1989-S American Silver Eagle Proof
Seek out the only silver bullion coin of the U.S. with this 1989 Silver Eagle Proof. It has the face value of a dollar but its popularity is partly derived from its 99.9% silver content. It is certified by NGC and the proof version provides collectors with a stunning addition to their numismatic collection that is both rare but not beyond obtainable.
History
American Silver Eagle coins were first released by the U.S. Mint in 1986 as a result of a key piece of legislation – the Liberty Coin Act – to prevent silver stockpiles from losing their value. The 1986 Silver Eagle was struck at the San Francisco mint like all Silver Eagles between 1986 to 1998, they were produced at the San Francisco Mint.
Design specifics
Each dollar coin is a one-troy ounce and Silver Eagles produced in this period bear no mintmark. The obverse design is the same as the Walking Liberty half dollar, showing Lady Liberty holding laurel and oak striding to the east across a sunset background, designed by Adolph A. Weinman. The reverse is John Mercanti's portrayal of a heraldic eagle behind a shield, holding an olive branch. It sits below 13 stars to represent the 13 colonies. Like the Walking Liberty, the text on the obverse includes "In God We Trust" to the right of the walking figure, and "Liberty" spread across the upper circumference. On the reverse "United States of America" is inscribed across the top and "1 Oz Silver Dollar" is written at the bottom. The coin is just over 40mm in diameter with a reeded edge.
1989-S American Silver Eagle Proof value and mintage
The 1989-S American Silver Eagle proof is a valuable coin at over $250. Silver Eagles for sale have yielded almost four times that at auction, and the 1989-S has a fairly low mintage of 617,694.
