American Silver Eagle Coins
The U.S. Mint produces the American Silver Eagle, the country's official silver bullion coin.
In addition to its silver content, the Silver Eagle's mintage and condition are also exchanged separately from the coin's face value. American Silver Eagles are the only silver bullion coins guaranteed by the United States government, according to the United States Mint. The West Point, San Francisco, and Philadelphia Mints create uncirculated Silver Eagles. The U.S. Mint now offers collectors burnished uncirculated and proof versions in addition to the bullion version.
History of the Silver American Eagle
Silver American Eagles were authorized by Congress in 1985 and initially struck in 1986, making them the finest silver coins ever made in the United States of America. One troy ounce of pure silver is contained in each coin, which is 1.598" in diameter and has a thickness of .117." The face value of each coin is one dollar.
The single silver coin in the Silver Eagle program is a one-troy-ounce coin with a face value of $1 (USD) and purity of .999 percent silver. Coins from the United States Mint feature representations of Lady Liberty and the American bald eagle on both the obverse and reverse. The sole difference between the proof and non-proof coins is the addition of a mint mark to the reverse side.
The American Silver Eagle's Design
There are no design differences between any of the American Silver Eagle coins.
Observe and Reverse Designs
"Walking Liberty" half-dollar designs by Adolph A. Weinman were used on the obverse of the American Eagle Silver Bullion Coins from 1916 to 1947. It's one of the most aesthetically pleasing U.S. coins ever struck, and for a good reason. The American Eagle Coin Program celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2021 with a new design from the United States Mint. The design now incorporates some of Weinman's original elements that were previously inaccessible due to technological developments in the design and minting process.
Since 2021, the reverse depicts an eagle making a landing with an oak branch in its beak, as if it were going to add it to a nest it is building. The new coins have been upgraded with additional security elements, such as a reeded edge variation, in order to provide an additional level of protection.
A heraldic eagle clutching an olive branch in its right talon and arrows in its left held a shield in its right talon from 1986 until 2021. The design, by John Mercanti, was meant to convey power and perseverance.
Mintage of the American Silver Eagle Coin
In order to produce uncirculated, proof, and burnished coins, the U.S. Mint employs a variety of minting techniques. The Liberty Coin Act of 1985 mandates that the U.S. Mint supply the uncirculated version of the coin to meet demand. The demand for investment-grade American Silver Eagle bullion coins determines the total number of coins to be minted.
The first two years of availability accounted for the majority of the program's highest mintage figures, but the Great Recession pushed the American Silver Eagle to new heights. A record-breaking 47 million Silver Eagles were minted in 2015.
The mintage figures for the proof and burnished versions of the coin differ. At one time, the Proof Silver Eagle had a mintage cap; however, it was rarely sold out completely in a given year. After a while, the U.S. Mint just struck the pieces to suit collector demand instead of restricting mintage. The Proof Silver Eagle, on the other hand, has never been able to match the uncirculated version of the coin in terms of popularity. A record 1.4 million Proof American Silver Eagles were sold in 1986 when the currency was first introduced.
The American Silver Eagle burnished coin has one of the lowest mintage rates of any in the collection. The U.S. Mint does not artificially limit the mintage of the Burnished Silver Eagle but rather strikes the coin in order to meet the demand of collectors. When the burnished coin initially became available in 2007, it was a huge hit, selling 612,000 copies in its first year. However, after its two-year ban in 2009-2010, it has not surpassed its 2006-2008 highs.
Bullion Coins of the American Eagle
A little amount of gold, silver, platinum, or palladium in the form of American Eagle Bullion Coins is an easy and affordable option for investors to boost the value of their investment portfolios. There are four different weights of gold bullion coins to choose from: one ounce, half an ounce, a quarter of an ounce, and a tenth of an ounce. Silver, platinum, and palladium one-ounce bullion coins are available.
American Eagle Silver Proof Coins
Using specially prepared planchets, proof coins have a particular polish that collectors appreciate and cherish. Many mints have produced American Eagle Silver Proof coins, including West Point and Philadelphia. When you invest, make sure you choose the right precious metal mints that provide the best products.
Because they are aimed at collectors rather than investors, American Silver Eagle Proof coins bear the mint mark of the country in which they were struck. One troy ounce of .999 pure silver is included in the American Silver Eagle, which has a face value of $1. The Silver American Eagle is the only certified investment-grade silver bullion coin in the United States. It was released in 1986. The United States Government guarantees the weight, content, and purity of this silver bullion coin, making it unique in the world.
