2016-W (2019) $1 Silver Eagle West Point Hoard , DCAM (Proof)

At the end of each year’s production, the U.S. Mint usually collects any of its unsold coins bearing the “W” mintmark, removes them from their packaging, and melts them down. We say “usually” because in 2019 the Mint discovered it had some leftover stock. Rather than melt them, the Mint made a surprise move and sold them to a buyer in a private auction. The coins that escaped the melting pot, have been designated by the leading third-party coins grading services as “U.S. MINT HOARD”, “WESTPOINT MINT HOARD” or “WESTPOINT PRIVATE AUCTION”. Any of these special designations give the coins a desirable and rare provenance not seen since the famed Government Services Administration (GSA) Morgan Dollar hoard in 1972!