1oz Gold coin and 1oz Companion medals are winners, in my mind.
Should be, mintage wise at least, as there was 125,000 mercury gold dimes in 2016.
That was 10 years and $3500 per ounce ago. The mintage will be FAR lower for these. Think 30-50K for the 1/10 ounce.
Ill try for them all. I hope I can be atva computer when each goes on sale.
It's hard to pick a more terrible time for these things to come out given the precious metal prices. The only saving grace is that this is hopefully a one year thing w America 250. I would definitely not be putting this kind of money into modern - or any - coins on a routine annual basis.
I was disappointed the companion silver medals weren't offered as stand-alone SKU's when the Product Schedule came out. There are some great looking designs.
And I'm disappointed I can't just buy proof Kennedy half dollars every year. Some items are offered as stand-alone SKUs, while others are only offered as part of sets. Life goes on.
I'm ok with the privy. But not using 2026 on the gold coinsstill irks me.
Throw a coin enough times, and suppose one day it lands on its edge.