Obverse and reverse 2004 silver US Eagle

The American Silver Eagle is the official silver bullion coin of the United States. It was first released by the United States Mint on November 24, 1986. It is struck only in the 1 troy oz denomination which has a nominal face value of one dollar and is guaranteed to contain one troy ounce of .999 pure silver. It is authorized by the United States Congress and its weight and content is certified by the United States Mint.

The design on the obverse was taken from the classic "Walking Liberty" design by Adolph A. Weinman, which had originally been used on the half-dollar coin of the United States from 1916 to 1947. As this iconic design had been a public favorite –and indeed one most beloved designs of any United States coinage of modern times, silver or otherwise– it was revived for the Silver Eagle decades later. The reverse portrays a heraldic eagle designed by John Mercanti.

Mintages, and thus prices, of uncirculated and proof specimens have varied widely, and the potential collector is advised to check a standard reference book before buying them. Generally the business strikes have minted in the millions, while the proofs were issued in the hundreds of thousands. Thus, most dates are not particularly expensive ($15-$20 each), although some of the early 1990s proofs sell for over $100. Also, the special 1995W issue (30,125 sold) is worth several thousand dollars.