Cull Silver Eagles for Sale: Buy Circulated Coins (Tarnished) · Money Metals® (2024)

Buy Cull Silver Eagles

The American Silver Eagle is one of the nation’s most beloved bullion coins. Its production began back in 1986 and it has remained in continuous production. Among the most sought-after silver coins, the Silver Eagle has maintained a high level of popularity for over three decades.

In addition to its domestic popularity, the Silver Eagle has recently become quite popular in other parts of the world, most notably Asia. Hong Kong, the People’s Republic of China, and Singapore have become significant markets for the coin.

Traditionally, the Silver Eagle has been struck as a bullion coin, though proof and uncirculated variants have existed in various periods. Also, numerous special and commemorative editions have been struck over the years.

Currently, the Silver Eagle, both circulated and uncirculated, enjoys a great reputation and is the undisputed champion of the US silver coin market, followed by Canada’s Silver Maple Leaf and the United Kingdom’s Britannia Bullion Coin. In addition to its popularity, the Silver Eagle can also be used as IRA investments. Read on to learn more about the pros and cons of investing in circulated Silver Eagles.

History

The story of the American Silver Eagle began in the late 1970s when plans were created to sell the surplus silver from the Defense National Stockpile. After several administrations tried unsuccessfully to sell off the extra silver, Senator James McClure introduced Bill S.2598 on May 27, 1982, which would facilitate the selling of silver through the issuance of silver coins. However, the bill never passed into law.

Senator McClure proposed an identical bill (S.269) on January 27, 1983, but it too got buried in committees. However, on June 21, 1985, Senator McClure proposed an amendment to H.R. 47 the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Commemorative Coin Act. The amendment was approved the same day it was proposed, thus setting the stage for the initial production of the American Silver Eagle.

Production commenced on October 27, 1986, at the San Francisco Mint. The bullion version of the coin was minted there until 1998 and again from 2011 to this day. The bullion coin has also been struck at the West Point and Philadelphia mints over the years, with the majority of them having been made at West Point as of this writing.

Around 2002, when it became apparent that the Defense National Stockpile’s silver reserves would be depleted, Senator Harry Reid introduced bill S.2954, named the Support of American Eagle Silver Bullion Program Act, to allow the Secretary of the Treasury to buy silver on the open market to continue minting the Silver Eagle bullion coins. The bill was passed on June 21 in the Senate and six days later in the House. President George W. Bush signed it into law on July 23, 2002.

Design and Features

On the obverse side, the Silver Eagle features a picture of Walking Liberty, a design by Adolph A. Weinman. The picture was originally used on the Walking Liberty half dollarcoin between 1916 and 1947. As a hugely popular motif, the designers of the Silver Eagle decided to incorporate it into the 1986 coin. The motif remained on every subsequent issue of the coin. The inscriptions “Liberty” and “IN GOD WE TRUST” are also found on the obverse side, as is the year of issuance.

On the reverse side, the coin features a portrayal of the United States’ heraldic eagle with a shield in front. It holds an olive branch in its left talon and arrows in its right. It also holds a ribbon in its mouth that reads “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 1 OZ. FINE SILVER-ONE DOLLAR,” and “E PLURIBUS UNUM.” Above the eagle’s head are 13 5-pointed stars – one for each of the 13 original colonies. John Mercanti designed the reverse side of the coin.

The Silver Eagle is a legal tender coin and has always been made as a 1-troy-ounce coin. Its face value has always been one US dollar and its fineness is .999 (99.9% silver).

Silver Eagle Uncirculated and Proof

Originally, the Silver Eagle proof coins were struck from 1986 to 1992 at the San Francisco mint, together with the bullion version. The proof coins bore an “S” mark. The production of the proof coins was moved to Philadelphia from 1993 to 2000. The coins were stamped with a “P” mark. Those made at West Point from 2001 to 2008 had a “W” designation. Resuming in 2010, the proof coins were struck at West Point, again bearing the “W” mark. In 2016 and 2017, all three mints made the proof coins.

Uncirculated collector coins were introduced in 2006 and struck until 2008. They were reintroduced in 2011 and continued until 2015. The uncirculated collector coins were made at the West Point Mint.

Mintage Figures

Over the years, around 530 million Silver Eagles have been struck. Initially, demand dictated the production numbers, though between 2008 and 2010 the numbers were limited. Again, from 2013 on, Silver Eagles have been made in limited numbers. At the time of this writing, 505 million bullion Silver Eagles were struck. 21 million proof and around 4 million uncirculated Silver Eagle coins exist. These figures make the Silver Eagle one of the most successful silver coins ever.

Should You Invest in Cull Silver Eagles?

Despite the huge numbers available, the Silver Eagle remains the most in-demand silver coin in the United States. It partially owes its unwavering popularity to the fact that it can be used as an investment vehicle in one’s IRA account.

The circulated Silver Eagles, while certainly less valuable than their proof and uncirculated siblings, are a sound and pretty safe investment. They are very easy to obtain, affordable, and easy to sell should the need arise. The mintage figures and ongoing production guarantee that there are more than enough Silver Eagles to go around.

Lastly, the price of silver spiked in recent years and has traded sideways at a healthy level, making all silver investments stable with a potential for sizable profits if silver moves in the direction of its recent high.

Conclusion

The Silver Eagle, America’s most beloved silver coin, continues to be one of the most sought-after commodities on the silver trade market more than 30 years after its introduction. This makes it the most attractive silver coin for both collectors and investors.

