Modern Silver Coinage (1986-Current)
American Silver Eagle
First issued in 1986, the American Silver Eagle became the United States Mint’s flagship silver bullion coin. Featuring Adolph A. Weinman’s celebrated Walking Liberty design, the series combines one ounce of silver with one of the most admired images in American coinage.
About The Collection
The American Silver Eagle was authorized by the Liberty Coin Act of 1985 and first issued by the United States Mint in 1986, establishing what would become America’s flagship silver bullion coin. Each Silver Eagle carries a legal-tender face value of one dollar and contains one troy ounce of silver, with its weight and purity guaranteed by the United States government. For its obverse, the Mint revived Adolph A. Weinman’s celebrated Walking Liberty design, originally created for the half dollar of 1916–1947. Depicting Liberty striding toward the rising sun while draped in the American flag, the design is widely regarded as one of the great artistic achievements of U.S. coinage and gave the new bullion program an immediate connection to America’s classic numismatic heritage.
From 1986 through early 2021, the reverse featured John Mercanti’s heraldic eagle, displaying an eagle behind a shield beneath thirteen stars representing the original colonies. In 2021, marking the program’s 35th anniversary, the Mint introduced the Type 2 Silver Eagle with a new reverse designed by Emily Damstra, portraying an American bald eagle descending with an oak branch in its talons. The updated coin also incorporated enhanced security features and refinements to Weinman’s original obverse, including the restoration of his artist initials. Produced in bullion, Proof and other special collector finishes, the American Silver Eagle has grown into one of the most recognizable modern U.S. coins, combining the intrinsic appeal of silver with an iconic American design and nearly four decades of collecting history.
