Brandon Lee
American Silver Eagle coins are among the most popular silver bullion coins in the world, with over half a billion purchased by investors and collectors globally. The United States Mint crafts each coin to meet strict quality standards, ensuring that every coin is valued the same way worldwide. The Mint does not sell these coins directly to the public, instead relying on authorized distributors and secondary retailers. Collectors often seek to acquire a complete set, which includes a coin from each year of mintage, with special editions adding a layer of rarity and desirability. Investors and collectors are drawn to the coin's beautiful design, featuring Lady Liberty and the American bald eagle on the obverse and reverse sides, respectively.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Types | Bullion, proof, burnished, brilliant uncirculated |
| Weight | 1 oz |
| Purity | .999 |
| Face value | $1 (USD) |
| Diameter | 40.6 mm |
| Thickness | 2.98 mm |
| Legal tender | Yes |
| Mint | Philadelphia Mint, San Francisco Mint, West Point Mint |
| Mint mark | "W" for West Point Mint, "S" for San Francisco Mint, "P" for Philadelphia Mint |
| Design | Lady Liberty, American bald eagle |
| Designer | Adolph A. Weinman, John M. Mercanti, Emily Damstra |
| Distributors | APMEX, JM Bullion, Littleton Coin Company, Texas Precious Metals |
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What You'll Learn
Where to buy American Eagle silver coins
The American Silver Eagle coin is the top choice of investors and collectors when it comes to buying silver from the United States Mint. The United States Mint does not sell American Silver Eagle coins directly to the public. Instead, an exclusive list of companies, including APMEX and JM Bullion, are authorised to buy precious metals from the mint and offer them directly to customers.
APMEX offers the American Silver Eagle (ASE) coins to customers exactly as they get them from the mint under their MintDirect® program. This program means if you order Silver Eagles in quantities of 20, 100, or 500, you will receive them unopened and unaltered, precisely how they were received from the mint. MintDirect® Singles are extracted straight from their tubes and encased in a secure polymer holder, accompanied by an authentication card.
JM Bullion offers BU Silver Eagles for sale. The American Silver Eagle coinage consists of uncirculated, proof, and burnished options. The uncirculated, or bullion, coin has been available every year since 1986. The proof Silver Eagle was also issued in 1986 with the uncirculated coin. The proof coin did have a production interruption in 2009 as the US Mint was forced to suspend collectible coinage production to redirect all silver blanks to the uncirculated program to meet the intense demand for silver at the time. Burnished coins were introduced as a second collectible option in 2006 on the 20th anniversary of the coin program. The burnished coin was suspended in both 2009 and 2010, but has since entered back into production.
You can also buy American Silver Eagle coins online at GOVMINT. American Silver Eagles contain one troy ounce of 99.9% pure silver and are the official silver bullion coin of the U.S. Each Silver Eagle coin contains one troy ounce of 99.9% pure silver. Weighing 31.101 grams, Silver Eagles are composed of 0.999 fine silver and 0.001 copper for a total net weight of one ounce of pure silver.
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The design of the coins
The American Silver Eagle is the official silver bullion coin of the United States. It was first released by the United States Mint on 24 November 1986. The obverse side of the coin features Adolph A. Weinman's depiction of Lady Liberty, also known as the "Walking Liberty" design. Liberty is portrayed in full stride, draped in the folds of the American flag, with her right hand extended and branches of laurel and oak in her left arm. The design also includes the inscriptions "LIBERTY", "IN GOD WE TRUST", and the year of minting.
On the reverse side of the coin is the image of the heraldic eagle of the United States. This design has been used on American coinage since the first coins were struck by the original Philadelphia Mint in 1794. The eagle is depicted with its wings spread wide and the national shield on its chest, clutching arrows in one talon and an olive branch in the other. Above the eagle are thirteen five-pointed stars representing the original Thirteen Colonies. The reverse side also includes the inscriptions "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA", "E PLURIBUS UNUM", "1 OZ. FINE SILVER", "ONE DOLLAR", and the mint mark if applicable.
The American Silver Eagle bullion coin is available in proof and uncirculated versions. The proof coin design changes each year. The uncirculated, or bullion, coin has been available every year since 1986. Burnished coins were introduced in 2006 on the 20th anniversary of the coin program. All versions of the coin share the same basic design elements, with some minor variations over the years.
The United States Mint does not sell American Silver Eagle coins directly to the public. Instead, an exclusive list of authorised companies, including APMEX, offer the coins directly to customers.
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The popularity of the coins
The American Eagle Silver Coin is an iconic piece of American coinage recognised worldwide. The US Mint launched the American Eagle Coin Program in 1986 with gold and silver bullion coins for investors. The Silver Eagle is the official silver bullion coin of the United States and is minted by the US Mint. The coin is legal tender in the US, with a face value of one US dollar. However, most are independently traded based on their silver content.
The Silver Eagle is the top choice of investors and collectors alike. The bullion coin is struck in the one-troy-ounce size and is 99.9% pure silver. The US Mint meticulously crafts each American Silver Eagle to meet strict quality standards, ensuring that every coin is recognised and valued the same way in markets worldwide. This simplifies trading and valuation processes for investors and collectors. The US Mint does not sell American Silver Eagle coins directly to the public but through an exclusive list of authorised companies.
