American Silver Eagle Coins

Reverse Design of the American Silver Eagle

The reverse displays the original 1986 heraldic eagle design created by John Mercanti, the 12th and last of the U.S. Mint's Chief Engravers. During his tenure, Mercanti produced more coin and medal designs than any employee in the mint's 223-year history, including the 1984 Olympic $10 gold piece (the first U.S. gold coin struck in 51 years), the 1986 Statue of Liberty silver dollar, the obverse of the 1991 Eisenhower silver dollar, as well as the Arkansas, Iowa, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia State Quarters.

In mid-2021 the reverse of the American Silver Eagle was updated for the first time when the Mint debuted a brand-new reverse design for the first time in the history of the series. To learn more about the Type-2 Silver Eagle reverse click here.

What are the Diameter, Weight and Silver Content of Silver Eagles?

American Silver Eagle Coins have legal tender status with a face value of $1 and are government guaranteed as 1 Troy oz. of 99.9% pure silver. US Silver Eagle Coins have a diameter of 40.6mm and a weight of 31.1 grams.

Non-Reportable Status of American Silver Eagles

The long-standing appeal of the American Silver Eagle is magnified by its non-reportable status, making Silver Eagles the preferred choice of serious numismatists for assured privacy, safety, and security. Coins purchases do not need to be reported to the IRS at the time of purchase. However, when collectors sell quantities of certain silver coins, including vintage U.S. 90% silver coins, the dealer buying the coins must report the transaction to the IRS with the collector's social security number. Silver Eagle coins are not among those that require dealer reporting.

Are Silver Eagles Available in Monster Boxes?

Yes, Silver Eagles are available in Monster boxes allowing you to conveniently add 500 troy oz. of silver at a low premium over spot. Each Silver Eagle Monster Box boasts 25 tubes of 20 American Silver Eagle Coins, totaling 500 American Silver Eagle coins.

Silver Eagle Mintages

A year-by-year list of silver eagle mintage figures is available in our InfoVault: Mintages of Silver Eagles By Year.

What American Silver Eagle Coins Are the Rarest?

Many American Silver Eagle coins are actually worth far more than their silver value. Collectors are willing to pay more because of the additional numismatic value for coins that have lower mintage and are in exceptional condition. The three rarest American Silver Eagle coins are the 1990 at $3,000, the 1994 Silver Eagle at $6,000, and the 1999 coin at over $10,000. These coins, in their top condition (MS70) are worth an estimated 100-200 times their silver content. Keep in mind that some coins are also rare because they contain unusual Errors and Varieties. Some are also rarer because of their enhanced finishes including Burnished, Proof, and Reverse Proof variants.

What Silver Eagle Finishes are Available?

Since their initial release, U.S. Silver Eagle Dollars have appeared in five distinctive finishes:

1. Mint State / Brilliant Uncirculated
2. Proof
3. Reverse Proof
4. Burnished
5. Enhanced Uncirculated
6. Enhanced Reverse Proof

1. Uncirculated American Silver Eagle Coins

The terms "Mint State (MS)" and "Uncirculated (UNC)" are used interchangeably to describe brand new, legal tender Silver Eagles that never entered circulation, and show no trace of everyday wear and tear. ModernCoinMart offers a full selection of Mint State American Silver Eagle Coins coins for sale - including flawless and near-perfect coins encapsulated and graded by trusted third party grading companies Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) or Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC).

2. Proof Silver Eagles

Among the very best coins produced by the U.S. Mint, Proof Silver Eagles are made with highly-polished planchets (blanks). Each struck two or more times under intense pressure with fresh, new dies for high-relief details, distinctive mirror-like backgrounds, and frosted, sculpted foregrounds.

3. Reverse Proof

Reverse proof coins are struck similar to normal proof coins except rather than the standard frosted device and mirrored field, reverse proof coins have a frosted field and a mirrored device. (The field is the coin’s surface not used for raised design elements.) The first reverse proof variants that the United States Mint produced for the Silver Eagle coin was a Philadelphia-mint strike in 2006. Only a small number of these coins were made, making them very popular with collectors. Additional reverse proofs have followed including in 2011, 2012, 2013, and all are typically in high demand among collectors.

4. Burnished Silver Eagle Coins

The United States Mint added a Burnished finish to their American Eagle series in 2006 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the first Silver Eagle issue in 1986. Burnished American Silver Eagles feature a satiny, matte finish and carry the "W" mint mark of the West Point Mint. Burnished Silver Eagles were issued from 2006 to 2008 before a two year hiatus from 2009 to 2010. Burnished Eagles were issued again in 2011 and have become an anticipated annual release ever since!

5. Enhanced Uncirculated Finish

The Enhanced Uncirculated finish debuted on a 2013 American Silver Eagle that was specially issued in a 2-coin set commemorating the 75th anniversary of the West Point Mint. While the Enhanced Uncirculated finish shares some similar characteristics with the Proof finish as it features selectively frosted areas and is struck multiple times, it is distinct from the Proof finish. The Enhanced Uncirculated finish features a combination of contrasting layers. The main design details are rendered with a “heavy frost” satin field, while other design details are rendered with a mirror-like proof finish, both set against a background field with a “soft frost” satin finish.

Silver Eagle Sets

Sets of American Silver Eagles are sometimes available from the U.S. Mint, but are most often assembled by ModernCoinMart (MCM) from thousands of coins purchased separately over months, if not years. Whether a set is assembled by year of issue, finish, grade, or a combination of all three options, our Silver Eagle sets can help you jump start your assortment, without the hassle of searching for individual coins.

American Silver Eagles For Sale at ModernCoinMart

When you purchase American Silver Eagles at ModernCoinMart, you can rest assured you are dealing with one of the most trusted dealers in the precious metals industry. We regularly refresh our Silver Eagle inventory that includes both the most recent issues as well as backdates. In addition to uncertified options, we work with both Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) and Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) to give our customers access to certified American Silver Eagles available in a wide variety of grades, designations, and themed certification labels. Plus, when you buy Silver Eagles from ModernCoinMart, you can enjoy free domestic shipping on all orders with no minimum. Our professional and courteous customer service team is on standby to assist our customers on an individual basis. Whether you are an avid collector looking to complete your collection or just getting started, ModernCoinMart is proud to be your source for American Silver Eagles.