Homepage / Bullion Coins: U.S. Coins / 1oz. American Eagle Silver
Last Updated on 06/10/2025
On the 9th of July in 1985, the United States Congress passed the Liberty Coin Act, Title II (page 3, section 202) of the law authorized the U.S. Mint to start producing Silver American Eagle bullion coins.
The United States Mint produced the first American Eagle Silver Bullion Coin on November 24, 1986; the silver coin's content, weight, and purity are all certified by the United States Mint.
The law authorized the U.S. Mint to start producing Silver American Eagle bullion coins for investors and proof and uncirculated versions for collectors.
The American Eagle Silver bullion coin is the official investment coin of the United States.
The obverse side of the American Eagle
Silver
bullion coin displays Adolph A. Weinman's design of the "Walking Liberty," which was originally used for the United States "Walking Liberty" Half-Dollar silver coin, issued from 1916 to 1947.
The obverse design depicts Lady Liberty wearing a Phrygian "Liberty" cap while cloaked in the American flag. The original cap of liberty was the Roman pileus, a felt cap worn by freed slaves in ancient Rome, an attribute of Libertas, the Roman goddess of liberty. Liberty is in full stride toward the dawn of a new day, with her gown flowing with the Stars and Stripes. Liberty's right arm extended in the bestowal of the spirit of liberty and her left arm cradling branches of laurel (a symbol for the triumph of humanity) and oak (strength). Inscriptions:
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The edge of the coin is reeded.
Coin photo provided courtesy of SD Bullion
John Mercanti, the twelfth Chief Engraver of the United States Mint, now retired, designed the reverse side of the 1 oz. American Eagle Silver Bullion Coin.
The reverse side of the silver bullion coin mimics the Great Seal of the United States;" it portrays an American Bald Eagle behind an American shield, with a ribbon in its beak that says "E PLURIBUS UNUM," grasping an olive branch with its right talon and arrows in its left talon.
The arrows and olive branch together symbolize that the United States has "a strong desire for peace, but will always be ready for war."
Above the eagle are thirteen five-pointed stars, representing the original Thirteen Colonies of the United States of America.
Inscriptions:
Note: American Eagle Bullion Coins Do Not have a Mint Mark; only the Collector's Proof and Collector's Un-Circulated Versions of the Silver American Eagles have a mint mark on the reverse side.
Coin photo provided courtesy of SD Bullion
In 2021, coinciding with the American Eagle Bullion Coins 35th Anniversary, the United States Mint announced that several design changes were coming to the reverse sides of the American Eagles Silver and Gold bullion coins.
The announcement revealed that the American Eagle Silver and Gold bullion coins will undergo design improvements on their obverse sides and complete changes on their reverse side.
The U.S. Mint received 39 images for final approval of the American Eagle Silver bullion coin's reverse design, the design below was the one chosen.
The image below from the U.S. Mint displays all the new features of the American Eagle Silver - type II. (click the image to enlarge)
The proof, uncirculated, and bullion versions of the American silver eagle coin received these changes.
Note: the investment bullion coin version of the American Eagle Silver does not have a "Mint Mark" on its reverse side, unlike the proof and uncirculated numismatic versions of the coin.
The obverse side of the American
Eagle
Silver bullion coin displays Adolph A. Weinman's design of the "Walking Liberty," which was originally used for the United States "Walking Liberty" Half-Dollar silver coin, issued from 1916 to 1947.
The obverse design depicts Lady Liberty wearing a Phrygian "Liberty" cap while cloaked in the American flag. The original cap of liberty was the Roman pileus, a felt cap worn by emancipated slaves in ancient Rome, an attribute of Libertas, the Roman goddess of liberty. Liberty is in full stride toward the dawn of a new day, with her gown flowing with the Stars and Stripes. Liberty's right arm extended in the bestowal of the spirit of liberty and her left arm cradling branches of laurel (a symbol for the triumph of humanity) and oak (strength). Inscriptions:
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Coin Photos Courtesy of The US Mint.
The new design on the reverse side of the American Eagle Silver bullion coin depicts an eagle landing and carrying an oak branch (strength) as if it were adding it to a nest.
Inscriptions:
The edge of the coin is reeded with one missing reed to deter counterfeiting.
Note: American Eagle Bullion Coins Do Not have a Mint Mark; only the Collector's Proof and Collector's Un-Circulated Versions of the Silver American Eagles have a mint mark on the reverse side.
Coin Photos Courtesy of The US Mint.
The new edge on the American Eagle Silver is the U.S. Mint's latest attempt to stop counterfeiters from reproducing one of the world's most sought-after bullion coins.
The newest anti-counterfeiting measure is a Missing Reed on the silver bullion coin's reeded edge.
The United States Mint's satellite facility, the West Point Mint in New York, is the primary location for all bullion coin production.
However, when demand is high, the US Mint will make bullion coins at the Philadelphia and San Francisco Mints.
The following video is about how the American Eagle Silver bullion coin is made at the West Point Mint.
Minting the American Eagle Silver Bullion Coin.
Introduction:......1986
IRA Approved:....Yes
Grade:...............Uncirculated
Face Value:........$1 US
Total Weight:......31.10 grams
Purity:...............99.90% / 999 per mille
Silver Content:...1 troy oz. / (31.072 grams)
Composition:.....99.90% Silver, Balance Copper
Diameter:..........40.6 mm / (1.598 inches)
Thickness:.........2.98 mm / (0.120 inch)
Mint Mark:.........No
Designers:.........Adolph A. Weisman & John Mercanti
Edge:................reeded
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from the Reputable Bullion Dealers below.
The Links below will take you directly to the page described. |
"Proof" 1 oz. Silver Eagle page PCGS/NGC Graded Silver Eagle page Free Shipping on Orders $199+ Free Shipping on Orders $199+ BBB - Customer Reviews |
"Proof" 1oz. Silver Eagle page Free Shipping on Orders $199+ Free Shipping on Orders $199+ |
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Notice
Year
West Point
San Francisco
Philadelphia
Year Dated Mintage
Annual Sales
Type I
2021.........11,811,000..|..1,000,000..|.......495,500..|.....n/a....|...13,306,500
Type II
2021.........13,968,500..|..1,000,000..|.................0..|......n/a....|...14,968,500
Type I & Type II
2021............................American Silver Eagle Total.....................28,275,000
Type II
Year
West Point
San Francisco
Philadelphia
Year Dated Mintage
Annual Sales
2022........15,963,500....................................n/a...|..15,963,500
2023........20,196,000....................................n/a...|..24,750,000
2024........22,860,000..................................n/a...|.... 22,860,000
2025........22,860,000.....................................n/a...|....
7,768,500
Mintages Last Updated on 06/10/2025
*Official "Year Dated" Mintage Figures have not been released
2020 American Eagle Philadelphia and San Francisco Mint bullion coin articles
5/8/2020 - 2020 American Eagle silver bullion coins from Philadelphia Mint being certified - Coin World
10/30/2020 - San Francisco bullion dollars offered to authorized purchasers - Coin World
10/30/2020 - US Mint to Offer 2020-S American Silver Eagle Bullion Coins in San Francisco Labeled Monster Boxes - CoinNews
The blog posts below detail the process of obtaining mintage figures for West Point, San Francisco, and Philadelphia Mints between 1986-1998.
The US Mint's mintage figures from 1986–1998 were obtained through a FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) request.
The US Mint's response to this guide's FOIA request is seen here on page 1, page 2, and page 3.
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