Our Favorite Bullion Coin – The Silver Eagle!

The American Silver Eagle (ASE) is the official silver bullion coin of the United States. First issued by the U.S. Mint in 1986, American Silver Eagles have been produced annually ever since and remain among the most recognizable and widely traded silver coins in the country.

Every American Silver Eagle contains one troy ounce of .999 fine silver and carries a legal-tender face value of $1. However, these coins were produced as bullion and collector coins rather than for everyday circulation. Their silver content alone is worth considerably more than the stated face value, so you should never spend or sell a Silver Eagle for one dollar.

Most American Silver Eagles are valued based on the current silver market, dealer premiums, demand, and the type of coin. Certain proofs, special issues, graded coins, and collectible varieties can be worth more than standard bullion Silver Eagles.

What Is on an American Silver Eagle?

The obverse, or front, of the American Silver Eagle features Adolph A. Weinman's Walking Liberty design, originally created for the Walking Liberty half dollar introduced in 1916.

The coin includes inscriptions such as LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 1 OZ. FINE SILVER, and ONE DOLLAR.

The reverse design has changed during the history of the series.

American Silver Eagles produced from 1986 through part of 2021, now commonly called Type 1 Silver Eagles, feature John Mercanti's heraldic eagle and shield design.

In 2021, the U.S. Mint introduced the Type 2 American Silver Eagle, featuring Emily Damstra's design of an eagle preparing to land while carrying an oak branch.

Because of this design change and the many different collector versions produced over the years, it's important to identify exactly which Silver Eagles you have.

Types of American Silver Eagles We Buy

At Spartan Gold & Coin, we regularly encounter American Silver Eagles in everything from individual coin holders to complete 500-coin Monster Boxes.

American Silver Eagle Monster Boxes

A Monster Box contains 500 American Silver Eagles packaged in 25 tubes of 20 coins each. U.S. Mint Monster Boxes are commonly associated with the large green boxes familiar to bullion buyers and dealers.

If you have a sealed or originally strapped Monster Box, don't cut the straps or open the box before having it evaluated. Original U.S. Mint packaging and intact seals can be desirable in the bullion market and may affect how the box is bought or sold.

Bring it in as you received it.

Tubes of American Silver Eagles

American Silver Eagles are commonly packaged in tubes of 20 coins.

If you have full tubes of Silver Eagles, there is generally no reason to remove the coins, handle them individually, or attempt to clean them. Keeping a group of bullion coins together in its original packaging can make the collection easier to identify and evaluate.

Bring the tubes in as they are, and we'll take a look.

Proof American Silver Eagles

Proof Silver Eagles are specially produced collector versions with highly polished surfaces and distinctive finishes. They were originally sold by the U.S. Mint with protective capsules and presentation packaging that varies depending on the year.

If you have proof Silver Eagles with their original government packaging (OGP), keep everything together. Don't discard the boxes, certificates of authenticity, capsules, or other original materials.

Proof Silver Eagles frequently sell for premiums above standard bullion Silver Eagles, although the exact value depends on the year, condition, variety, packaging, and current collector demand.

Graded American Silver Eagles

Millions of American Silver Eagles have been professionally graded and encapsulated by companies such as PCGS and NGC.

You may see labels and designations referring to characteristics such as First Day of Issue, Early Releases, First Releases, Proof, Reverse Proof, Enhanced Reverse Proof, Burnished/Uncirculated, special labels, or signatures.

Some of these distinctions can affect collector value considerably. Others may add relatively little to the value of the underlying Silver Eagle.

If you have certified Silver Eagles and aren't sure whether the grade, designation, label, or variety makes them more valuable, Spartan Gold & Coin can help identify what you have.

Are Older American Silver Eagles Worth More?

Not necessarily. An American Silver Eagle doesn't automatically become rare or significantly more valuable simply because it is older.

Many standard bullion Silver Eagles trade primarily based on their silver content and current market demand. However, certain dates, mintages, proofs, varieties, special finishes, and high-grade certified coins can command collector premiums.

That's why it's worth having a group of Silver Eagles evaluated rather than assuming every coin has exactly the same value.

Should I Clean American Silver Eagles?

No. Never clean, polish, dip, or otherwise attempt to improve an American Silver Eagle before selling it.

Cleaning can alter the coin's original surfaces and potentially reduce its collector value. This is particularly important with proofs, special finishes, and higher-grade coins.

Avoid unnecessarily handling the surfaces as well. If the coins are already in capsules, tubes, original Mint packaging, or certified holders, leave them there.

Sell American Silver Eagles in Spartanburg, SC

If you have American Silver Eagles to sell in Spartanburg, South Carolina, bring them to Spartan Gold & Coin for a free evaluation.

We buy individual Silver Eagles, tubes, proof coins, graded Silver Eagles, special issues, and larger holdings including Monster Boxes. We'll identify what you have, determine whether any coins have additional collector value, and explain what we would pay based on the coins and current silver market.

Whether you have one American Silver Eagle or hundreds of ounces of silver, you don't need to sort, clean, or research everything before visiting us. Bring your Silver Eagles in their existing holders and packaging, and we'll help you determine what you have and what they're worth.