Get ready… One of the most popular U.S. Mint annual products debuts today, Sept. 16. The 2016-W Proof American Silver Eagle goes on sale beginning at noon Eastern Time for $53.95.
Demand for the coin is high every year, but expect extra interest for this one because it serves as a 30th anniversary issue. And to mark the special occasion, it features a smooth edge with "30th ANNIVERSARY" incused in italics.
The lettered edge replaces the standard reeded treatment that has been on American Silver Eagles since their 1986 inaugural release. Congress directed the anniversary inscription as part of the larger FAST Act which was signed into law last year. However, don’t get too used to the new edge. It’s for this year only.
American Silver Eagles are released in proof and uncirculated qualities for collectors and in a bullion edition for investors. They share designs and major specifications, to include size and a composition in 1 oz. of 99.9% pure silver. The uncirculated version, as a collector coin, will also have a smooth edge and anniversary inscription. The U.S. Mint has not announced when it will launch, but did say its price will be $44.95. The bullion edition debuted earlier in the year and has year-to-date sales of 29,850,500. It kept its traditional reeded edge.
For the record, recent proof Silver Eagle annual sales have ranged from about 700,000 to around 900,000 coins.
Ordering
Those interested in buying a 2016-W 30th Anniversary Proof American Silver Eagle may do so directly from the U.S. Mint by visiting their online ordering page. Orders are also accepted by telephone at 1-800-USA-MINT.
This year’s proof will also be featured within the upcoming 2016 Congratulations Set and 2016 Ronald Reagan Coin & Currency Set.
I’ll be buying a few of these but not right at opening of the sale. Maybe that night or the next day.
Darrin Lee Unser –
Your first photo tagline says the “W” Mint mark is on the obverse of the coin, which is incorrect as it is on the reverse.
-NumisDudeTX
WHY WOULD YOU buy one from the mint @ $44.95 when you can buy a PF 70 from MCM ALREADY GRADED FOR $99.99? Unless you dont want your coin graded, I guess would be ther only reason… It’s not these coins with ever be worth anything anyways..
The 1995-W Proof American Silver Eagle is the most valuable. Its mintage was only 30,125. It was part of the 10th Anniversary Gold Eagle 5 Coin Proof Set that cost $999 in 1995. The 1995-W Proof American Silver Eagle alone is now worth from around $3,000 to over $4.000.
Seth, thanks for catching the error. It has been corrected!
It’s a nice touch, but is unlikely to become particularly valuable. As the mint site says:
Mintage Limit: None
Product Limit: None
Household Order Limit: None
I don’t think it’ll be valuable but I think it’ll be neat. I like having some of the different varieties of SAE. I don’t worry about slabbing these moderns. Hardly seems worth the effort. Just enjoy them in their display case!
Dwight –
That was back when the mint celebrated 10th anniversaries. This year hardly anything for the silver eagle’s 30th and nothing at all for the gold buffalo’s 10th this year. Next year platinum eagle’s 20th anniversary and all they’re going to do is use the original designs for front and back. There’s no more tradition at the US Mint, just grinding out the same ole, same ole. These Senior Executive Service seat warmers are useless.
Certainly there has been little creativity from the mint (or those overseeing) for decades now. I’d love it if another president would usher in a renaissance in coin design again. Even better would be the removal of all historical figures from circulating coins and currency. That won’t happen as everyone has a constituency and lobby to protect but it would solve a lot of things.
I’m also surprised, speaking of anniversaries, that the Bureau of Engraving/Printing didn’t issue repeats of the fabulous education series of notes from the late 19th century.
Just ordered mine. No fuss, no muss. Looking forward to seeing it!
I ordered 2 coins just like last year…at 12noon no problem …
Ordered 2 at 9:00 A.M. Pacific Time. Breezed right through like nobody else was there.
Easy order process. Receipt was a few minutes slow.
Let me just be the first to congratulate all those who were able to order this coin promptly at noon est (hopefully without too many issues!) for a coin which will no doubt reach into the hundreds of thousands and be on sale well into 2017!
@ Joe
Who do you believe shall receive the items first: East or West coast? I’m on the East coast.
Drew Scott, as I said I don’t think it’ll be valuable but that doesn’t mean I can’t want it now instead of 6 months from now. 🙂
To Synoptic 12,
Receiving items at any location is a toss up. Depends on who’s picking their nose and whose not at the sending location. I also think it might make a difference if you order other items at the same time.
To Drew Scott,
If you don’t like the coin for your collection, then don’t buy it.
Joe
Location is Indiana, is it not? Naturally, if additional items are part of the order that would slow shipment, contingent on availability, or back order. However, we never realized that lunch breaks would be an issue. Anyways, thanks very much.
