American Silver Eagle. Credit: PD Photo

After a nearly seven-month purchasing restriction, the US Mint announced on June 1, 2015, that the American Silver Eagle coin is now available, in unlimited quantities, for order by authorized purchasers. The allocation was set in place last November when consumer demands exceeded the mints supply of silver metal coins. Such rationing has been utilized, as necessary, since 2008 with periods of enforcement from six to sixteen months. Some believe it notable that the Treasurer of the United States is required by Public Law 99-61 to regularly produce and distribute precious metal coins in quantities sufficient to meet public demand; however, the implementation of allocation has sought, and met with success, to stabilize the market for bullion coins benefiting both serious investor and private collector.

The American Silver Eagle was introduced in 1986 when the American Eagle Bullion program placed coinage of gold, silver, and later platinum into general circulation. Its obverse of the graceful “Walking Liberty”, created in 1916 by Adolph A. Weinman and originally stamped into an American half-dollar, is a recognized symbol of beauty, purity and value. The US Mint distributes such uncirculated coins to brokers, coin dealers, banks and precious metal companies authorized to provide ease and efficiency of both purchase and liquidation. With a guaranteed weight of 1 troy ounce of 99.9 pure silver, the American Silver Eagle is the only American bullion coin certified for content, weight and purity by the US Mint. In addition, it is the only coin included in the 1997 congressional decision allowing silver for inclusion in IRAs.

Since its distribution, the American Silver Eagle has sold over 130 million, or 16,571,000 ounces, worldwide. She remains the purest, most beautiful and affordable silver bullion coin for those wishing to enter the silver investment market.