Survey Results: Bold Predictions

Coverage of the Mint News Blog survey will conclude with this post. The final question of the survey asked readers to make bold prediction for something completely unexpected that will happen in 2011 related to the US Mint or coins.

Some of last year's bold predictions proved to be surprisingly accurate. Will the same be true for this year?

I picked out a representative selection of this year's predictions, which are republished below:

"Suspension of American Silver Eagles due to shortage of blanks - will occur by May, 2011."

"The US Congress will vote to end the First Spouse Gold Coin program because of limited demand due to the high price of gold."

"They'll cut back even further on basic commemorative coins and basic coin sets for beginner collectors to concentrate on the 'big profit' items. A long-term mistake. Entry level collectors can't afford the high-priced items."

"ATB bullion prices on the secondary market will drop."

"Mint will introduce a high relief American Silver Eagle 25th Anniversary Coin, limited edition for collectors."

"Silver and Gold prices will spike, then crash moderately back just below (~20%) current levels."

"The government issues steel pennies and 5 cent pieces."

"The US Mint will suspend an Authorized Purchaser for violating the rules for distributing the 2010 America the Beautiful Silver Bullion Coins."

"Less than 100,000 Proof ASE will be produced. End of series."

"$2 coin."

"I'll finally find a 2010 quarter in circulation."

"The mint WILL make fractional Gold Buffaloes and American Gold Eagles. The palladium coin will not be minted. There will be a new 'error coin' in 2011."

"Mint will seek legislative authority to produce half ounce silver bullion coins"

"New high relief silver coin similar to Australia's."

"The US mint will start making the planchets for the Silver Eagles at West Point."

"The number of US Mint products will decrease by a third."

"2011 Proof Gold Buffalo early sell out."

"The Mint will suspend sales of the silver ATB proof sets and the annual silver proof sets when the price of silver at melt exceeds the established mint price."

"The mint will start selling Silver Eagles directly to the collectors."

"2011 and beyond... The satin 2010 Lincoln cents will become the key date of the entire shield-type series, which will last until 2059. It will be the only satin finish of the entire series and probably the lowest mintage. The 2010 satin finish unc set will probably sell a relatively high 1.5 million sets by 12/31/2011, even with this, the 2010 lincoln cent will command a premium. Ditto the satin finish ATB quarters (only offered in 2010) which will command a premium and be the key dates of the entire ATB series from 2010 to 2021, even if there mintage is 1.5 million."

"The U.S. Mint will introduce a customer loyalty program that offers a special silver American Buffalo coin to collectors that purchase over $2,011 worth of coins in 2011."

"One of the commemorative dollars will have a record minimum mintage for the past 10 years."

"The U.S. mint will begin production of 1/20th ounce gold coins."

"The mint will not sell the numismatic version of the 5 oz coins."

"A denomination for circulation will be eliminated."

"The US Mint will release the 2011-W burnished Silver Eagle and mintage will be less than 100,000."

"Palladium blanks will not be available to meet US Mint customer demand for the new 1 oz palladium coin."

"The U.S. Mint will produce Rhodium coins."

"The palladium coins will have an extremely low mintage of less than 10,000 causing the secondary market to drive the prices up ten fold."

"New Director of the US Mint quits before year end."

"US Mint will delay and then cease selling the Gold Eagles and Buffaloes."

"A genuine 1964-D Peace dollar will surface."

"The 1933 St. Gaudens Double Eagles will become legal to own."

"The number of First Spouse Gold Coins will be limited to 5,000 of each."

"Anyone who wants an ATB 5 oz silver coin will be able to actually get one!"

"Sales of silver coins of all varieties - ATB, Eagles, etc. - will be suspended due to lack of physical silver."

"Sales will drop off more than 50%, due to price."

"Silver will be rationed... again."

"The law will change and allow the Mint to sell 5 ounce silver ATB coins directly to the public."

"Falling precious metals prices results in dumping of previously 'rare' coins."

"The Mint will ask Congress for permission to stop making pennies. The issue will not be resolved in 2011."

"There will finally be a move to eliminate the dollar banknote."

"The US Mint will develop a process for fairly distributing products, giving more people an opportunity to obtain desirable products."

"Change the design of the dime."

"The Mint's website will not crash when the 5 oz coins go on sale. Sellout in less than 2 hours."

"The new Mint Director will fulfill Edmund Moy's statement of bringing about a neo-renaissance in coin design and we will see some of the greatest designs in our history."