History of the Silver American Coin. The gold and silver American Eagle coin program had its roots in the honest money movement. When Franklin Roosevelt's executive order declaring private ownership of gold and silver bullion as unlawful was finally rescinded in 1971, conservatives began pushing for the US Mint to reintroduce precious metal coins suitable for investment. 2020 - American Silver Eagle.999 Fine Silver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 683 $51.99 $ 51. American Silver Eagle coins enjoy unparalleled recognition and liquidity. The Silver American Eagle is the official Silver bullion coin of the United States and one of the few Silver bullion coins guaranteed for weight, content and purity by the U.S. APMEX carries a large selection of BU, certified and MintDirect® Silver Eagle coins.
American Silver Eagle is the official silver bullion of the U.S. And has an obverse design of the Walking Liberty and the Heraldic Eagle for the reverse. The American Silver Eagle obverse design was taken from the 'Half Dollar. Silver American Eagles, the official silver bullion coin of the United States Mint, were first minted in 1986 and have since become one of the most collected silver dollar series.American Eagles are considered to be one of the most beautiful silver.
American Silver Eagles
The American Silver Eagle is one of the most widely recognized and respected coins in the world today. Silver Eagles come in various forms. These forms are bullion and proof coins, as well as uncirculated and certified versions. Silver eagles have an interesting and rich history. The coins were originally thought up in order to release a large amount of silver to the public.
Since 2000, the amount of Silver Eagles produced by the U.S. Mint has increased consistently. While during the 1980s the mint would produce 5 to 10 million Silver Eagles per year, by 2008 the mint produced 20 million Silver Eagles, in 2009 they produced 30 million Silver Eagles and in 2010 the mint made 34 million Silver Eagles. The last several years have seen turbulence in global markets. These issues include but are not limited to the U.S. housing and mortgage crises, The European Union sovereign debt crises and several other issues. This economic uncertainty has likely helped drive demand for American Silver Eagles and other forms of bullion.
Types of Silver Eagles
American Silver Eagles carry a face value of $1 and are good, legal tender. Most American Silver Eagles bought are the uncirculated type. Silver Eagles contain 1 troy ounce of .999 percent fine silver. Though the BU bullion version tends to be the most common, there are also many variations of the coin.
BU Coins
Brilliantly Uncirculated (BU) means that the coin has come directly from the mint in sealed packaging and has never been used as currency. Thus, the coin has had little to no contact with human hands. These uncirculated Silver Eagle coins carry a relatively small premium over the spot silver price also adding to their popularity. Silver Eagles can often sell for less than $2.50 over the spot silver price.
Proof Coins
Silver Eagle proofs are a bit different. These proof coins are struck multiple times giving the coin a very shiny luster. Proof coins, because they are considered to be more collectible, carry significantly higher premiums than uncirculated silver eagles. In fact, it is not uncommon for silver eagle proofs to sell for $40 or more over the current spot silver price.
Certified Coins
Certified silver eagles are silver eagles that have been handled or circulated but have been sent in to a grading company to be certified. The grading process assigns a grade to the coin based on multiple factors including scarcity, condition and more. The grading company certifies the authenticity and grade of the coin and then sends the coins back out. These certified coins, like proof coins, are considered more collectible and thus carry higher premiums over the spot silver price.
Silver Eagle Design
Aside from the fact that it has been physically produced by a reputable source, the US Mint, the coin is also admired because of the care that has gone into creating its design and transferring that onto a fine silver bullion coin. The designs found on both the obverse and reverse of the coin are looked at as symbolic representations of liberty, freedom and patriotism.
Obverse
The obverse side of the coin features a variation of the Walking Lady Liberty. First created by Adolf A. Weinman for use on the Walking Liberty Half-Dollar, the coin was and has remained to this day, a favorite of the American people. It features Lady Liberty standing aside the ocean with the sun rising beyond. The Lady appears to be embracing the sun with one arm representing the welcoming of a new day. Her gown is made up of stars and stripes which represent the American flag. Her left arm is graciously grasping bundles of oak and laurel. The obverse is also stamped with the year that the coin was minted. Circling above Lady Liberty is the word “LIBERTY” while to her right is the phrase: “In God We Trust.”
Reverse
The reverse side of the coin features a rather new design created by US Mint engraver John Marcanti. It depicts a Heraldic eagle which is grasping a bundle of arrows in one talon while the other is holding an olive branch. He calmly sits behind a shield. In his mouth is a ribbon which has the phrase “E. Pluribus Unum” inscribed upon it. Directly above the eagle’s head are 13 stars arranged in an upside-down pyramid pattern. These serve to represent the United States’ beginnings as 13 colonies. Circulating around the edges of the coin are the words “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “1 oz. FINE SILVER ~ ONE DOLLAR.”