Burnished American Silver Eagle Coins
The Burnished American Silver Eagle coin was created in 2006 to commemorate the country's official silver bullion coin's 20th anniversary. With the new finish, these gorgeous American favorites now have an even more valuable quality. To produce Burnished American Silver Eagles with the "W" mint mark, the West Point Mint is the only place to do so. In order to achieve a frosted effect, it is necessary to strike the coin on the burnished planchet after it has been burnished. The Burnished Silver Eagle coin's high value is due to its matted, smooth texture. Each year's polished Silver Eagle's mintage is unique. In comparison to the B.U. and Proof coin mintages, mintages are usually modest.
Proof and Burnished Coins Are Two Different Things
Coins that are uncirculated have a small sheen to the finish but otherwise have a dull appearance, making them good investments. Even while both the proof and burnished versions of a coin exhibit exceptional visual quality and are desirable as collectibles, they are made in distinct ways and feature somewhat different aesthetic features. These depictions of Walking Liberty and the heraldic eagle on the back of the proof coin have matte, frosted accents. Proof coins have a mirrored and clear backdrop.
The appearance of the burnished coins is slightly different. When the coins have been put through their paces, they are then polished with an adjuvant that gives the coins a sheen between the brilliance of a bullion coin and the proof version. Employees wear gloves as they touch each burnished coin with care. Individually loaded into the coining press, struck, and then removed and wrapped promptly to prevent any danger of human skin oils or other materials degrading the visual attractiveness, the blanks are retrieved from the drum by a gloved hand.
Authenticated .999 Fine Silver American Eagle Coins
Certified American Silver Eagle coins, whether they're uncirculated, proof, or burnished, can be obtained through the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation or the Professional Coin Grading Service. Using the Sheldon Scale, both the NGC and PCGS assign grades from 1 to 70, with 70 being the highest possible score. When grading a coin, these grading companies examine for visual defects, production flaws, and indicators of handling. The following labels and certifications from the two grading houses are commonly found on American Silver Eagle coins for sale:
Exactly how much silver is contained in a single American Silver Eagle?
Each American eagle coin contains one troy ounce of 99.9% pure silver.
They are made out of .999 fine silver with .001 copper, making each Silver Eagle weigh 31.101 grams. The silver eagle coin's value rises and falls with the price of silver, making these stunning coins even more desirable to coin collectors. Silver eagles are attractive not only because of their face value and numismatic value but also because of the amount of silver they contain.
The most valuable American Silver Eagle is from what year?
Many people ask which year of back-dated Silver Eagles is the most valued. How important is this question if you are a coin collector of old American Silver Eagle coins? The most important dates to remember are anniversaries because they highlight the significance of specific years. The first year (1986), 10th anniversary (1996), 20th anniversary (2006), and 30th anniversary (2007) are all included in this list (2016).
Which American Silver Eagle Coins Are Worth Collecting?
Collecting and stacking American Silver Eagle coins are the two most common motivations for purchasing them. Silver Eagle proof coins and Uncirculated Silver Eagles are very popular among coin collectors because of their striking beauty. Obtaining an American Silver Eagle coin from each year of mintage, starting in 1986 and continuing to the present, is a common goal for coin collectors. Collectors of silver can trace their ancestry back to at least 4,000 years ago, when silver was utilized as a medium of exchange for the purchase and sale of things. Silver has been one of the cheapest precious metals in recent years.
Buy Silver Eagle Coins from the U.S. Mint.
100-coin boxes containing silver American Eagles are available. These coins are eligible for an IRA investment and can be ordered directly from the mint for immediate delivery. As an investor you may be wondering what's the best silver to buy for your investment portfolio. It's important to first understand your best options as an investor.
IRA Approved Silver Coin
The silver American Eagle coin is eligible for a silver rollover.
Silver Coins
- American Silver Eagle Coin
- Canadian Silver Maple Leaf Coin
- Mexican Silver Libertad Coin
- British Silver Britannia Coin
- Australian Silver Koala Coin
- Chinese Silver Panda Coin
- Austrian Silver Philharmonic Coin
- Australian Silver Kookaburra Coin
- South African Silver Krugerrand Coin
- South Korean Silver Taekwondo Coin
American Eagle in Other Precious Metals
- Gold Eagle
- Platinum Eagle
- Palladium Eagle
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