Silver Eagle Prices
In 1986, the popular and world-renowned American Silver Eagle was first minted. The American Silver Eagles are the official bullion silver coin of the United States. Backed by the US government, the American Silver Eagle is guaranteed .999 pure silver. IRA approved, the American Silver Eagles can be purchased individually or by government-sealed monster boxes of 500 coins.
Design of the American Silver Eagle
The Walking Liberty is one of the most known figures of US currency and is featured on the obverse of every American Silver Eagle. Lady Liberty was first designed for the half dollar in 1916-1947 but since it received such acclaim, the US Mint decided to resurrect the design for their first silver bullion coin collection. Adolph A. Weinman, an American sculptor who was born in Germany, was chosen to design the obverse for the Walking Liberty half-dollar. What he didn't know was how popular his design would remain 40 years later. Weinman's take on Lady Liberty resembles a Grecian god, who is wrapped in a light-weight robe and is delicately fluttering in the wind to enhance her femininity.
2020 - American Silver Eagle.999 Fine Silver in Direct Fit Air Tite with our Certificate of Authenticity Dollar Uncirculated Us Mint 4.8 out of 5 stars 692 $51.99 $ 51. Silver Eagles Price Guide Last Update: 02-06 07:11 AM EST Silver $26.96 ( +0.60 ) as of 02-05 04:59 PM EST. Why Silver Eagles prices are higher than Generic Silver Rounds The US Mint charges dealers a premium on Silver Eagle coins. The lowest priced Silver Eagle coins that are from the current mint year in uncirculated condition will cost at least $2 above spot price.
Silver Eagle Prices 2019
The reverse contains the US seal, which is of a large eagle with several different representations. Both of the eagle's talons are holding onto something; the left contains olive branches to represent peach and the other talon is holding arrows to represent warrior. The eagle is covered by a huge shield that indicates that the US will protect its power and 'E Pluribus Unum' is written across the eagle's outstretched wings. The coin's weight and purity is also stamped on the reverse for authentication purposes.
Types of American Silver Eagles
In early 1987, the price of silver was $5.50 per ounce, but silver American Eagles traded for over $10 in the market, or a premium over silver spot prices of nearly $5. Then silver spiked, hitting. The Silver Eagle is a one-ounce bullion coin with a face value of one dollar. The obverse has Adolph A. Weinman's Liberty Walking Design used on the US half dollar coins from 1916-1947. The reverse design is a rendition of a heraldic eagle by John Mercanti.
The US Mint has produced 3 types of American Silver Eagles: Brilliant Uncirculated, Proof, and Burnished. The Brilliant Uncirculated and Burnished American Silver Eagles contain the same finish: a frosted, matte surface but the Burnished versions contain the infamous 'W' mint-mark, since they are minted at the West Point Mint. The Proof Silver Eagles stand out, due to their glossy, mirror-like finish. Proof Silver Eagles are also packaged in government-issued presentation boxes with their Certificates of Authenticity.Certified Silver Eagles
As most coin collectors and numismatists know, a coin can be a considered brilliant uncirculated or proof, but that's just the beginning of identifying a coin's value. Dr. William Sheldon was an American psychologist by trade and a numismatist as a hobby. In 1948, Sheldon developed the Sheldon Numeric Scale, which became the foundation of grading and certifying coins. The Sheldon Numeric Scale dictates that a coin's condition can fall between 1 and 70. Before this groundbreaking system, coins were graded mostly by physical appearance and could receive one of three grades.
There are many coin grading agencies out there but only two that are revered worldwide. The Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) and the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) are two companies that issue coins their grades. These companies not only certify coins, but they also encase the graded coin into an official holder, preserving the coin and marking the holder with its earned grade. This alone has changed the coin collecting game, while also offering a peace of mind for collectors and investors.
When purchasing a Certified American Silver Eagle, there is information provided on the coin holder that is important to know. The first thing to notice is the coin's strike type:
- MS: Short for 'Mint-State;' refers to coins that have never been in circulation and are the same condition as when they were originally produced. Mint State coins will receive a grade ranging from 60-70 on the Sheldon Numeric Scale.
- PF/PR: Abbreviation for 'Proof;' refers to the method of coin manufacture, made for eye appeal among collectors.
- SP: A 'specimen' coin is a combination of strike type (somewhere in the middle of Mint State and Proof).
A Certified American Silver Eagle (or any certified bullion coin) will most likely come in one of two grades:
- MS/PF70: Bullion coins that have kept their original mint luster and contain zero post production flaws.
- MS/PF69: Bullion coins that contain 2 or less minute imperfections but still carry their original mint luster.
Other certification terms often used for bullion coins:
Cheapest Silver Eagles For Sale
- First Strike: PCGS term designates coins that have been certified within the first 30 days of production by the contributing mint.
- Early Release: NGC term designates coins that have been certified within the first 30 days of production by the contributing mint.
