Today, June 14, the United States Mint makes available the 2017-P Proof American Liberty Silver Medal. Composed in 1 ounce of .999 fine silver, its price is $59.95.
The medal is one of five expected from the U.S. Mint this year as a part of its 225th anniversary celebration and appears as a counterpart to the 2017 American Liberty Gold Coin, which is the Mint’s best-selling gold collectible this year with sales to date of 22,594.
Liberty Medal Designs
Designed by Mint Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) Designer Justin Kunz and sculpted by Mint Sculptor-Engraver Phebe Hemphill, the medal’s obverse (heads side) portrays Liberty as an African-American woman wearing a crown of stars. "LIBERTY" is inscribed on the obverse along with the 225th anniversary inscriptions of "1792" and "2017."
The reverse (tails side) depicts a "powerful eagle in flight, with eyes toward opportunity and a determination to attain it," the U.S. Mint describes. Inscriptions read "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and the mintmark of ‘P’ indicating its production at the U.S. Mint’s facility in Philadelphia. Reverse artistry is the work of AIP Designer Chris Costello with sculpting by Mint Sculptor-Engraver Michael Gaudioso.
The medal is struck from the same silver blanks that are used in making American Silver Eagles. Complete medal specifications follow.
2017 American Liberty Silver Medal Specifications
| Finish | Proof |
| Composition | 99.9% Silver |
| Diameter | 1.598 inches (40.60 mm) |
| Weight | 1.000 troy oz. (31.103 g) |
| Edge | Plain |
| Mint and Mint Mark | P |
Ordering
When issued at noon ET, the 2017-P Proof American Liberty Silver Medal may be ordered from the U.S. Mint website right here. No pre-determined mintage, product or household limits apply for this release.
Upcoming Liberty Silver Medal Set
In addition to this single medal release and as we discussed in May, the U.S. Mint also has plans to issue a four-medal set featuring the same basic designs but showcasing varied finishes from multiple minting facilities. The set is expected to include:
- one medal from the Philadelphia Mint but in a reverse proof,
- one medal from the San Francisco Mint in regular proof,
- one medal from the Denver Mint in uncirculated, and
- one medal from the West Point Mint in enhanced uncirculated.
Specific details of the set release are yet to be published.
This article was edited to correct the inscription on the medal’s obverse.
Darrin Lee Unser –
This silver medal does not have the inscription “In God We Trust” on it as your article incorrectly​ states.
The Mint forgot to thank G-D on this one!
-NumisDudeTx
Seth –
That’s a good one! lol
I saw part of the four coin set and it looked good. I just wonder how over priced it will be?
joera –
As a medallic art collector & former member of the American Medallic Sculpture Association, I was shocked at the price of this unlimited mintage low relief silver medal. I love the design, so I will buy them all since I have one of the gold coins. But, if the 4-medal set doesn’t have a limited mintage & they use this pricing structure for the set G-D only knows what the U.S. Mint will charge for the set! I am hoping they come to their senses & price it at below $150.
Happy collecting!
-NumisDudeTx
@Seth Riesling
” … I am hoping they come to their senses ..”
That is something that is limited supply at the Mint, unfortunately, at least when it comes to collectors.
I went ahead and purchased one at 9:00 am on the nose. Of course if I don’t get it graded by some company it won’t be considered an early release. Sounds like a scam at times but I guess there are crooks out there. I don’t think it makes much sense to get a medal graded anyway. Is there?
NW Robert – No, there is no reason to get a coin like this graded. The added value does not exceed the cost to grade (including grading fees, shipping, etc.) The reason dealers are able to make a profit is that they get a discount from the US Mint and they also get a huge discount from PCGS/NGC if they submit the coins to be graded in bulk. Thus, if you want a “perfect” 70 then you are better off just waiting for an auction on EBay (don’t buy the “Buy It Now” listings).
@Scott the Robot
“…hey also get a huge discount from PCGS/NGC if they submit the coins to be graded in bulk. ..”
And it wouldn’t be surprising if they also get a break on the grading standard versus some collector who is only submitting one of each type of coin ..
Seth – Could you please let me, and others, know if I’m right or wrong about the dealers getting discounts. Thanks in advance. I don’t think the US Mint gives any dealers a discount on any cons, medals or anything else. The US Mint does sell bullions in the “green monster boxes” to a few authorized dealers and not to the public. But dealers do not get any discounts, special deals or any other special treatment from the US Mint. And dealers also have to wait, like everybody else, for the release date and time to purchase anything the US… Read more »
No bulk here! 🙂 I bought the gold version on day 1 (my first jump back into collecting after 30+ years) and I learned that you have to submit it to PCGS/NGC within 30 days to be considered an early release. Even though I truly have an early release but it wont be considered an early release. And over time… Early release seems to be worth more. Confusing and makes me wonder how many coins the mint has ready for day 1 sales. They certainly don’t press them out one at a time. I digress… sorry. it seems silly if… Read more »
joera – Dealers cannot order anything before the first day of issue at noon Eastern time like the rest of us. But, the U.S. Mint does have a special “Bulk Purchase Program” for certain items with a small discount of 4% on common annual coins & sets (not on limited edition items). The dealers have to order $5000 minimum of one product to qualify (like $5000 worth of 2017-S clad Proof sets etc.). The Mint has had this program for awhile now & last year said they were going to hire a full-time employee to run the program & try… Read more »
What can you do after NGC grading the silver coin or metal and I seem some milk spots appear?
