There are no products listed under this category.
2025 American Silver Eagle
The American Silver Eagle is the official silver coin of the United States. American Eagle coin was first minted in 1986 following the Liberty Coin Act which was passed in 1985. Silver Eagles are the most popular coins in the United States until this day. Its beauty and purity make it a favored choice among collectors. Continue reading to learn more about 2025 American Silver Eagle.
The American Silver Eagle coin is made with 1 troy ounce of 99.9% pure silver and has a $1 denomination backed by the U.S. government. It is alloyed with copper to improve its durability, giving it a total weight of 31.103 grams with .999 fine silver. The coin displays Adolph A. Weinman’s Walking Liberty design on the obverse. The reverse initially showed a heraldic eagle with a shield and thirteen stars. In 2021, the U.S. Mint changed the design to a bald eagle landing on a branch, designed by Emily Damstra.
American Silver Eagle Sizes
The American Silver Eagle is only produced as a 1 oz coin, unlike the American Gold Eagle coin minted in fractional sizes. The uniformity in size and weight is a hallmark of the Silver Eagle’s trustworthiness and representation of America’s commitment to quality and excellence in minting.
The United States Mint meticulously crafts each American Silver Eagle to meet strict quality standards. This consistency ensures that every ASE coin is recognized and valued the same way in markets worldwide, simplifying trading and valuation processes for coin collectors.
How To Buy American Silver Eagle
The United States Mint does not sell American Silver Eagle coins directly to the public. Bullion Shark offers the ASE coins to customers exactly like they get them from the mint.
2025 American Silver Eagle Release Schedule
The U.S. Mint adheres to a yearly release schedule for the American Eagle silver coin, usually launching the latest edition in January. Pre-sales typically begin in October, although this timeline is not guaranteed.
This predictability of a yearly release aids collectors in planning their acquisitions. The annual release includes both mint state and proof versions, with occasional special issues commemorating significant events or anniversaries. The U.S. Mint sometimes introduces limited mintage runs or special finishes, adding to the coin's collectible appeal.
With the release of each year’s ASE coin, older years often increase in value. This is because those older years will never be produced again, capping their mintage and creating scarcity. Collectors like to build a collection of each year of the American Silver Eagle, so when the older years are no longer being minted, only a limited number are available to complete those collections.
American Silver Eagle Premiums
The premium you pay for American silver eagle coins is the price over the silver spot price. The premiums on American Eagle silver coins vary based on several factors, including minting costs, distribution fees, and market demand.
The ASE coins typically carry a higher premium than other silver coins from foreign mints, such as the 1 oz Canadian Silver Maple Leaf or the 1 oz Silver Britannia from the Royal Mint. While American Silver Eagle coins may command slightly higher premiums than these other silver coins, they offer unique advantages for buyers. One such benefit is their eligibility for inclusion in a precious metals Individual Retirement Account (IRA), as they meet the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) standards required. However, adherence to specific conditions is necessary.
American Silver Eagle Collections
Collecting American Silver Eagles is a journey through the history of American minting. Collectors often seek to acquire a complete set, which includes a coin from each year of mintage. Collections containing each type (bullion, proof, and burnished) from a certain year are also popular. Special editions, like the anniversary issues or the "West Point" minted coins, add a layer of rarity and desirability. Some collectors focus on specific designations such as "early release" or "first day of issue,” which denote coins shipped from the mint within a specific time from the initial launch.
A complete set of 39 American Silver Eagles that includes each year from 1986-2023, including both Type 1 and Type 2 issues from 2021, is selling for a premium of over 100% over the spot price. The hobby of collecting Silver Eagles is enriched by the diversity of the series, with variations in finishes and special marks providing a wide array of options for every level of collector.
Proof Silver Eagles
Proof Silver Eagles are a beautiful example of American coin craftsmanship. Proof American Silver Eagle coins undergo a meticulous minting process, distinct from regular coin production, to create coins with mirrored surfaces not present on standard releases. The process begins with coin blanks that are specially treated and polished to achieve a smooth, mirror-like finish. These blanks are then inserted into presses equipped with polished dies that have undergone a matte treatment, resulting in a frosted, sandblasted appearance. When the blank is struck by these dies under immense pressure, it captures the impression of the frosted dies, producing a coin with striking detail contrasted against the mirrored fields.
To enhance the details further, Proof Silver Eagle coins are struck twice. This double striking sharpens the intricacies of the design, a technique not employed in producing ordinary coins. Regular coins are struck using dies with standard finishes that do not impart special visual effects. They are struck only once, giving them a more pronounced, less refined appearance than the sharper, more sophisticated look of proof releases. Proof Silver Eagles also receive special handling and packaging, catering to collectors' preferences.