Investing in circulated Silver Eagles coins, while not as lucrative as other options, can certainly bring investors a nice profit. Aside from that, they can be used to hold in an investor’s IRA funds. Finally, it is much easier to start with circulated silver coins than platinum or gold.

Sell to Us

We are buying this item back daily, and we pay you promptly!

Our current buy pricing is $25.33 each and we willbuy up to 2,000 ounces at this price.Simply call us on any weekday to lock pricing at 1-800-800-1865.

Learn more about the process for selling to us here.

Cull Silver Eagles for Sale: Buy Circulated Coins (Tarnished) · Money Metals® (2024)

FAQs

How much is a tarnished Silver Eagle worth? ›

Due to their widespread availability, Silver Eagle bullion coins are usually only worth their melt value. Tarnish doesn't tend to have an impact on the value of these versions since the underlying silver contents remain unaffected.

What is a 1 oz Silver Eagle worth today? ›

What is the price of Silver Eagle coins today? The current ask purchase prices for a one ounce Silver American Eagle is: 31.31. The best reference for today's up to date prices for American Silver Eagle Coins is above. For a comparison of Silver Eagles prices to other silver coins, refer to Monex' Live Prices page.

Can I buy Silver Eagles from my bank? ›

Banks typically sell American Silver Eagles as part of their bullion services, which allows customers to invest in precious metals. The American Silver Eagle is a recognized currency; it can be purchased from several banks and financial institutions.

What is the most valuable Silver Eagle coin? ›

Most valuable Silver Eagles coins: 1995-W Proof: $2,500-$3,200+ 1996 Uncirculated: $40-$65+ 2008 Uncirculated with Reverse 2007 of the American Silver Eagle: $325-$350+

Do tarnished silver coins lose value? ›

In the case of silver bullion bars or coins, the value of these items would not be affected by tarnish. They still contain the same amount of silver whether they are tarnished or not. Similarly, if selling silver jewellery as scrap then tarnish will not impact the value.

Can I sell tarnished silver? ›

Leave the tarnish on and bring it to a reputable buyer who knows what they're talking about. Some silverware patterns are rarer and older than others. These will give you clues about when the silver was manufactured and if you're dealing with true antiques.

Do silver eagles go up in value? ›

Silver Eagles come with a limited mintage. This means American Silver Eagles produced under specific conditions guaranteed their rarity. They will maintain their value no matter what happens to American currency. They are priced well and have a great value for the price.

Why are Silver Eagles so expensive right now? ›

American Silver Eagle coins are among the most highly-priced in the world due to their low mintage quantities, strong government recognition, and collectible value.

How do I cash in my silver coins? ›

You can sell them through local coin shops, online dealers, marketplaces, or directly to collectors. Ensure you research the market and choose a reputable buyer to streamline the selling process.

Do you have to pay taxes when you sell Silver Eagles? ›

Holdings in precious metals such as gold, silver or platinum are considered to be capital assets, and therefore capital gains may apply. When it comes to tax purposes, the IRS classifies precious metals as collectibles, and thus they may potentially be taxed at the maximum collectable capital gains rate of 28 percent.

Is it smart to buy Silver Eagles? ›

Because the Silver Eagle holds both numismatic (or collectible) and physical metal value, they offer a relatively high potential rate of return on investment.

Why are Silver Eagles selling so high? ›

Low mintage numbers have combined with a high level of brand recognition and collectability to make American Silver Eagles some of the most expensive coins in the world.

What is the best year of Silver Eagles to buy? ›

Some of the most popular regular-issue and Proof American Eagle key dates are listed below:
  • 1986 First-Year. While this year is technically not a "key-date," the 1986 Uncirculated and Proof versions of the Silver American Eagle are the first issues of this wildly popular series.
  • 1994. ...
  • 1994-P. ...
  • 1996.

Why is the 1999 Silver Eagle so valuable? ›

The most expensive Mint State 70 American Silver Eagle is the 1999. The 1999 was not the lowest mintage by any means but is worth so much because there are so few graded in perfect 70.

How can you tell if a Silver Eagle coin is real? ›

How To Spot A Fake American Silver Eagle
  1. The thickness of the coin should always be 2.98 mm or . ...
  2. Since these coins are silver, they should ring when you lightly tap the edge of an American Silver Eagle. ...
  3. Study the lettering on the coin. ...
  4. The font is always the same; it doesn't change from year to year.

Are tarnished coins worth anything? ›

Tarnish only increases the value within the market of tarnished coins if the coin and its tarnish are age appropriate; an important point to keep in mind when buying or selling these types of pieces. Additionally, it is quite easy to spot a coin that was once tarnished and has been cleaned.

How do you clean tarnished Silver Eagles? ›

To do this, you'll need to:
  1. Mix 1/2 cup baking soda with a few drops of water to create a paste.
  2. Apply the paste to the tarnished area and rub it in gently using a soft cloth.
  3. Rinse the paste off the coin or bar with distilled water.
Sep 5, 2023

Do Silver Eagle coins tarnish? ›

In the case of silver coins, the mints' production process has been refined to minimize tarnishing, however, slight discoloration may occur naturally. If absolutely necessary, exercise extreme caution and, if possible, seek the aid of a professional.

Do Silver Eagles hold their value? ›

Reasons American Silver Eagles are a Good Investment:

They will maintain their value no matter what happens to American currency. They are priced well and have a great value for the price. This creates popularity among many American collectors as well as investors!

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