Many collectors are anticipating the release of the 2023-W Uncirculated American Silver Eagle, which will be available for purchase from the United States Mint starting today at noon EDT.
Each coin is crafted from 1-ounce of .999 fine silver at the U.S. Mint’s West Point facility. The tradition of offering uncirculated versions of the American Silver Eagle dates back to 2006, two decades after the launch of the associated bullion Silver Eagle program in 1986.
Coin Designs
Adolph A. Weinman’s classic Walking Liberty design has graced the obverse (heads side) of all Silver Eagles since their debuts. It was originally featured on the 1916-1947 half-dollars and shows Liberty in full stride. She is enveloped in folds of the flag with her right hand extended and her left hand holding branches of laurel and oak. Inscriptions include "LIBERTY," "IN GOD WE TRUST" and "2022."
The design, of note, was enhanced in 2021 when the Mint utilized its historical artifacts along with modern-day technology to better represent Weinman’s original intent. Weinman’s traditional artist mark was also added to the image.
2021 also saw the debut of a new reverse (tails side) design for all of the Silver Eagles — bullion, proof and uncirculated. The image was created by Emily Damstra and sculpted by Michael Gaudioso
The reverse depict an eagle as it approaches a landing, carrying an oak branch, as if to add it to a nest. Reverse inscriptions read: "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "E PLURIBUS UNUM," "1 OZ. FINE SILVER," and "ONE DOLLAR."
A reeded edge variation is included as an enhanced security measure.
Coin Specifications
| Denomination: | $1 |
| Finish: | Uncirculated |
| Composition: | 99.9% Silver |
| Weight: | 1.000 troy oz. (31.103 grams) |
| Diameter: | 1.598 inches (40.60 mm) |
| Edge: | Reeded |
| Mint and Mint Mark: | West Point – W |
Ordering
The 2023-W Uncirculated American Silver Eagle may be ordered by visiting the Mint’s online store for American Eagle coins. Pricing of each is $76, an increase over last year’s $67 price tag.
No mintage or product limit is specified, but there is an initial household order limit of 10 coins.
I like the luster of the uncirculated coins. Got notice that my order had shipped.
Me2
You can’t beat that burnished look, Rooster; it projects a unique sense of artistry.
If it didn’t have a mint mark, it would just be uncirculated.
The $9 price increase on this coin from last year to $76 for each 1 oz. silver coin is hard to rationalize, especially since silver is down about 5% this week alone & went under $23 per ounce today! It’s an unlimited mintage coin also. The Mint has caused a problem with this coin since it was first issued in 2006…the Mint has called it “One Ounce of Burnished Beauty” in its advertising over the years. But, on the COA next to the word “Finish” it just states “Uncirculated,” while it should say “Burnished Uncirculated”. The bullion version of this… Read more »
Thanks Seth for this info. Prices sure have skyrocketed. I now order a fraction of what I used to order.
A fraction is a perfect way to put it, Rooster, and I have to say I too have become a member of the “vastly shrunken order quantity society” as of this year.
I liked the pricing for them in 2006, when they sold for $19.95 each. I bought 10 of them each year for the first few years and now they want $76. I believe the price of silver was around $12/ounce in 2006, so basically it’s doubled yet this particular coin has almost quadrupled in price. I’m thinking that the problem with our public education, they couldn’t find one student in the Baltimore school system that was proficient in math, is multiplied in D,C,!
Craig, I don’t think the problem of a lack of math knowledge by students in public schools is one of a failure of the system but rather a reluctance on the part of the pupils to want to learn. It’s akin to the old adage of leading a horse to water but not being able to make him drink; it’s as true as ever.
But the thing is, what will the coins sell for in the future? That’s what I’m looking at. So far, they’re surpassing even the 1994 ASEs.
I don’t think we can lose with coins, Antonio, unless we make the mistake of thinking of them or even counting on them as an investment. As long as we just enjoy our collections, we’re fine.
Antonio: Coins are tough as an investment unless you get rare or very low mintage coins. I have collected for decades and have some coins that I can turn a nice profit but most are just valued based on metal content. I have yet to have a coin pay me interest or dividends. Coins are a solid investment as a way to diversify no doubt. Some people are true gold/silver bugs that invest a large amount In coinage. I am at less than 5%. If I look at my portfolio over time (30+ years) my stocks have outperformed my coins… Read more »
A good scenario, Rooster, and a helpful, realistic mini-tutorial.
Thanks Kaiser. Everyone has different views and expectations on coins. This is just my real life scenario.
Rooster, like with everything else I’d say the key is to buy low and sell high. As an investment there are a lot of deals to be had out there.
Well said Rooster. I enjoy collecting bullion coins and have some which I could sell for a nice profit, but that would pale in comparison to the wealth I’ve accumulated over the years via the stock market. It is gratifying though to hold a kilo Ag coin in your hands, even if it doesn’t pay a dividend!
Craig: I believe our experience is similar and what the majority of collectors have experienced as well.
Or you can collect coins because you enjoy coin collecting, as I do. I suppose my proof 1995 W ASE is worth something.
Antonio that’s what I’m talking about.
Seth, there is something missing in that description that doesn’t match what I see when I look at the mint’s”Uncirculated” coins closely. The planchets may be tumble-burnished but the dies have been laser frosted so the resulting coin has a frosted finish, not a burnished finish. It looks like the frosted surface relief on the die completely over stamps any texture left from the burnishing. Tell me if you see the finish differently.
