Catalog year: 2002

In 2002, the price of gold began to rise, reflecting the instability in the global economy and financial markets. From the beginning of 2002 to the end of the year, the price of gold rose from about $280 to $350 per troy ounce. Gold became a popular asset for hedging risks, which increased the demand for investment coins and bars.
In 2002, the price of silver was relatively stable, fluctuating between $4 and $5 per troy ounce. Investors viewed silver as a safe haven as well as an industrial metal. The price of platinum and palladium also showed growth in 2002, due to industrial demand, particularly in the automotive industry for the production of catalysts. Platinum traded around $550-$600 per troy ounce, and palladium traded around $300-$350 per troy ounce.
The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks continued to impact the global economy, increasing interest in safe haven assets. The policies of the US Federal Reserve and lower interest rates contributed to the growing appeal of precious metals as store of value instruments.
In 2002, approximately 2,600 tonnes of gold and approximately 18,500 tonnes of silver were mined worldwide. These figures are approximate, as the exact amounts of gold and silver mined may vary depending on the source of data and the methods used to calculate them.
In terms of bullet coin production in 2002, the United States Mint was one of the world's leading producers of these coins. Some of the most popular investment coins, such as the Silver American Eagle and the Gold American Eagle, are produced by this mint. However, it is worth noting that the Austrian Mint (Münze Österreich), which produces the famous Gold Philharmonic coins, also produces impressive volumes of investment coins. However, the United States Mint stands out as the largest producer of investment coins in terms of production volume.