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By GovMint :Table of Contents
The History of U.S. American Silver Eagles and Their Face Value
Why Collect U.S. American Silver Eagles?
Is It Worth Buying Silver Eagle Coins?
Where Are American Silver Eagles Coins Minted?
American Silver Eagle Finishes
How Much Silver Is in an American Silver Eagle Coin?
How to Collect American Silver Eagles
What Should I Look for When Collecting American Silver Eagles?
3 Ways to Collect Silver Eagle Coins
Where to Buy American Silver Eagle Coins
The History of U.S. American Silver Eagles and Their Face Value
With a face value of one dollar, the 1 Ounce U.S. American Silver Eagle coin is a popular and highly sought-after coin series by collectors and stackers alike. The series was first issued in 1986 as both a bullion and proof coin. Other finishes, such as burnished and reverse proof, would debut later in the series. The designers took inspiration from Adolf A. Weinman’s design for the Walking Liberty Half Dollar (1916-1947) and…
By Ray James
The eagerly awaited new 2021 Silver Eagle reverse design created by Emily Damstra debuts in mid-2021. The new reverse design was scultped by Michael Gaudioso, but who is he and what exactly is his role in the new design?Who is Michael Gaudioso?
Michael Gaudioso worked for over a decade at the U.S. Mint as a Medallic Artist, Sculptor, and Engraver. Notably, he is responsible for sculpting Emily Damstra’s new design, the Type 2 - 2021 Silver Eagle reverse. The new reverse marks the first time in the Silver Eagle series’ over 30 years of issue that the United States Mint has authorized a significant design change.
Michael Gaudioso graduated from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and the New York Academy Graduate School of Figurative Art in New York City. He studied in St. Petersburg, Russia, at the highly regarded Repin Institute. Gaudioso taught figure drawing at Villanova University and served as a master painter and designer for the…
By Sean McConeghy
The American Gold Eagle debuted in 1986 and has since been one of the world's most popular bullion coins. The series has borne the same designs since the series began, but the reverse image is set to change for the first time in mid-2021. Jennie Norris designed the American Gold Eagle new reverse, but the sculpting job was assigned to Renata Gordon. Who is Renata Gordon, and what role will she play as the American Gold Eagle sculptor? Read more below to find out! Who is Renata Gordon?
Renata Gordon graduated from the prestigious University of the Arts in Philadelphia with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 2010. Although she is a talented painter who has completed murals and portraits, her degree was in sculpture. Three months after graduating, she joined the United States Mint's sculptor-engraving department. Gordon currently submits designs for new coins and medals and sculpts work submitted by other artists. In the past, she had designed and sculpted the 2018…
By Ray James
Collectors around the world have been eagerly anticipating the debut of a brand-new reverse design for the American Silver Eagle series. Celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2021, the series has featured the iconic heraldic eagle reverse design created by John Mercanti, the 12th former Chief Engraver of the United States Mint since it was first issued in1986. The new reverse design was created by Emily Damstra, but who is she and why was her design chosen? Learn more below!Who is Emily Damstra?
Emily Damstra is a freelance artist, science illustrator, coin designer, and medalist. She graduated from the University of Michigan with a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in science illustration. She is part of the U.S. Mint's Artistic Infusion Program (AIP), which includes numerous talented professional American artists who lend their talent to creating stunning coin designs.
Ms. Damstra is a dual citizen of the United States and Canada and has designed…
By Sean McConeghy
The American Gold Eagle made its debut in 1986 and quickly became a favorite among collectors around the world. Since the beginning of the series, the iconic Saint-Gaudens obverse design and Miley Busiek's reverse design have remained unchanged. At some point during 2021 that classic reverse design will be replaced by a new eagle design created by Jennie Norris, a highly accomplished artist, and passionate conservationist.Who is Jennie Norris?
Norris is a graphic designer who currently works at the University of Arizona. A specialist in fine art, graphic design, and illustration, she recently became a part of the United States Mint's Artistic Infusion Program (AIP). She works in graphite and liquid graphite.
Remarkably, the Gold Eagle's new reverse will be her first design to appear on a coin.Why was Jennie Norris' reverse design chosen?
