Years
Designer
Adolph A. Weinman / John Mercanti (T1); Emily Damstra (T2)
Composition
.999 silver, 1 troy oz
Diameter
40.6 mm
Mass
31.103 g
Thickness
2.98 mm
Edge
Reeded
Mints
San Francisco, West Point, Philadelphia
Metal
Silver
Design
Walking Liberty obverse. Type 1 heraldic eagle reverse by Mercanti; Type 2 (2021–) an eagle landing with an oak branch. A security reeded edge variation arrived with Type 2.
History
The world’s most widely recognized modern silver bullion coin, struck from the Defense National Stockpile and later open-market silver. Proofs began 1986 at San Francisco, later West Point. 1995-W proof is the key of the classic run. 2021 saw both Type 1 and Type 2, including a new-design 'T-2' from Philadelphia without mint mark. Burnished, reverse proof, and privy issues turned a bullion product into a modern registry sport.
Key dates
Varieties
1995-W · 1995-W proof Silver Eagle
design · key
2019-S · 2019-S enhanced reverse proof
design · scarce
2006-W · 2006-W burnished, reverse of 2007
hub · scarce
60 issues