The American Silver Eagle: A Popular Bullion Coin
The American Silver Eagle is one of the world's most popular silver bullion coins. Authorized by the Liberty Coin Act of 1985, these coins are made from one troy ounce of .999 fine silver and first went into production in 1986.
The U.S. Mint introduced a redesign in 2021. The obverse (heads side) design is based on Adolph A. Weinman's "Walking Liberty" half dollar from 1916. Modern technology allowed for a more accurate reflection of Weinman's original design, including the addition of his artist's mark. The reverse (tails side) originally featured the American heraldic eagle designed by John Mercanti, the former Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint. This design showed a bald eagle behind a shield, clutching arrows and an olive branch. The new "Eagle Landing" design depicts an eagle carrying an oak branch towards a nest. This design was created by Emily Damstra, one of the artists participating in the U.S. Mint's Artistic Infusion Program.