Hungyip – you keep it or sell for spot. I have at least 8 modern silver coins/medals with milk spots. will lose at least $500 in value. US
So for some AG graded coins, MS stands for Milk Spots! Sorry. Another thing to worry about when buying collectibles. I did find this: It seems the old way of rinsing AG coins doesn’t have the issue. Louis Golino (numismatic journalist ) “The fact that older silver coins do not spot (but will tarnish and develop other problems) seems to be related to how coins were produced in the past. It seems that the chemicals used in the past couple decades when rinsing the silver planchets for modern silver coins were not used on older coins. In addition, spots do… Read more »
Already being sold on EBay for a small profit.
@NW Robert- Thanks for the plug for my article!
Louis Golino –
Franklin & Kennedy half dollar coin expert Rick Tomaska told me a long time ago that the detergents & surfactants used in washing the silver planchets left residue on them that dried & when struck the milk spots were actually pushed into the surface metal of the Proof coins because of the high pressure & at least two strikes. There is no way to remove them & I strongly advise that no one try to clean any coins in any way without expert numismatic consultation.
Mr. Golino, i enjoy your blog on coinworld.com.
-NumisDudeTx
Thanks a lot, Seth.
What’s really crazy is that these sell for $59.99 on the US Mint website, but yet people are buying them on EBay for as high as $135.00.
just wait 12 to 18 months, they will be 3 – 5 dollars above spot at major coin shows where the dealers have taken them in on trade. they are not a coin–they are a medal. they will not be rare, they are of unlimited mintage with no household limit.
I got mine this time
The set will be like the 50 th anniversary Kennedy set. Made different finishes at different mints. I like the way they spreading it out over the year instead of at one time. That way more people like me can afford them. THANK YOU USMINT!
Seth –
Thanks for correcting me. Like I’ve said before, “I’ve been wrong before and I could be wrong now.” And another thing is if I don’t ask I won’t learn. Therefore I shall ask. Since these medals are not a limited edition, except for Mike, would dealers be able to get these at a discount? Or is it just the annual coins and sets that get the discount?
Thanks again for your expertise. You’ve been a lot of help to me and I’m sure others as well. God bless.
I have several coins still in original mint packaging never opened with receipt can I still submit it for first strike or early releases? I have the 2015 platinum eagle proof which sold out in minutes that is why I’m asking. I have the gold 225th anniversary coin so I’ll get 1 of each silver medals but prices are insane. I mean uncirculated eagles W mint mark are only $44.95. I understand stand high relief may cost more but $15 no mintage limit? Wow!!!
joera & CoinNews readers FYI – The U.S. Mint has had for a number of years now a “Numismatic Bulk Purchase Program” that full-time coin dealers that are licensed by a state as a business & banking institutions that sell coins & previous metals can apply for. It offers them a 5% discount minus 1% for S&H (a 4% discount) on approximately 14 products as long as they purchase a minimum of $5,000 worth of qualifying products. The latest list of items they get the 4% discount on includes the following, which can change at any time: Annual clad Proof… Read more »
FYI- The medals (despite some reports to the contrary and even grading labels from some companies) are NOT high relief. The Mint has confirmed this to me.
Thanks Louis for the information regarding high relief. After seeing a couple of posts commenting on prices on eBay, I had to take a look! Wow! I saw one advertised as a MS70, High Relief, Ultra Cameo, signed by Rhett Jeppson for $165.00! My oh my! Looks like the correct name for the seller… Jesse James. 🙂
As I posted here a few times in the past few weeks, these are NOT high relief silver medals. The CCAC wanted high relief when they were debating them, but the Mint didn’t want the extra effort & expense and suggested a “larger palette” diameter for the modified design on these. If you notice, since these are larger in diameter than the companion gold high relief coin, Lady Liberty has more of the design below her shoulders showing on these silver medals. Also, on the reverse, the inscription of “United States of America” is not in a semi-circle near the… Read more »
Why would anyone buy this one ounce (over minted) medal when instead you can purchase three silver maple leafs or silver eagles for the same sixty dollars and in the process triple your future profits which could be huge if silver reaches; $100, $200 or even $1000. Don’t laugh, the day is soon arriving when the whole world will realize that FRN’s are worthless trash and refuse to use them. As I’m typing this you only need to use 16.7 of these funny notes to buy one full ounce of pure silver, plus commission. This is the opportunity of a… Read more »
First day sales were 24,233 of these silver medals. Another about 6,600 we’re sold the next two days for a total of approximately 31,000 at $59.95 each plus $4.95 S&H. Not a bad start.
-NumisDudeTx
I think that the four medal set coming up should portray all the diversity of lady liberty as latina, African American, native american etc. Why wait for every two years series. This is only a silver medal or mabe every two years honor an event thats honoring historical events about diversity in america.
The reverse side eagle on my silver 225th anniversary medal is upside down when compared to the reverse side eagle on my gold medal. In other words, to keep the images right side up when flipping the coin, the silver coin flips horizontally; the gold coin flips vertically. Is this intentional or a mint error?