Mint Packaging
Aside from purchasing single coins, there are a few other options available to investors and collectors. After striking these coins at their facility, the US Mint packages them into tubes or rolls of 20 coins. These rolls are then placed into boxes (also known as Monster Boxes) and strapped shut. As to protect the integrity of each coin, when you are ordering quantities of twenty coins, Silver.com will ship them in their original mint-sealed tubes. Quantities of 500 coins will remain in their original mint-strapped Monster Boxes.
Aside from protecting and maintaining the integrity of each coin, these two options also allow for easier storage. Tubes can simply be placed atop one another in small spaces for storage, while monster boxes can be piled high. All of Silver.com’s American Eagle coins are acquired from certified coin distributors in their original mint packaging so customers can rest assured of each coins authenticity. Be sure to browse our wide selection of these coins and add some to your collection, or even start a brand new one! To learn more about our company feel free to call us at 1-888-989-7223 or see what our customers are saying by reading some reviews of buying from Silver.com.
The U.S. Mint launched the American Eagle Coin Program 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.
The obverse of the American Eagle Gold Coins features a version of Liberty first used on the 1907 $20, or “double eagle” coin. The design, by famed sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens, shows Liberty facing forward, holding a torch in one hand and an olive branch in the other. The reverse depicted an eagle grasping an olive branch flying above a nest of eagles. Starting in 2021, the gold coins feature a newly designed portrait of an eagle on the reverse and a refreshed obverse.
The obverse of the American Eagle Silver Coins uses the “Walking Liberty” design by sculptor Adolph A. Weinman from the 1916 half dollar. Liberty walks in profile, draped in the folds of the American flag. Her right arm is extended and she carries laurel and oak branches in her left. The reverse depicted a heraldic eagle with a shield, grasping an olive branch in the right talon and arrows in the left. Starting in 2021, the coins feature a new reverse showing an eagle carrying an oak branch coming to land and a refreshed obverse.
The Mint first released American Eagle Platinum Coins 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.
The American Eagle Palladium Coins were first released in 2017 as bullion and 2018 as proof. Like the silver coins, the palladium coins re-create historic designs by Adolph Weinman. The obverse features Liberty wearing a cap with wings used on the 1916 Mercury dime. The reverse shows an eagle grasping a branch first used on the 1907 American Institute of Architects Gold Medal.
American Eagle Bullion Coins
American Eagle Bullion Coins provide investors with a convenient and cost effective way to add a small amount of physical gold, silver, platinum, or palladium to their investment portfolios. The gold bullion coins are available in four sizes: one ounce, one-half ounce, one-quarter ounce, and one-tenth ounce. The silver, platinum, and palladium bullion coins are available in the one ounce size.
The U.S. Mint does not sell American Eagle Bullion Coins directly to the public. Learn more about how to buy bullion coins.
Watch the video below to learn about palladium coins.
American Eagle Proof and Uncirculated Coins
The Mint produces American Eagle Coins for collectors with proof and uncirculated finishes. The gold and silver coins are released in both proof and uncirculated finishes each year. The platinum coins are currently made only as proof, while the palladium coins switch finishes each year.
The coins sell at a fixed price and can be purchased directly from the U.S. Mint.
2000 American Eagle Silver Dollar
American Eagle Platinum Proof Coins
The U.S. Mint produced its first legal tender platinum proof coin in 1997. Its $100 face value is the highest denomination for a U.S. legal tender coin. Produced for collectors, it bears the “W” mint mark of the West Point Mint, where it is produced. This precious metal coin has a limited mintage and may be purchased directly from the Mint.
From 1997 to 2017, the American Eagle Platinum Proof Coin shared a common obverse that depicted the Statue of Liberty. The coin’s reverse featured a variety of themed series designs, including:
- Portrait of Liberty (1997)
- Vistas of Liberty (1998 to 2002)
- Foundations of Democracy (2006 to 2008)
- Preamble to the Constitution (2009 to 2014)
- Torches of Liberty (2015 and 2016)
In 2017 for the 20th anniversary of the platinum proof program, the coin bore its original 1997 design. From 2018 to 2020, the Mint issued the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence Series. The obverse designs featured a different scene with Liberty each year. The common reverse showed an eagle in flight carrying an olive branch.
American Eagle Silver Dollar 2005
- 2018 Platinum Proof – Life
- 2019 Platinum Proof – Liberty
- 2020 Platinum Proof – Happiness
First Amendment to the United States Constitution Platinum Proof Coin Series
The 2021-2025 “First Amendment to the United States Constitution Platinum Proof Coin Series” features newly designed one ounce 99.95 percent platinum proof coins. The obverse designs use the lifecycle of the oak tree from seedling to a mighty oak as a metaphor for our country’s growth as a Nation that values freedom. Liberty grows to a thing of strength and beauty from a seed – our Bill of Rights. Each of the freedoms enumerated in the First Amendment contributes to the growth and development of the Nation.
This series continues the reverse design introduced for the 2018-2020 Preamble to the Declaration of Independence Series. It features an eagle in flight with an olive branch in its talons.