Norris' design was among a total of thirty-nine that were submitted to the Commission on Fine Arts (CFA) and the Citizens…
The United States Mint recently confirmed that all 1986 and 1987 bullion American Silver Eagles were struck at the fabled San Francisco Mint!
This breaking reveal was in response to a Freedom of Information Act inquiry filed by Lee Minshull, the owner of Lee Minshull Rare Coins Inc, who requested information clarifying the mintage and production of bullion American Silver Eagles.
The United States Mint provided a mintage chart to Minshull that included both total mintages and information about where each year was produced from the debut year of issue, 1986, through July 17, 2017. Minshull then shared this information with Coin World, who published an article detailing this Silver Eagle discovery to enthused collectors worldwide. The chart revealed that 5,393,005 1986 Uncirculated Silver Eagles, the entire mintage, were struck at the San Francisco Mint, as well as the entire 11,442,335 mintage of the 1987 bullion issues.
Coin World has requested further information on the…
By Ray James
Updated on 08/31/2021
The American Gold Eagle series was introduced in 1986. It was a latecomer to the world of private gold ownership, as it debuted after other modern series like the South African Gold Krugerrand, the Canadian Gold Maple, and the Mexican Gold Libertad. At the time, this was the only modern gold bullion coin series to be guaranteed by the United States government for both purity and gold weight.
The design features the familiar Augustus Saint-Gaudens $20 “Double Eagle” obverse depicting a full-length Liberty holding the Torch of Enlightenment overhead. The reverse featured an original-to-the-series “Family of Eagles” design by artist Miley (Busiek) Tucker-Frost for the first 35 years of its history. This design was replaced in mid-2021 with a new reverse. This change marks a clear boundary between the Type-1 American Gold Eagle design and the recently debuted Type-2 design.
The series remains popular with collectors either…
By Louis Golino
Collectors of American Silver Eagles and American Gold Eagles will soon see the release of exciting new versions of 2020-W Silver Eagles and 2020-W Gold Eagles from the United States Mint. These coins will both be struck in proof at the West Point Mint and will be the first coins of both series to feature privy marks, specifically, “V75” privy marks that pay homage to the 75th anniversary of the American-led victory in World War II. What’s more, both coins will feature extremely low mintages with the gold version set to become one of the lowest-mintage modern U.S. coins ever issued!2020 Silver and Gold V75 American Eagles
As for the special World War II 75th Anniversary 2020-W Silver Eagle, it will have a very low mintage of 75,000 coins (likely because it is the 75th anniversary), which will make it the third-lowest proof coin in the series after the 2019-S Enhanced Reverse Proof and 1995-W proof.
The companion 2020-W Gold Eagle will have an…
Update 06/22/2021: Security Features Revealed and Obverse Updates
By Sean McConeghy
Both the 2021 Type-2 American Silver Eagle Brilliant Uncirculated and Proof coins featuring the new reverse design created by Emily Damsta will include the reeded gap enhanced security feature. As an anti-counterfeiting measure, within the reeded gap edge, there are very small spaces. Whether for future releases, the size or position of those spaces will change has not yet been determined. The Type-2 1-ounce American Gold Eagle Brilliant Uncirculated coins featuring their new reverse created by Jennie Norris will also include this enhanced security feature.
In addition, the obverse of the Type-2 Silver Eagle featuring the new reverse will, for the first time in the history of the series, include the obverse designer, numismatic giant Adolph Weinman's artist initials, "AW." Updates to the Type-2 Gold Eagle featuring its new reverse design include modifications to some design elements like the Capitol…
By Louis Golino
Towards the end of the summer of 2019, with little fanfare the United States Mint added a product to its product schedule, a second 2019-dated Enhanced Reverse Proof American Silver Eagle following the one issued on July 3 as part of the U.S.-Canada Pride of Two Nations set. That set included a 2019-W Enhanced Reverse Proof Silver Eagle – the first coin ever issued with that finish, which has “the same frosted background as a standard Reverse Proof, but different design element finishes.” In particular, the Enhanced Reverse Proof “has the same frosted background as a reverse proof coin, but what sets it apart are the multiple polished and frosted finishes applied to different isolated design elements. The selective polishing and frosting dramatically enhances the visual impact of the design,” according to the United States Mint.
When the U.S Mint first added the second coin of this type to its schedule slated for a November 14 release, collectors did not…