Proof American Eagle silver coins are produced in limited quantities, representing only a fraction of the series release, and come with a certificate of authenticity. The limited production and rarity of proof coins enhance their collectible value, making them sought-after items in the numismatic community. Also, proof coins often have historical and artistic significance, appealing to rare coin collectors who appreciate each coin's rich heritage and craftsmanship.
Certified Silver Eagles
Purchasing certified coins is a popular choice among collectors for several compelling reasons. Key among these is the assurance of authenticity, as coins are verified by reputable third-party grading services, mitigating the risk of counterfeits. Leading grading services like PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service), NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Corporation), and CAC (Certified Acceptance Corporation) assess the coins based on their physical condition, assigning them a grade on the Sheldon Scale. After grading, they are encapsulated to protect the condition and ensure the authenticity of the American Silver Eagle.
The precise condition grading of these coins adds to their value and appeal, with higher-grade coins often fetching premium prices. These factors make certified coins a secure and lucrative component of a coin collection. The certification process reassures collectors of the coin's authenticity, quality, and potential for appreciation.
PCGS Certified Silver Eagles
PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service) is renowned for its rigorous standards in numismatics, especially in certifying American Silver Eagles. Their process of authentication and grading instills confidence among collectors. The encapsulation of a Silver Eagle by PCGS preserves its condition and assures its grade and authenticity, enhancing its market appeal.
PCGS also gives First Day of Issue and FirstStrike® designations to specific coins. The PCGS First Day of Issue designation is given to coins shipped from the U.S. Mint on their release day, while FirstStrike® marks those dispatched within the first thirty days. Collectors purchase First Day of Issue or FirstStrike® designated coins as they are perceived to be a part of the earliest minted coins and thought to have higher quality.
NGC Certified Silver Eagles
NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Company) is another pillar in coin grading and authentication. An NGC-graded coin means owning a piece backed by a guaranteed assessment of condition and authenticity. NGC's expert team carefully evaluates each Silver Eagle, and their encapsulation preserves the coin's condition over time.
NGC's unique designations include First Day of Issue and Early Release. A coin designated First Day of Issue is released from the mint on the first day of the launch. Early Release are coins shipped within the first thirty days of the release date. These designations suggest they are from the initial minting batch and, thus, of higher quality.
CAC Certified Silver Eagles
CAC (Certified Acceptance Corporation) is known for its high grading standards, initially focusing on differentiating quality among coins of the same grade. In 2023, CAC began certifying coins directly, ensuring a Silver Eagle's grade meets their stringent criteria. CAC-approved coins often command a premium, offering unique value to collectors.
CAC uses the designations First Day of Delivery and First Delivery. First Day of Delivery are coins shipped on the first day of launch. Coins designated as First Delivery are shipped within the first thirty days of the newest release.
Grading Scale
The grading of Silver Eagles is a critical aspect for collectors. The Sheldon Scale, ranging from 1 (poorest) to 70 (perfect), is the standard for grading coins. Coins graded at the higher end of this scale, especially those close to 70, are in near-perfect or perfect condition and thus command higher prices. Factors such as luster, strike, and flaws or blemishes are meticulously examined. This grading helps determine the coin's market value and aids collectors in making informed decisions about their purchases.
American Eagle silver coins given an MS-70 (PF-70 for proof versions) are flawless, exhibiting no blemishes. MS-69) PF-69 in proof versions) are just below, showing only minor imperfections under close observation. Imperfections are limited to hairline scratches or minuscule marks that may be hard to discern for the untrained eye.
Burnished Silver Eagles
Burnished Silver Eagles are unique in their finish and appeal. Introduced in 2006, the coin's 20th anniversary, these are struck on specially prepared planchets, giving them a distinctive matte-like finish that differs from the mint state and proof versions. The burnishing process involves gently polishing the coin blanks before they are struck, resulting in a soft, satin-like finish.
Burnished or uncirculated American Eagle silver coins carry a 'W' mintmark, denoting their production at the West Point Mint. Produced in limited quantities, burnished Silver Eagles are prized by collectors for their aesthetic appeal and rarity. The mintage of the burnished ASE coins is about half or less than the Proof versions, making them extremely rare. In 2022, the U.S. Mint produced 16,000,000 Mint State Silver Eagles, 1,066,517 proof Silver Eagles, and only 199,533 burnished. Production of burnished gold and silver American Eagles was paused in 2009 and 2010, but production began again for the 2011 version.