The Mint’s private vendor fulfillment warehouse is in Memphis, TN (about the center of the USA per population & across from the airport & Fed Ex world headquarters), so depending on which of the 4 shipping options you picked, it could be anywhere from overnight for expedited delivery up to about 12 days for the budget shipping option for delivery. The overnight option (by UPS) at $20.95 does not include Saturday or Sunday, so the earliest anyone will have these in hand is Monday morning by 10:30 am with adult (21 plus) signature required. Can’t wait to see them in… Read more »
I want to buy a signed John M. Mercanti coin pf 70 . mcm has the ones without the edged lettering. I guess I will wait for one to come up.
Seth
Every shipment we ever received was sent out of Indiana, as we still maintain the external boxes going back to early 2000’s. Any explanation here?
Thank you for your permission Joe C. I was just merely congratulating everyone.
Chill!
The distribution center is at or near Memphis TN. The call center is at Plano TX. Shipping time depends on how much you want to pay, pay more get it quicker. The email for my subscription for Proof SAE got to my mailbox at 2:21 this morning they will ship FedEx Smartpost after processing. I get 4 for grandchildren might get one of the UNC later for myself. Really waiting for the gold half dollar.
Never really delved into this area before. Each outer box has a label stating:
PBGS
2799 Reeves Road
Plainfield, IN 46168
* Pitney Bowes Government Solutions
In response to FLSharkVictim. The reason to buy the US Mint coin is because it is a “Proof” coin which also has the special smooth edge with raised lettering for the 30th Annivarsary. The coins graded by MCM are the standard readed edge and do not reflect the 30th Anniversary lettering. Also, the coins from MCM are Mint State, not Proof. These may be minor considerations for an investor. Probably more important to the collector.
Synoptic 12 –
PBGS in Plainfield, Indiana had the US Mint government contract to run the call center & fulfillment warehouse for 8 years & lost the bid a few years ago to competitor PFSweb Corporation of Dallas, Texas (Plano, TX outside Dallas is where the call center is now & their fulfillment center warehouse is on Shelby Drive in Memphis, Tennessee)
You must not have ordered anything from the US Mint directly in at least 3 years or just didn’t notice the return address on the package as being shipped from Memphis.
Happy collecting!
-NumisDudeTX
I got my order in yesterday, and confirmation email at 10:25 pm. How, you ask? I signed up for the product enrollment service; one place where the incompetent management hasn’t screwed up mint processing (yet).
If pricing structure tells the mint to set pricing for the 1/4 ounce centennial coin at 485.00 then why are the mark twain and park gold at 424.00 sounds like mint is gouging just to make extra bucks
It really would be nice for the mint to limit the amount they make of the anniversary edition coin to bring up the value somewhat . I am not saying like they did in 1995 and now graded 70 sets is selling for 30 k . Even if they cap it at 500,000 coins it would be of some nice values in years to come because as we all know 1-3 out of 10 is a PF 70 . What point is coming out with a special edition coin if they plan on minting millions. Am I right.
Seth
Thank you for the information. Actually, I’ve been ordering consistently from the U.S. Mint, last in 2014. All my orders show in the ‘orders’ section. So, I went to look at the 2014 box which states:
Fulfillment Center
4638 Shelby Dr.
Memphis, TN 38118
Thanks very much for the info. I never looked at the 2014 box, just the prior purchases. I even called the U.S. Mint as they could not provide the information I was seeking, rather ‘You answered the question’. One may think that the U.S. Mint would have that information readily available.
Seeing that I’m here, I would like to present a question regarding the purchase of any commemorative, eagle, or any other coin of value. In ordering at the outset, would that determine the quality of the coin contingent upon the dyes, as being less pronounced at the 100,000 mark? Accompanying this, would a worn planchet be replaced? This incused etching has been performed before I believe. So, why were there issues with tooling when the process was performed before? We’re sure any problems were rectified in the past, no ?
Synoptic 12 From what I’ve read, they had to make the tools as they have never incused the Eagle before, nor even a coin this of this exact size if I’m not mistaken. I read an article recently from where the author was given a tour of the mint back in July. They embargoed the article until they determined and announced a release date and then gave the go ahead for the article to run. So they have been minting coins for months. I doubt that they will fill orders with the first of the run but might grab the… Read more »
Actually, I believed that to be the case as you have pointed out quite clearly. I received some really nice gems months after initial release date upon ordering. Simply slipped my memory on the Mint producing the coins months in advance and stacking. As you say, luck of the draw. I must say Richard Chambers is the best I’ve ever seen moving merchandise. Mike Myzek (not sure on spelling of last name), just doesn’t provide the drama that Richard could highlight and in great detail. Have everyone at the edge of their seats. Getting to your ‘first release’ theatrics is… Read more »
It could be a way to gague the potential demand for the Burnished uncirculated. I think they are so screwed up that they don’t think that far ahead and are just behind on making them because of having to tool for the incused lettering. I read an interesting think that pertains to the subject in Whitman’s 2014 book “100 Greatest Modern Coins” about the 1998 matte finish Kennedy. This was the first time for them to make the Matte finish and it was years before they made more with clad uncirculated. For the first and only time, the Mint came… Read more »
You’re pretty sharp Rodney. I’m familiar with the Kennedy matte and the course the Mint took. However, by mo means is the U.S. Mint not business oriented. If anyone believes otherwise, it is simply untrue. You make mention of the Mint ‘being behind’ due to ‘tooling’ for the incused. Do not believe this to be so for the Mint has already tooled up for the Proof, so why should the “Burnished” present any difficulty? Nice point you make regarding the Kennedy in time span; referring to a ‘similar’ situation adjoined with the “Burnished”. It’s all about the “return” and the… Read more »
Seth
what”s your take on if the mint will mint a 2016 limited edition silver proof set an include the 30th 2016 silver dollar in it ?
