2010 American Silver Eagle NGC MS69 Brown Label

2010 American Silver Eagle

The Silver Eagle series was originally created for collectors and investors to have United States minted silver in .999 fineness that could compete on the worldwide precious metals market. Widely successful from the beginning, more than one hundred million coins have been minted to date, and thousands upon thousands of collectors and investors continue to purchase them annually. Collectors in particular find them to be very attractive, having an obverse design that very closely resembles one of the most beautiful designs ever used on a United States Mint coin - Adolph A. Weinman's Walking Liberty design originally used on the half dollar in 1916.

These .999 fine silver coins weigh one troy ounce, or 31.103 grams. They are officially minted by the United States Mint, which means this coin is guaranteed by the mint to match the fineness and weight as set forth in the specifications listed here.

2010 Silver Eagle coin design

When the American Silver Eagle program was announced, collectors were eager to see the coin's release since the obverse design was to be the regeneration of a favorite classic coin design used on US half dollars from 1916-1947. The 'Walking Liberty' design originally created by German born designer Adolph A. Weinman was one of several designs released during the period unofficially recognized as the renaissance of art in United States coinage. It's grace and beauty transcends time, as is proven by its successful use to this day on the Silver Eagle coin.

The design used on the reverse of the Silver Eagle is the work of 12th Chief Engraver of the US Mint, John M Mercanti. It incorporates a heraldic eagle design with symbols found on coins going all the way back to the beginning of the first US Mint in Philadelphia. The Eagle is protected by a striped shield and carries an olive branch for peace in one talon, and arrows signifying defense in its other talon. A ribbon in its beak carries on the traditional Latin phrase 'E Pluribus Unum,' meaning 'of many, one' speaking of the many states that unite to form one country. Thirteen stars fill the upper field area in a triangle shape, one for each of the original thirteen states of the United States.

NGC MS69 – making the grade

This coin is graded MS69 by the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC). The NGC grading scale works on a 70 point scale with 1 being a barely recognizable coin to a 70 being a coin that appears as-minted without flaws. MS69 is one point off the ultimate grade of 70, which means that a couple of very minor flaws could exist on the coin, visible only through magnification, which can detract from the overall appearance of the coin only slightly. It is a very affordable way to own a nearly perfect coin!