I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT CERTAIN BANKS SELL THE AMERICAN EAGLE GOLD
COINS...IS IT POSSIBLE TO GET THE NAMES AND TELEPHONE/EMAIL OF A FEW
OF THESE BANKS...ALSO, I UNDERSTAND YOU CAN BUY COINS DIRECTLY FROM
THE US MINT INSTEAD OF HAVING TO GO THRU A BROKER..WHAT ARE THE
REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY TO BUY GOLD COINS DIRECT...THANKS, RANDY

---

Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 17 Dec 2004 05:34 PST

You might want to look over this link, here:


http://www.usmint.gov/pressroom/index.cfm?action=press_release&id=379


Even though it's for silver Eagles, it still seems clear that you have
to be a pretty big player (established business worth $5 million or
more) to qualify as an Authorized Purchaser of the coins.  As you
can't afford to fix your caps lock right now, I suspect this may be a
bit out of reach for you ;-).

But let us know what other sorts of information we can provide as an
answer to your question.

Thanks.

pafalafa-ga

---

Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 17 Dec 2004 12:13 PST

Randy,

It seems my earlier attempt at humor about the cost of keyboard
repairs didn't go over very well...sorry for any discomfort it may
have caused.

The document I mentioned, though, does provide a lot of detail about
what it takes to become an Authorized Purchaser of American Eagles.

In brief:

--You have to be an established market-maker for the coins (a coin
buyer and reseller)

--You have to have a well-established customer base

--Your coin business has to have a sizable net worth (at least $5
million for silver coins)

--You have to make a substantial purchase (minimum of 25,000 for silver coins).

There appear to be only 11 resellers in the whole world of Silver
American Eagles.  I imagine the criteria for buying and selling gold
American Eagles is -- if anything -- even more stringent.

Here is some of the actual text:

=====
http://www.usmint.gov/pressroom/index.cfm?flash=yes&action=press_release&id=379

Authorized Purchasers must meet strict financial and professional
criteria, which must be validated by an independent and
internationally-recognized accounting firm. The minimum ordering
requirement for Authorized Purchasers of the American Eagle Silver
Bullion Coin is 25,000 ounces. In addition, the Authorized Purchaser
must be an experienced and established market-maker in silver bullion
coins, as well as provide a two-way market for the coins, have an
established broad base of retail customers in which to distribute the
coins and must have a tangible net worth of at least $5 million....The
United States Mint currently sells American Eagle Silver Bullion Coins
to 11 Authorized Purchasers worldwide.
=====


Please let us know what additional information you need on this topic,
so we can do our best to meet your needs.

Thanks--and a happy holiday to you.

pafalafa-ga

I'm pretty sure this is what you were looking for:

(from http://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/american_eagles/index.cfm?flash=no&action=american_eagle_bullion)
Aside from the proof version, the Mint does not sell American Eagle
Bullion coins directly to the public. Instead, the Mint distributes
uncirculated Bullion coins through a network of wholesalers, brokerage
companies, precious metal firms, coin dealers, and participating
banks. This method provides effective and efficient distribution,
which maximizes the availability of the coins in retail markets as
well as major investment markets. For more information about American
Eagle Bullion Coins, call 1-888-USA-EAGLES, extension 9475.

Hope that helps,
Dave

THANKS BUT I'VE ALREADY READ THAT ON THE USMINT WEB SITE.  YOU ARE
JUST REPEATING THE QUESTION TO ME IN THE FORM OF AN ANSWER.

Dave isn?t providing an answer, just a helpful comment. GA
Researchers? names are always underligned. BTW, do you know that you
can also take the CapsLock off when you type?.

COMPUTER BROKEN AND STUCK WITH CAPS ON...REPAIRMAN WILL COST TWO OR
THREE HUNDRED THAT I DON'T HAVE RIGHT NOW.....I DIDN'T MEAN TO BE RUDE
TO DAVE...ITS BEEN A REALLY BAD WEEK....DAVE, I APOLOGIZE.

I DIDN'T SAY I COULDN'T PAY TO FIX THE COMPUTER NECESSARILY, I SAID I
DIDN'T WANT TO PAY FOR SOMETHING I DEEM UNNECESARY....NOW I
APOLOGIZED...WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME...YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A SMART
ASS ABOUT IT...I ALWAYS GIVE GOOD REPORTS AND MOST OF THE TIME DECENT
TIPS...I ADMIRE YOUR THINKING YOU ARE DEFENDING ONE OF YOUR CO WORKERS
BUT IT WASN'T NECESSARY...I DON'T BELIEVE YOU..EVERYONE ELSE IS SO
NICE...WHERE DID YOU COME FROM

My turn to apologise. The cause of your woes may be nothing more than
a spot of gunge in the keyboard, in which case this article may be of
interest.
http://www.compukiss.com/sandyclassroom/tutorials/article940.htm

DAVE..THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED.  I THANK YOU.

My pleasure and I hope it helps. BTW, I?m ?Boyo?, not ?Dave?

If the USA ecconomy collapses, many people will be making what appears
to be gold coins and ingots. Since only one person in 100,000 has the
skills to identify fakes, the value will drop sharply, and buyers will
be hard to find. Those best off will have developed the skills, with a
small investment/inventory of gold.
 If we clean the alleged gold carefully, then put it in our mouth it
should have no flavor at all, if it is 100% gold plating. I don't know
what gold filled means, but coins are typically 90% gold, so the
flavor will be the metals that make the other 10%. With lots of
practice some people can guess close, most of the time and identify a
likely 70% or 80% coin, which may be worth half as much due to the
uncertanty.  Neil

IN CASE ANY OF YOU OUT THERE ARE LOOKING TO BUY GOLD COINS....WATCH
OUT.  A BUNCH OF CROOKS LIE IN WAIT.  THE BEST ROUTE IS THE AMERICAN
EAGLES FOR VALUE AND LIQUIDITY BUT THEY WILL TRY EVERYTHING UNDR THE
SUN TO GET YOU TO BUY ANOTHER FORM OF GOLD OR SILVER BECAUSE ITS MUCH
MUCH MORE PROFITABLE TO THEM.  HOWE VER, WHEN YOU GO TO SELL THOSE
LITTLE GOLD BARS OR THE LIBERIAN DOLLAR, YOU WON'T IND ANYONE THAT
WILL GIVE YOU ANYTHING MUCH FOR THEM.  IF SOMEONE AT THE US MINT KNEW
THAT THOSE HANDFUL OF AUTHORIZED CON DEALERS WERE TRASHING THE
AMERICAN EAGLE INSTEAD OF PROMOTING THEM AS THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO DO,
THE MINT WOULD START SELLING DIRECT TO THE PUBLIC AS THEY SHOULD.