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First introduced in 1986, the American Silver Eagle, produced by the U.S. Mint, has become the world’s most popular silver bullion coin, struck in bullion and proof finishes. In 2006, to celebrate the 20th anniversary, a Burnished American Silver Eagle coin was released, with a new finish to add a collectible factor to one of the world’s most popular bullion coins. Minted from 2006 to 2008, with a two-year hiatus in 2009 and 2010, and beginning again in 2011, the U.S. Mint has issued a series of Burnished Uncirculated Silver Eagle coins every year since. The three U.S. Mints that produce Silver Eagles are Philadelphia, San Francisco, and West Point Mints. However, West Point Mint is the only location that strikes Burnished American Silver Eagles with the desirable "W" mint mark. Since 2006, all Uncirculated Silver Eagles with the “W” mint mark have burnished finishes. Browse our wide selection of Burnished Silver Eagles and learn more about this collector's Silver Eagle, below!

What Does Burnished Mean?

The U.S. Mint's Burnished American Silver Eagle coin program uses specially burnished blanks, known as planchets. Burnished coins appear less shiny with a matte finish, compared to a standard bullion coin finish. This is due to the specially polished coin blanks that are used to earn the burnished designation. Each burnished coin is hand-fed into a coin press, one at a time, using these specially burnished blanks resulting in coins that have a smooth, matte-like finish. Uncirculated American Silver Eagles are commonly referred to as W Uncirculated or Burnished Uncirculated, and are only available in a one ounce size.

How Can You Tell if a Silver Eagle Is Burnished?

You can identify a Burnished American Silver Eagle by its unique matte-like finish, which is less shiny compared to standard bullion coins. The appearance of a burnished coin results from the use of specially polished, burnished blanks and a minting process where each coin is individually hand-fed into the press. Burnished coins will also have a W mint mark on their obverse, differentiating them from their bullion counterparts.

What Are Certified Burnished Silver Eagles?

Certified Burnished American Silver Eagles are graded by one of two top-tier grading services, PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service) and NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Company). Each burnished coin is individually examined for authenticity and quality by an expert numismatist, and given a grade to reflect the quality of the coin, which then is agreed upon by a group of graders. Popular collector grades are Mint State 69 (MS69) & Mint State 70 (MS70), the top two grades available for burnished coins. Plus, a multitude of special designations can be collected including Early Releases (ER), First Releases (FR), First Day Issue (FDI), and more. The U.S. Mint's burnished silver coins are often produced in lower quantities compared to their proof and mint state counterparts, making them appealing to collectors who enjoy assembling Burnished Eagle sets by date. Since the first Burnished Silver American Eagle coins were released by the U.S. Mint in 2006, they have created a sensation among both collectors, for their special finish, beauty, and purity.

Are Burnished Coins Worth More?

There are numerous factors that go into determining the sale price of any given coin: precious metal content, demand, availability, condition, and so much more. Burnished coins do fall under the uncirculated category, which can have higher price points than circulated coins due to demand and limited availability. But for many collectors, worth accounts for so much more than a burnished coin's potential sale price. One thing is for certain: Burnished Silver Eagles make a great option for any collection.

The Silver Eagle Program

The Silver American Eagle is the official silver bullion coin of the U.S. and is a preferred silver bullion coin for stackers and collectors because of its purity and aesthetic beauty. With a one-dollar face value, guaranteed to contain one troy ounce of 99.9% pure silver, the Silver American Eagle is U.S. legal tender, although they are traded based on both their silver content and collectability. The American Silver Eagle is also the world’s only one ounce silver bullion coin with weight, content, and purity that is certified by the U.S. Mint, guaranteed by the government of the United States, and enforced by the U.S. Secret Service.