This article presents photos of a 2016-W Uncirculated American Silver Eagle with its incused edge that recognizes the series’ 30th anniversary.
This year’s pair of numismatic American Eagle silver coins received an anniversary makeover that’s attracting more buyers.
Bullion and proof American Silver Eagles debuted in 1986, while the uncirculated edition launched in 2006. These three annually issued coins have always had reeded edges… until Congress directed a "30th Anniversary" edge inscription on the 2016-dated proof and uncirculated versions.
The proof 2016 Silver Eagle in its first 2-1/2 months of release logged sales that took last year’s coin almost 8 months to reach. A photo of that coin is right below, with a few more of them here.
The more recently issued uncirculated 2016 Silver Eagle, the subject of the photos further below, scored sales of 139,925 in four days. It took nearly three weeks for last year’s edition to hit the same mark; about 1-1/2 months for the 2014 coin to get there; and almost 4 months for the one from 2013 to reach it.
Here’s a table comparing early sales performances of the uncirculated series since 2011:
| Year of Issue | Initial Issue Price | Debut Sales |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | $44.95 | 139,925 in 4 Days |
| 2015 | $39.95 | 127,872 in 4 Days |
| 2014 | $43.95 or $39.55 with subscription | 106,349 in 4 Days |
| 2013 | $48.95 | 104,570 in 7 Days |
| 2012 | $45.95 | 123,801 in 5 Days |
| 2011 | $60.45 | 184,967 in 5 Days |
| 2010 | N/A | Not Sold |
| 2009 | N/A | Not Sold |
This next table shows final sales of the uncirculated coins by year since introduced. The figures are for all standard versions, including those sold individually as well as those purchased as part of numismatic sets.
| Year | Sales / Mintages |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 223,897 |
| 2014 | 253,169 |
| 2013 | 222,091 |
| 2012 | 230,872 |
| 2011 | 409,927 |
| 2010 | Not Sold |
| 2009 | Not Sold |
| 2008 | 533,757 |
| 2007 | 710,299 |
| 2006 | 466,573 |
The U.S. Mint’s online store for American Eagle products is located here. The uncirculated coin is $44.95, and has no mintage or order limits.
Below are some larger photos of the anniversary coin.
This article doesn’t state it, but these coins are $1 legal tender coins made of .9993 fine silver with a special burnished finish that is not on the bullion version coins. The US Mint has advertised this version in the past as “One Ounce of Burnished Beauty”.
-NumisDudeTX
I was surprised that the certification that comes with this coin does not mention the word “Burnished.” Are they?
It sure is a Beautiful coin!
Ken –
Yes these coins have a special burnished finish per the Mint since they were first issued in 2006. Their COA unfortunately doesn’t always mention such aadditional specifics beyond “Uncirculated”. The COA for the 5-ounce silver ATB coins doesn’t say they are special vapor-blast finish coins & just states “Uncirculated” also. Mint management is to blame for these inaccuracies.
-NumisDudeTX
Do any of the graders have a slab that shows the edge lettering. I have a PCGS slab and you can not see the edge lettering. The US Mint screwed up with no 30th Anniversary Set and now it seems like the graders didn’t do anything for it either. I guess 30 years does not mean too much.
The 21016 W burnish die eagle has the 30th anniversary edged lettering,why? Only the bullion eagle and proof coins are 30th anniversary coins. The burnish die eagle is only around for 10 years. I suspect after awhile these burnish die eagles will either be variety or error coins,but thats just my opinion.
Joera,
NGC has a 4 prong edge holder they have had for a number of years now. You can easily see the edge with this standard (used on all graded coins) slab.
joera –
Ronnie is right. NGC introduced their EdgeView™ four-prong holders in 2010. It only covers up about 20 percent of the edge of a coin. PCGS holders have a plastic ring inside to hold the coin in place but it is hard to see through it.
-NumisDudeTX
Thanks guys! For some reason I forgot about the NGC slabs. Maybe it’s all this Christmas in the air. Most of my graded coins are PCGS but I do have some NGC. And I will add at least 2 more for the edge lettering.
Thanks again.
Mint has removed a TON of stuff, 2016 ATB quarters, Prez $1 that they have a jillion of…. how is that possible Another mint f’up it would seem