charles –
The Mint has the 2016 Limited Edition Silver Proof Set on their TBD product list. They usually offer them towards the end of the year, due to packaging problems each year. They would be crazy not to offer it this year with the special 1-year only 30th anniversary edge lettered ASE coin. But, they would have to modify the packaging so you can see the edge of the ASE $1 coin.
Happy collecting Charles!
-NumisDudeTX
The designated proof coin (30th Anniversary) will ‘only’ be included 2016 Ronald Reagan Coin & Chronicles Set and in the 2016 Congratulations Set.
My first order status has finally shown up as shipped.
Collectible versus investment coin. This is clearly a collectible coin. Beautiful coin design with no long term upside. Never the less, not all coins are purchased for investment. Collect what makes you happy.
Mouse
The 1992 Olympics one dollar modern commerative coin has edge lettering. The ‘Nolan Ryan’ looka-like coin.
12 –
How do you know the proof silver eagle will be in the congratulations set if it’s still on the TBD list?
Seth –
Also since the limited edition silver proof set is still TBD they might mint a proof silver eagle with a reeded edge to avoid the edge issue. At a 50,000 product limit it would be the second rarest silver eagle with the W mint mark.
jim – The December 2015 FAST Act public law forcing the Mint to do edge lettering this year was very specific & states that all ASE $1 coins struck & issued & sold in 2016 must have the 30th anniversary edge lettering, except the bullion version which of course is not sold directly to the public by the Mint. That is why the Mint had to stop selling all 2015 Proof & Uncirculated Burnished finish ASE $1 coins & sets on the last day of December 2015. The Congratulations Set has always only had a Proof ASE $1 coin in… Read more »
I really wish the mint would have done something very special for the 30 th year of the ASE, something truly unique like a very first time enhanced reverse proof with a mintage of 100k. I don’t know if that would be possible but surely would have be awesome.
Seth –
So what you’re saying is that the uncirculated silver eagle will also have the edge lettering. Better to grab a couple of those too.
Thanks.
Upon enrollment in the 2016 W Uncirculated Silver Eagle, yet to be released, I’m going to ask the U.S. Mint if I can receive one “without” the edge lettering. This would be contingent upon the ‘ask for policy’. * Jim How do you know the proof silver eagle will be in the congratulations set if it’s still on the TBD list? Seth answered the question. If you have read this article, one can clearly see that fact in the aforesaid synopsis. This year’s proof will also be featured within the upcoming 2016 Congratulations Set and 2016 Ronald Reagan Coin &… Read more »
Supplementary To The Above:
I called the U.S. Mint regarding the above information relating to receiving a 2016 American Silver Eagle Uncirculated ‘without’ the edge inscription. However, that facet cannot be obtained. Furthermore, the customer service representative stated that there is “no” information regarding the ‘edge inscription’ on the Uncirculated as to whether there shall be “any”.
* This could be the keeper.
As someone else has already mentioned, Congress passed a law mandating that the Proof and the un-circulated have the edge inscription for coins made in or dated 2016. It would be against the law for them to produce or intentionally sell any that didn’t have the edge inscription.
Now, their may be some mint errors where a few are unintentionally made without it, or partial inscriptions. I suppose that is one reason to order one because the error would be valuable.
Rodney According to the U.S. Mint there has not been a determination as to the edge lettering on the ‘uncirculated W’). I did make mention of the mandated coin act being dressed with the incused lettering ‘but’ they said , “We do not know at the current time”, further adding, “How they come is how you shall receive them”. Whether the information can be received at face value would be for the person to decide. They’re pretty honest though. * The U.S. Mint maintains a quality control area, along with the Mint police. It would be very difficult for an… Read more »
Supplementary To Above:
Just a thought. If the Uncirculated (W) are not released by year’s end, that would eradicate the mandate as imposed by the President > ‘All bet’s are off’.