I have noticed a trend on E-Bay lately where sellers are buying US Mint products and marking them up to ridiculous prices and selling them before they even sell out at the Mint. Example: Westward Journey Nickels, Particularly the Bison 2 roll sets, (4U8), and the 20th anniversary Silver Eagle 3 coin sets. The 4U8 sets aren't that bad, fairly small markup, but the ads are generally misleading. They say SOLD OUT AT MINT, which they are not.  Another common phrase is "Early, or, 1st Strike". While it is true that the grading companies will label some coins as 1st strike,  the Mint says it  does not designate any particular coins as specifically 1st strike. Nor apparently do they necessarily ship them in the order they make them. Check the Mint's website, they have issued a statement to this effect.. The 20th anniversary 3 coin Silver Eagle sets on the other hand, are selling for a huge markup. They cost $100 + $4.95 S&H from the mint, and I saw one set for $200, another lot of 10 for $2,950. Nineteen hundred bucks profit for something still available from the Govt.? Are you kidding? Both of these auctions are Buy It Now, so it's not like people have bid them to this price, but it would be a shame for someone who doesn't know to buy it, hence this guide. All I'm saying is check the US Mint.gov website for any mint products before you buy them here, and maybe save yourself some money. ****UPDATE**** As of 11/26/06, the US Mint states that they have taken orders to sell out the entire mintage of the 20th anniversary Silver Eagle 3 coin set. You may still place an order in the event someone else cancels theirs

****UPDATE****6/18/07 Now we're on to the $1 Presidential Series. Big thing being so-called errors. "Upside-down edge lettering" is not an error, so says the Us Mint. As for the many other claims regarding this series, check out the Us Mint website, or the tons of other E-Bay guides on the subject.

Here are some guides that support this one;

First Strike" 2006 Gold American Buffalo, Prove It!!!, by walker_rugby

Availability of Bison Nickels (4U8) at US Mint, by ME (Clr8ter)

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