Graded Silver Eagles

Developed in 1949 by William H. Sheldon, a famous numismatist, the Sheldon Grading Scale is a coin grading system based on a 70-point scale, with 1 being the lowest and 70 being the highest. Containing one troy ounce of 99.9% pure silver, American Eagle Silver Bullion Coins have a weight and purity guaranteed by the United States Government. Since Silver Eagles are never circulated, many coins encountered will be on the higher end of the grading scale (65 to 70), especially in more recent years. 

When getting graded Silver Eagles, there are two well-known third-party coin grading certification companies: Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) and Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), both of which utilize the Sheldon Grading Scale. For uncirculated or bullion Silver Eagles with the highest grades, they are awarded PCGS MS70 and NGC MS70.

Some collectors submit raw coins through an authorized dealer to be encapsulated and graded by PCGS or NGC, but there is no guarantee of what grade their submission will receive. However, because of the large number of the PCGS and NGC graded Silver Eagles which already exist, there is a robust secondary market whereby collectors can purchase coins already graded, with GovMint.com being one of those places.

How Do You Grade an American Silver Eagle?

For a coin to be officially graded, coins are examined and certified by multiple professional graders. This requirement is necessary to ensure and verify that the coins are receiving an accurate grade. During this process, the coins are examined for authenticity, alterations, and characteristics. These characteristics include the strength of the coin and the quality of the strike, luster, marks, toning, and visual appeal. The Sheldon Grading Scale is then used to determine the overall grade of the coin.

MS69 vs MS70 Graded Silver Eagles

As the official silver bullion of the United States, the American Silver Eagle has been graded more than any other coin! For a Silver Eagle to receive the highest grade (MS70), which is the highest possible grade, the coin must have no post-production imperfections visible at 5x magnification. Its luster and eye appeal must be outstanding, there must be no post-production contact marks, and the strike must be complete and sharp.

For a coin to receive one grade lower (MS69) a Silver Eagle is still fully struck with strong luster. The only difference is that it has nearly imperceptible flaws such as a flashy strikethrough or a small, unobtrusive milk spot.

What Are PCGS Graded Silver Eagles?

In 1985, a small group of leading rare coin experts recognized a need for the rare coin industry to have a universal standard in order for the industry to realize its potential. The Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) began serving the coin-buying public on February 3, 1986, and has been responsible for dramatic improvements throughout the rare coin industry. 

Any PCGS graded Silver Eagle coin graded will be graded along the Sheldon Grading Scale and will have the grading of PCGS Mint State (MS), Proof State (PS), or Specimen (SP) 1-70 depending on the strike type of the coin.

What Are NGC Graded Silver Eagles?

NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Company) graded Silver Eagles are graded following the Sheldon Grading Scale of 1 to 70. The numeric grade is typically preceded by an abbreviation of the strike type or “strike character” followed by the number denoting its approximate condition. Examples of NGC grades include NGC MS 70 and NGC PF 70 Ultra Cameo. As a note, there are subtle differences near the top of the scale (65-70), which covers much of the population of modern bullion coins like the Silver Eagle Coin.

What Is the Best Grade for a Silver Coin?

With 1 as the lowest grade and 70 being the highest, the best grade a silver coin could get is MS/PF70 depending on if the coin is “mint state” or “proof.” Coin grading is determined on a 70-point scale that was developed by famous numismatist Dr. William H. Sheldon. With this in mind, two popular third-party coin certification companies, Numismatic Guaranty Company(NGC) and Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), both use the Sheldon Scale in their grading process. Therefore, collectors may see coin grades like PCGS MS70 and NGC MS 70 depending on which grading service performed the analysis. 

What Years Are the Rarest Silver Eagles?

Since 1986, the U.S. Mint has been minting bullion Silver Eagle coins whose weight and purity are guaranteed by the United States Government, with each coin containing a minimum of one troy ounce of 99.9% pure silver. The obverse design is based on the iconic design by Adolph A. Weinman’s “Walking Liberty” half dollar and has made the Silver Eagle one of the most beautiful American coins ever minted.

1. 1995 W American Silver Eagle

With only about 30,125 coins minted, the 1995 W American Silver Eagle is one of the hardest to find silver eagles of all time. When it was first released it was intended to be a bonus coin in the 10th Anniversary American Eagle Proof Set. Adding to the rarity of this coin, a single 1995-W $1 Silver Eagle PR70 Deep Cameo sold for $41,125.00.

2. 1993 P American Silver Eagle

Another hard to find Silver Eagle is considered to be the 1993 P American Silver Eagle. With all 1993 Silver Eagles Minted in the Philadelphia Mint, there were a total of 403,625 coins minted. 

3. 2011 -S Burnished Uncirculated American Silver Eagle

After 1986, the first Silver Eagle Minted in San Francisco was the 2011-S Burnished Uncirculated American Silver Eagle. Produced as part of a 5-coin set commemorating the 25th anniversary of the American Silver Eagle, only 100,000 of these sets were produced, which is the same number of coins minted in San Francisco at the time.

Graded American Silver Eagles for Sale at GovMint.com

When you buy NGC or PCGS certified American Silver Eagles at GovMint.com.com you can rest assured that you are buying authentic United States coinage. Each graded Silver Eagle we offer has been certified, graded, and encapsulated by NGC or PCGS. To further ensure that the coin remains in the condition in which it has been graded, we take the packaging of each coin shipped seriously to retain the integrity of its encapsulation. 

You can view our shipping and handling policy here and our return policy here. Browse our website GovMint.com or call 1-800-642-9160 to see how graded American Silver Eagles can enhance your carefully curated collection!