- UCAM/DCAM: Shortened for Ultra-Cameo and Deep-Cameo, these terms refer to the coin's visual brilliance that is apparent on the surface by an unyielding, frosted finish and a deeply mirrored background luster.
Design of the American Silver Eagle
The Walking Liberty is one of the most known figures of US currency and is featured on the obverse of every American Silver Eagle. Lady Liberty was first designed for the half dollar in 1916-1947 but since it received such acclaim, the US Mint decided to resurrect the design for their first silver bullion coin collection. Adolph A. Weinman, an American sculptor who was born in Germany, was chosen to design the obverse for the Walking Liberty half-dollar. What he didn't know was how popular his design would remain 40 years later. Weinman's take on Lady Liberty resembles a Grecian god, who is wrapped in a light-weight robe and is delicately fluttering in the wind to enhance her femininity.
The reverse contains the US seal, which is of a large eagle with several different representations. Both of the eagle's talons are holding onto something; the left contains olive branches to represent peach and the other talon is holding arrows to represent warrior. The eagle is covered by a huge shield that indicates that the US will protect its power and 'E Pluribus Unum' is written across the eagle's outstretched wings. The coin's weight and purity is also stamped on the reverse for authentication purposes.
Types of American Silver Eagles
The US Mint has produced 3 types of American Silver Eagles: Brilliant Uncirculated, Proof, and Burnished. The Brilliant Uncirculated and Burnished American Silver Eagles contain the same finish: a frosted, matte surface but the Burnished versions contain the infamous 'W' mint-mark, since they are minted at the West Point Mint. The Proof Silver Eagles stand out, due to their glossy, mirror-like finish. Proof Silver Eagles are also packaged in government-issued presentation boxes with their Certificates of Authenticity.Certified Silver Eagles
As most coin collectors and numismatists know, a coin can be a considered brilliant uncirculated or proof, but that's just the beginning of identifying a coin's value. Dr. William Sheldon was an American psychologist by trade and a numismatist as a hobby. In 1948, Sheldon developed the Sheldon Numeric Scale, which became the foundation of grading and certifying coins. The Sheldon Numeric Scale dictates that a coin's condition can fall between 1 and 70. Before this groundbreaking system, coins were graded mostly by physical appearance and could receive one of three grades.
There are many coin grading agencies out there but only two that are revered worldwide. The Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) and the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) are two companies that issue coins their grades. These companies not only certify coins, but they also encase the graded coin into an official holder, preserving the coin and marking the holder with its earned grade. This alone has changed the coin collecting game, while also offering a peace of mind for collectors and investors.
When purchasing a Certified American Silver Eagle, there is information provided on the coin holder that is important to know. The first thing to notice is the coin's strike type:
- MS: Short for 'Mint-State;' refers to coins that have never been in circulation and are the same condition as when they were originally produced. Mint State coins will receive a grade ranging from 60-70 on the Sheldon Numeric Scale.
- PF/PR: Abbreviation for 'Proof;' refers to the method of coin manufacture, made for eye appeal among collectors.
- SP: A 'specimen' coin is a combination of strike type (somewhere in the middle of Mint State and Proof).
A Certified American Silver Eagle (or any certified bullion coin) will most likely come in one of two grades:
- MS/PF70: Bullion coins that have kept their original mint luster and contain zero post production flaws.
- MS/PF69: Bullion coins that contain 2 or less minute imperfections but still carry their original mint luster.
Other certification terms often used for bullion coins:
- First Strike: PCGS term designates coins that have been certified within the first 30 days of production by the contributing mint.
- Early Release: NGC term designates coins that have been certified within the first 30 days of production by the contributing mint.
- UCAM/DCAM: Shortened for Ultra-Cameo and Deep-Cameo, these terms refer to the coin's visual brilliance that is apparent on the surface by an unyielding, frosted finish and a deeply mirrored background luster.
- Silver Eagles1986-Date
- Silver Eagle RollsRolls & Monster Boxes
- Proof Silver EaglesOriginal Mint Boxes
- Certified Uncirculated Silver EaglesMS69 & MS70
- Certified Proof Silver EaglesPF69 & PF70
- Raw and Certified Burnished Silver EaglesFeaturing - W - Mint Mark
- American Silver Eagle Anniversary Sets10th, 20th & 25th
The American Silver Eagle (ASE) was first released in 1986 as part of the American Eagle bullion program. American Eagle bullion coins were authorized in 1985 and the first silver eagles were released on November 24, 1986, becoming immensely popular with both investors and collectors from the beginning.
P.S. -- Want to listen to this post?
The American Silver Eagle carries on its obverse the Walking Liberty design by Adolph A. Weinman, a motif first employed on United States half dollars struck from 1916 through 1947 and brought out of a 39-year retirement to appear on this iconic silver bullion coin. Meanwhile, the obverse carries a modern, stylized heraldic eagle by John Mercanti.
