American Silver Eagles

Quick Facts About American Silver Eagles

The American Silver Eagle is the bullion coin issued by the US Mint. The Liberty Coin Act was signed into law in 1985, requiring the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue silver bullion coins to provide investors with a trusted and stable store of value and wealth. First issued in 1986, the American Eagle 1 oz Silver Coin is the official silver bullion coin of the United States. Buying silver eagles provides investors with one of the most trusted precious metals products in the world.

The coin specifications were defined in the law, including the diameter, weight, fineness, general design, inscriptions and even the edge finish. The initial silver was supplied by the U.S. Strategic Silver Stockpile and only newly mined domestic silver can be utilized. The American Silver Eagle is a specie, numismatic and with legal tender denomination of $1 USD.

American Silver Eagle Design

The American Eagle Silver coin design carries symbolism reflecting the values of the country. The obverse side features Adolph A. Weinman's "Walking Liberty" design, first used on half-dollar coins between 1916 and 1947. The design captures Lady Liberty draped with an American Flag while walking full-stride. Her right hand is extended, while her left hand is grasping branches of laurel and oak.

• Lady Liberty: She represents freedom and the nation's ideals. She's shown in stride, moving toward the left, which is considered the direction of the future.
• Sunrise: The sun rising in the background symbolizes the dawn of a new day, embodying hope, opportunity, and optimism.
• Stars and Stripes: Lady Liberty is draped in the American flag, symbolizing patriotism and love for the country.
• Olive Branch: The olive branch in her left arm is a traditional symbol of peace.

The Type 1 reverse was designed by John Mercanti, the chief engraver of the U.S. Mint when the Silver Eagle was first issued. The design boasts a variety of classic symbolic representations of American iconography.

• Heraldic Eagle: The image of the eagle, a national symbol of the United States, is depicted in the style of the Great Seal of the United States. The eagle represents strength, courage, and longevity.
• Shield: The shield on the eagle's chest signifies defense and protection of the nation.
• Olive Branch and Arrows: The eagle holds an olive branch in its right talon, signifying peace, and arrows in its left talon, signifying readiness to defend the nation.
• Thirteen Stars: Above the eagle's head, there are thirteen stars representing the original 13 colonies that became the first states of the United States.

In 2021, after 35 years of proven mintage history, the US Mint updated the reverse side design. Numismatists have designated the first generation of the Silver Eagle as having the Type 1 reverse design. Beginning part way through 2021, the mint issued its first Type 2 design.

The Type 2 was designed as part of the US Mint's Artist Infusion Program (AIP), which brings a pool of talented American artists and sculptors who enrich and invigorate the nation's coins and medals with specialized designs. Professional medallic artists create and submit designs for consideration and work with Mint staff to create and sculpt the models required to produce coins and medals.

The Type-2 Silver Eagle's reverse now features an image of a bald eagle coming in for a landing, carrying an oak branch as if to add it to a nest. This design was created by artist Emily Damstra and sculpted by Mint Medallic Artist Michael Gaudioso. Damstra's design was chosen after a competition and a series of reviews. It represents not only the national bird but also a strong desire for peace and unity within the nation.

The U.S. Mint added several new and enhanced security features with the introduction of the new design that includes the use of advanced scanning and anti-counterfeit measures.

Top Investment Coin for Precious Metals IRA

A Precious Metals IRA is a type of Individual Retirement Account (IRA) that allows you to invest in physical precious metals. This is in contrast to traditional IRAs, where your choices are generally limited to more standard types of investments like stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.

The precious metals that are typically allowed in a Precious Metals IRA are gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. These must be in the form of bullion coins or bars and meet certain fineness requirements. For example, silver must be refined to a minimum purity of .999 fine (99.9% pure) or greater. Precious metals can serve as an effective measure of protection during economic downturns by providing a hedge against inflation and currency fluctuation.

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