Collectors may need to act fast today, Aug. 23, if they want to get 2016 American Liberty Silver Medals. They go on sale directly from the United States Mint beginning at noon Eastern Time (ET).
Demand is expected to be high for the two Liberty medals that share the same designs as found on last year’s 2015 $100 American Liberty High Relief Gold Coin. Two versions will be available with one from the U.S. Mint at West Point and one from the U.S. Mint at San Francisco.
Mintage is limited with only 12,500 available of each option. A household limit of 2 medals from each minting facility also applies.
Medal Designs & Specifications
Medal obverses (heads side) feature a rendition of Liberty meant to symbolize the ideals of liberty, courage, and hope. United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) designer Justin Kunz created the image and United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Phebe Hemphill sculpted it. LIBERTY, 2016 and the artist’s and sculptor’s initials finish the design.
Found on their reverse is the image of an American eagle rising in flight. The eagle is gripping a branch in its talons, completing the "embodiment of freedom" design. Artistic Infusion Program Designer Paul C. Balan designed the reverse with its sculpting the work of United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Don Everhart. An inscription reads UNITED STATES OF AMERICA with artist and sculptor initials joining the appropriate mintmark of either ‘W’ for West Point or ‘S’ for San Francisco.
The medals are struck on the same silver blanks as American Silver Eagles. Their specifications include:
| Finish: | Proof |
|---|---|
| Composition: | 99.9% Silver |
| Content | .999 Fine Silver (31.072 grams) Balance Copper |
| Diameter: | 1.598 inches (40.60 mm) |
| Weight: | 1.000 troy oz. (31.103 grams) |
| Edge: | Smooth |
| Mint: | West Point or San Francisco |
| Mintmark: | W or S |
Ordering
Order 2016 American Liberty Silver Medals from the U.S. Mint for $34.95 each. The Mint’s product pages for the two are here and here.
Each medal is encapsulated and presented in a blue velvet presentation case. A certificate of authenticity is also included.
Update: Both medals are "currently unavailable." The "W" medal was unavailable within 6 minutes of launching. The "S" medal was unavailable within 8 minutes of going on sale. The U.S. Mint said the medals’ status would remain as unavailable until all order reconciliations and order cancellations have been processed.
Seth
Thanks for the update on the 2016 silver Liberty Medal Price’s in the secondary Market, glad to hear you got half lucky with getting S mint medal, still on the Hunt for both
TrueThat
Whether coin or medal , I only buy and collect those items that are beautiful or have some special significance to me. I’m not in it to make a quick buck. I’m very selective about what I buy. I simply enjoy owning beautiful coins and medals. To me they are often miniature works of art and lovely to gaze upon.
charles –
I hope you shop around a lot if you must have these medals now & conduct a comprehensive price comparison as prices vary greatly from one dealer to another on these medals now in the secondary marketplace. If you have patience, the “frenzy” over these will subside somewhat & prices will become more stable & reasonable in time IMHO. One option is to ask members of your area coin clubs if they have extras to sell or trade for duplicate coins or other medals in your collection. Good luck!
-NumisDudeTX
I USE TO READ EVERY COMMENT HERE BUT MAN! CAN’T WE JUST GET ALONG!! We are all different in the ways we think and feel.
AMEN TO YHAT!
This forum has gotten very ugly quickly & for no real substantive reason (just inflated or hurt egos). But, I am all in for venting frustrations in a healthy, respectful adult discussion. Almost nobody cared about medals on this blog website until now! I was one of the few who ever even posted comments about medals here over the past few years. As a former member of the American Medallic Sculpture Association (AMSA) in the late 80s & early 90s, I attended their conferences, exhibitions, seminars & workshops all over the USA & medals are a large part of my… Read more »
Hi Seth,
It’s nice to know that there is another individual who has a penchant for medals and an interest for sharing and learning about medals….that describes one of my main numismatic goals as well.
My first medal purchase was back in the mid to late 1980’s long, long, long before I ever purchased my first coin. Qualitatively and aesthetically, most medals are far superior to most coins as I see it but obviously to each their own.
Do you have favorite areas of medal collecting….i.e., by country, subject, period, sculptor, type, size, etc, etc?
I Earned my first Real Medals in Vietnam. Including a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star with a”V”. Not Mint bought although I did get a “W” and an “S” this time around, along with others. What chest Candy do ya’ll have?
Seth
You are so right. I don’t have any medals. But I do like this one a little. That is why I might get a graded one. I knew it was going to be bad at the Mint but this on here, I never thought it would have been what it has become. I guess we all have our gripes but man.
Well, i know that I logged in at noon, got one of each and was done- they arrive Tuesday. I’m not a big secondary seller, just a beginner collector (started in 2010) – i dont want to assume, but I would guess most have an account with the mint- seems like the best way to order.
I received my four today and they are beautiful!!!
I sold two and I am keeping the other two.
@ Christopher,
Congrats! Did you sell on eBay?
These are absolutely the most overtly feminist biased designed coins that I have ever seen. I loathe ALL of them and if these replace the AE Silver Eagle well I can call my Eagle collection complete. It’s pretty obvious the obama Administrations heavy hand never ceases eveb in our currency. I pray the classic will not be replaced with this Gloria Steinem version. Who decided to de-fang one our National symbols to have NO arrows in its quiver? Not a coincidence in our slide into Progressive policies of the last 15 years. Hopefully this effeminate design dies quickly like jimmy carters… Read more »
SJW’s rule! 🙂
Matt, & CoinsA-Z –
Hi, my name is Seth & I am a SJW! I am also gay & respect women’s rights and their historical right to vote since 1920 under the US Constitution.
Matt, you will love the US Mint’s 2020 Women’s Suffrage commemorative coins! Canada issued a $1 coin this year celebrating their centennial of the right of women to vote. Beautiful, historic coin for sure!
-NumisDudeTX