The popularity of the American Eagle Silver Coin can be attributed to its iconic design, its limited mintage, its collectible appeal, and its status as legal tender. The obverse of the coin features Adolph A. Weinman's historical depiction of Lady Liberty, also known as the "'Walking Liberty'" design. Lady Liberty walks in profile, draped in the folds of the American flag, with her right arm extended and holding laurel and oak branches in her left arm. The text on the obverse includes "Liberty" and the phrase "In God We Trust," along with the year of minting. The reverse of the coin features a heraldic eagle with its wings spread wide and the national shield on its chest. The eagle clutches the arrows of war in one talon and the olive branch of peace in the other. The inscriptions on the reverse include "United States of America," "E Pluribus Unum," "1 OZ. FINE SILVER," and "ONE DOLLAR."
The American Eagle Silver Coin is also popular among collectors, with many seeking to acquire a complete set, including a coin from each year of mintage. Collections containing each type (bullion, proof, and burnished) from a certain year are also sought after. Special editions, such as anniversary issues or the "West Point" minted coins, add to the rarity and desirability of the collection. The proof coins are premium versions of the American Silver Eagle, crafted with exceptional detail and a mirror-like finish. They are struck multiple times to enhance their sharpness and luster, setting them apart from standard bullion versions. The uncirculated or burnished coin is a variation of the bullion version that undergoes a burnishing process to clean the oxides, resulting in shinier blanks.
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The history of the coins
The American Silver Eagle is the official silver bullion coin of the United States. Its history dates back to the Liberty Coin Act, which was approved by the 99th US Congress in July 1985. This act authorized the production of an official silver bullion coin for the nation.
The United States Mint began releasing Silver Eagle Coins to the public on November 24, 1986, with the very first coin struck in San Francisco on October 29, 1986. The initial release included bullion and proof versions, with the bullion coin available every year since. The proof version, which was also issued in 1986, experienced a production interruption in 2009 due to high silver demand.
The design of the American Silver Eagle is steeped in history. The obverse features Adolph A. Weinman's iconic "Walking Liberty" design, which adorned the US Half Dollar Coin from 1916 to 1947. The reverse showcases a heraldic eagle, a symbol with a long history on American coinage. From 1986 to 2021, the reverse design by John Mercanti featured a heraldic eagle behind a shield, holding an olive branch and arrows, representing peace and war. In 2021, the reverse was updated to a new design by Emily Damstra, depicting an eagle landing on a branch.
Over the years, special editions and variations of the American Silver Eagle have been released, adding to the coin's collectability. These include anniversary issues, West Point minted coins, and early release or first-day-of-issue designations. The coin has also been struck at different mints, including the Philadelphia Mint, the San Francisco Mint, and the West Point Mint, each with its unique mint mark.
The American Silver Eagle is a cherished piece of American history, combining artistry, value, and symbolism. Its production involves meticulous craftsmanship and a commitment to using the purest silver, ensuring its enduring appeal to collectors and investors worldwide.
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The different types of American Eagle coins
American Eagle coins are available in gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. They are minted as bullion coins and proof coins, with some special editions.
The American Eagle Coin Program was launched in 1986 with gold and silver bullion coins for investors. The program has since expanded to include platinum and palladium coins. The Mint also makes proof and uncirculated versions of the American Eagle coins for collecting.
Gold
The American Gold Eagle is an official gold bullion coin of the United States. It was first released in 1986 and is offered in 1/10 oz, 1/4 oz, 1/2 oz, and 1 oz denominations. The gold must come from US sources and is alloyed with silver and copper. The obverse design features Lady Liberty, and the reverse design features a male eagle carrying an olive branch, flying above a nest.
Silver
The American Silver Eagle was also launched in 1986. It is the top choice of investors and collectors. The bullion and proof versions feature Lady Liberty on the obverse and the heraldic eagle of the United States on the reverse. The bullion coin is the most affordable type and is sold primarily to investors. The proof coin is the most valuable. Burnished coins were introduced in 2006 and are the rarest type, with only a limited number released annually.
Platinum
Platinum American Eagle coins were introduced in 1997. The bullion coin features the Statue of Liberty on the obverse and a soaring eagle on the reverse. The proof coin design changes each year.
Palladium
American Eagle Palladium Coins were first released in 2017 as bullion and in 2018 as proof. The obverse features Liberty wearing a cap with wings, and the reverse shows an eagle grasping a branch.
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Frequently asked questions
The United States Mint does not sell American Eagle silver coins directly to the public. Instead, they are sold to authorised distributors in bulk, who then sell them to secondary retailers.
There are a number of companies authorised to buy precious metals from the mint and offer them directly to customers, including JM Bullion and APMEX. Littleton Coin Company also offers American Silver Eagle coins for sale.
The face value of the American Silver Eagle is one dollar, and they are legal tender for all public and private debts at this value. However, the premiums for American Silver Eagle coins have experienced significant fluctuations, especially during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
American Eagle silver coins are made of silver bullion. Each bullion coin is 40.6 mm in diameter and 2.98 mm thick.
