These days, more and more people are getting involved in coin collecting as a serious business, or as a fun hobby. To answer the growing demand of people looking for rare and valuable old coins, a lot of coin dealers are selling these coins. Sad to say, though, that this has been an outlet for a lot of counterfeiters out there.
To guide you in buying a real Silver Eagle dollar, this article will provide interesting facts about the official silver bullion coin of the United States, the American Silver Eagle, and some ways to distinguish a real one from a counterfeit.
What is the American Silver Eagle?
The Silver Eagle dollar was first released by the U.S. Mint on November 24, 1986. It contains one troy ounce of .999 pure silver, and has a nominal face value of one dollar. Its weight and content is certified by the U.S. Mint and it is authorized by the U.S. Congress. For coin collectors, the U.S. Mint produces a proof version of the coin.
The Silver Eagle dollar has been produced at three minting locations, including Philadelphia (‘P’ mintmark), San Francisco (‘S’ mintmark) which issued proofs, and more recent proofs from West Point.
Physical Descriptions
An authentic Silver Eagle dollar will weigh 31.103 grams, and its diameter is 40.60 mm, with a thickness of 2.98 mm. Its edge must be reeded, and the Silver content is 99.9%. The obverse design features Liberty walking and is adapted from the design of Adolph A. Weinman during the year 1916. The reverse design features a Heraldic Eagle with Shield, which was designed by John Mercanti on the year1986.
How do I tell if a Silver Eagle is fake?
