Collectors were told in August to expect the American Silver Eagle 25th Anniversary Set in "late October." A firmer release date is now available, based on an update Wednesday to the United States Mint’s website.
While subject to change, the Mint is planning to release the anniversary set on October 27, 2011. The launch date was added to the Mint’s "2011 Scheduled Products Listing" page which visibly sports the message:
"All dates are subject to change by the United States Mint without prior notice."
The biggest question on most collectors’ minds, the price for the anniversary set, is still unanswered. Given recent volatile precious metals prices, the price may not be announced until a few days before the set’s release. However, it should be lower than previously expected given that three of the coins in the five-coin set are currently sold individually and two of them just had their prices reduced by $9.50. More on a potential price later…
[Update: The United States Mint announced the price for the anniversary set on Thursday, October 20. It will be $299.95.]
The American Silver Eagle was first issued by the United States Mint in investment-grade bullion and in collector proof versions back in 1986. Marking the series’ 25th anniversary, the set will include:
- One 2011 Bullion American Silver Eagle (released individually on January 3)
- One 2011-W Proof American Silver Eagle (released individually on June 30)
- One 2011-W Uncirculated American Silver Eagle (released individually on September 15)
- One 2011-S Uncirculated American Silver Eagle (not sold separately, and not an annually released product)
- One 2011-P Reverse Proof American Silver Eagle (not sold separately, and not an annually released product)
On Friday, October 7, the Mint lowered the price of the proof Eagle from $68.45 to $58.95 and cut the cost of the uncirculated Eagle from $60.45 to $50.95. Bullion Eagles are generally available for a few dollars over the current spot price of silver, which hovered around $32.50 on Wednesday. Based on these numbers, it would suggest that the anniversary set could be priced within a $250-$280 range.
The United States Mint said in August that it plans on producing up to 100,000 anniversary sets.
Every American Silver Eagle coin since 1986 has been struck from .999 fine silver and shares the same obverse and reverse designs. The obverse features a modern version of sculptor Adolph A. Weinman’s "Walking Liberty" which was used on the silver half-dollar between 1916 and 1947. The reverse, designed by John Mercanti, features a heraldic eagle with shield.