Types of American Silver Eagles
While the first decade of production saw a relatively staid lineup of ASEs, with conventional bullion quality (formerly called “uncirculated”) and proofs struck each year, in 1995 the West Point Mint struck a limited number of proofs for inclusion in the 10th anniversary gold eagle set. The 1995-W silver eagle was struck as a free bonus inclusion with the anniversary set, and only 30,125 were made. They quickly became popular with collectors, serving to this day as the rare regular-issue key date to the entire series.
Since the first decade of the 21st century, ASEs have been struck in several other numismatic varieties, including reverse proof and burnished finish. Striking duties for bullion-quality pieces originally went to the Philadelphia Mint and early proofs came from San Francisco. However, minting assignments have changed over the years, with Philadelphia striking proofs for a period in the 1990s and the West Point Mint assuming the vast majority of ASE production by 2000.
Here’s a breakdown of the major types of American Silver Eagles:
Bullion
The bullion ASEs represent the base-level coins struck with the investor in mind. While they boast high-quality surfaces as is typical for all American Eagle bullion coinage, they are struck in very large numbers and are distributed by the United States Mint through a network of authorized dealers with somewhat less regard for finish preservation than bestowed upon numismatic strikes. They can be purchased for relatively small premiums over spot.
However, older ASEs are worth a fairly significant figure above spot values, as they are scarcer than more recent issues. Among the most valuable of the bullion-quality strikes are the 1986, 1994, 1995, and 1996, with the latter serving as the key date for all regular-issue bullion strikes.
Proof
The first proof American Silver Eagles were released in 1986 with the debut of the series and struck in all years except 2009, when a planchet shortage reportedly upended production of all non-bullion silver eagle coinage. Regular proofs are relatively common, so some of the earlier pieces are quite rare in grades of PR69 or above.
Reverse Proof
The first reverse proof variant of the American Silver Eagle premiered as a Philadelphia-mint strike in 2006 and was made in small numbers.
The proof variety proved a success with collectors, and today the 2006-P reverse proof is relatively scarce due to sustained demand. Several other reverse proofs followed in 2011, 2012, and 2013, and these pieces all remain very popular with collectors; with a mintage of 99,882, the 2011-P reverse proof saw the lowest mintage among the four issues and is the most valuable of the reverse proof issues.
Reverse Proof Silver Eagle image via USA CoinBook
Burnished (Uncirculated)
Debuting the same year as the reverse proof, the first burnished silver eagle was released in 2006 hailing from the West Point Mint. They bear a finish similar to the bullion-quality releases but offer a somewhat matte sheen and are thus desired by collectors as a distinct numismatic issue.
Burnished ASEs have been made most years since their debut, with the exceptions of 2009 and 2010, during a period of huge demand for the bullion-quality silver eagles, for which planchets are allocated with utmost priority.
Enhanced Finish
The first enhanced finish American Silver Eagle was released in 2013, featuring a uniquely frosted, specimen-quality finish. It is a special numismatic offering seldom seen on the ASEs. The United States Mint released its second enhanced finish silver eagle in 2019 with the Pride of Two Nations 2-Coin Set, coupling the 2019-W enhanced finish American Silver Eagle with a 2019 silver Canadian Maple Leaf coin.
Enhanced Finish ASE image via USA CoinBook
Errors & Varieties
The ASE series offers a few interesting varieties. Perhaps the most popular and valuable of these is the 2008-W Burnished Reverse of 2007. An estimated 47,000 were struck and are worth huge premiums over regular-issue 2008-W Burnished Finish ASEs.
When the relatively few known errors do hit the market, they are typically garden-variety off-center strikes and blank planchets. Indeed, quality control at the United States Mints is quite high with all of its bullion coin programs, including the American Silver Eagle.
Collecting American Silver Eagles
It really goes without saying that the American Silver Eagle program is among the most popular of all bullion coin programs in the world. It’s not the oldest of the modern world bullion series—the gold South African Krugerrand gold coins came in 1967, the Canadian Maple Leaf debuted in 1979, Mexican Libertads were born in 1981, and the Chinese Panda program was unveiled in 1982.
But the American Silver Eagle, along with its American Gold Eagle counterpart (and late the platinum and palladium releases) are widely traded both in the United States and abroad and trusted by investors and collectors the world over. They are among the most frequently encountered coins in the precious metals circle.
While numismatic strikes are mainly intended for collectors, a fair number of investors also buy them to add some pizzazz to their holdings. Meanwhile, the bullion-quality ASEs also enjoy converse crossover appeal with collectors, many of whom build date sets spanning from 1986 to the present.
Many collectors pursue all types of ASEs, and the silver eagle registry set collecting objectives set forth by major encapsulation services Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) compel deep-pocketed collectors to buy super-grade examples in pursuit of the building the highest-quality collections possible.
Silver Eagle Coin Values
Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez is a journalist, editor, and blogger who has won multiple awards from the Numismatic Literary Guild. He has also authored numerous books, including works profiling the history of the United States Mint and United States coinage.
More from the author: