The American Silver Eagle is the official silver bullion coin of the United States and one of the most recognized and widely traded silver coins in the world. Whether you are a first-time investor looking to acquire physical silver or a seasoned collector tracking down key dates and special releases, the Silver Eagle series offers something for everyone. At American Gold Buyers, located at 1178 Woodruff Road, Greenville, SC 29607, we both buy and sell American Silver Eagles. Here is what you need to know about this iconic coin.
A Brief History
The American Silver Eagle was introduced by the United States Mint in 1986 as part of the Liberty Coin Act, signed into law a year earlier. The legislation authorized the production of silver bullion coins from silver mined in the United States. The program has run continuously ever since, making the Silver Eagle one of the longest-running modern bullion coin series in the world.
The obverse design is an adaptation of Adolph Weinman’s Walking Liberty motif, originally used on the Walking Liberty Half Dollar from 1916 to 1947. It is widely considered one of the most beautiful coin designs in American history. The reverse has undergone one significant change: in 2021, the U.S. Mint updated the reverse design to a more detailed heraldic eagle to mark the coin’s 35th anniversary.
Silver Content and Specifications
Every American Silver Eagle bullion coin contains exactly one troy ounce of .999 fine silver. The coin has a nominal face value of one dollar, though its actual metal value far exceeds that. Dimensions are consistent across all years: 40.6 mm diameter, 2.98 mm thickness. The edge is reeded.
Types of American Silver Eagles
Bullion Strikes
Standard bullion Silver Eagles are produced in enormous quantities for investment purposes. They are not sold directly to the public by the U.S. Mint; instead, they are distributed through a network of authorized purchasers who then sell to dealers and collectors. Bullion strikes carry a modest premium over the silver spot price and are the most liquid form of physical silver available.
Proof Coins
Proof Silver Eagles are struck multiple times by specially polished dies on polished planchets, creating a mirror-like field with frosted design elements — a finish known as cameo or deep cameo. Proof coins are sold directly by the U.S. Mint in presentation boxes with certificates of authenticity. They appeal to collectors and command higher premiums than bullion strikes.
Burnished (Uncirculated) Coins
Also sold by the Mint, burnished Silver Eagles are struck from specially burnished blanks on standard (not mirror-polished) dies, producing a satin-like finish distinct from both bullion and proof strikes. These are sometimes called “uncirculated” editions on Mint packaging.
Key Dates and Varieties
While most Silver Eagles are produced in multi-million coin quantities that keep premiums modest, a handful of dates and varieties stand out:
- 1986-S Proof: First-year proof; popular with type collectors
- 1995-W Proof: Only 30,125 produced; one of the lowest-mintage issues in the series
- 1996: Lowest bullion-strike mintage of the series (3,603,386)
- 2019-S Enhanced Reverse Proof: Limited mintage of 30,000; issued for the Apollo 11 anniversary
- 2021 Type 1 and Type 2: The design change year, with both reverse designs struck
Buying and Selling Silver Eagles in Greenville
At American Gold Buyers, we carry American Silver Eagles for sale — both bullion and select graded examples — and we purchase them from sellers as well. Buyers can pay with cash, credit, or crypto. Sellers receive cash or check. The price we pay for bullion strikes is tied to current silver spot prices; graded examples in rare dates may command additional premiums based on collector demand.
Whether you are in Greenville, Simpsonville, Greer, or anywhere across Upstate South Carolina, we are a convenient stop for all things silver. Visit us at 1178 Woodruff Road, Greenville, SC 29607, or call (864) 631-1000 to check current inventory or ask what your Silver Eagles might be worth.