Kia99,
I too see a frosted finish on a burnished planchet when I look at this coin. The Mint caused the Burnished finish vs Uncirculated finish semantic confusion by advertising them as “One Ounce of Burnished Beauty”.
PCGS gives this version a “Specimen” grade status such as SP-70, while NGC gives this version a “MS-70” grade to make things even more confusing to those who do not know how they are produced.
NumisdudeTX
Good call on the specifically “Burnished” as opposed to the generically “Uncirculated”, Seth, as there is definitely a major difference in appearance and quality.
My position on the Uncirculated vs burnished argument is that burnished is actually the confusing term, as bullion and Uncirculated look so similar. Many well-struck bullion coins have a handsome burnished look, albeit not as consistently as Uncirculated. I think all ASE collectors would be better served by just using the Mint nomenclature as opposed to using their own terms. Granted I know what people generally are referring to buy a burnished ASE. It’s a very confusing situation.
Yes, but even the top two grading services are at odds with this Burnished version – PCGS grades them with a “Specimen” designation such as “SP-70” & NGC grades them regular Uncirculated designation such as “MS-70”, thus adding confusion to those who don’t know how they are both produced.
NumisdudeTX
I’d say this is an easy one to distinguish. The uncirculated bullion does not have a mint mark, whereas the uncirculated/”burnished” one does.
I would say that is a bingo, Major D!
Technically, Dan, and this is according to the U.S. Mint, “Burnished” refers not just to appearance but also to preparation. The planchets used to mint such coins are treated beforehand to allow them to have that specific look when they are finished. Additionally, “Uncirculated” and “Bullion” are also not simply a reference to appearance but more specifically to difference in the level of their numismatic grades.
I ordered my usual 4 per year through the subscription. I like the look of the burnished finish as well.
The burnished look, Adam, goes really well with the peerless design of the Unc. ASE.
I’m looking forward to the Peace dollars. I really like them. That’s the one I’m banking on.
That is a really impressive looking coin, Antonio and I too am excited about getting those into my collection this year. Whether or not I will keep purchasing them in future years remains to be seen, but that’s a decision for another day.
The Peace is my second favorite coin. The Morgan “cartwheels” have been my favorite. This holds true for me with the new modern Morgan/Peace coins. Both are gems. Happy the mint is punching them out.
Antonio,
My favorite thing about the Peace dollars is the inscription “PEACE” on the reverse. The Peace dollars were first struck in 1921 at the suggestion of the head of the American Numismatic Association and its members at the time just 2 years after WWI officially ended as a reminder that we should always look towards peace instead of war. A nice thought…
NumisdudeTX
I have a nice collection of Buffalo nickels, Mercury dimes, Standing Liberty quarters, Walking Liberty half dollars and Peace dollars. These are my favorite coins to collect, especially in choice, uncirculated condition. I can look at them and really feel admiration for them. Too bad they were discontinued and replaced by the rather dull presidential coins. At least the AWQs hold some promise as far as beauty and innovation.
Antonio, I commend your choices. I just received ten rolls of AWQ Bessie Coleman from my bank today. They all look flawless on each end of the roll. Nothing beats a shiny uncirculated coin IMO- and I agree the AWQ have some great looking designs.
Antonio,
I too think the presidents on our circulating coins need to be retired & replaced by new, fresh designs. The presidents & others (Ben Franklin, Alexander Hamilton) should IMHO be kept on our Federal Reserve Notes with additions like Harriet Tubman, especially since our banknotes circulate around the world, while our coins don’t so much.
NumisdudeTX
Seth, I guess our presidents and gov officials (e.g. Hamilton and Franklin) on bills arose as a next-best response to the sovereigns (kings and queens and supreme leaders) that other countries traditionally utilized.
Seth, I believe we’ve been at war all but 18 years out of our nation’s history. But it’s only during the Civil War and WW II where we’ve had the world’s largest army (by active military personnel). Here’s an interesting comparison over time: Top 10 Largest Armies in the World (1816-2021) – Bing video
Major D,
Thanks for the info & link. Didn’t we lose more lives in our Civil War than any other of our many wars? It’s amazing & so very sad.
NumisdudeTX
Seth- Yes, I believe so- very sad indeed.
This is my opinion the mail carrier just delivered your 2023 american silver eagle coins.You see your neighbor come home and go talk to him and he has a carton of cigarettes he just bought.At the end of the week what does he have to show for and at the end of the week what do you have to show for? What is better an expensive silver dollar or an ash tray full of cigarette butts?
That, Mike, is what I would call an argument that cannot be argued with.
Excellent. Reminds me of a coworker that gave up drinking but instead spent his money on coins. He did very well.
I think it’s called rationalizing. I do it all the time when I buy coins.
I just watched a taped HSN coin show, with our favourite coin expert M. Mezack, and he was showing the 2023 W SP70 ANACS Advanced Release ASE for only $299.99. Now if he priced it at $300.00, I would think I’m overpaying for it. Thank God it was only $299,99! I still have no explanation as to why people pay a higher premium for an ‘Advanced Release’ label other than some are suckers for marketing. The NGC labeled MS70’s he was selling for just $199.99. What a deal.
Craig, the appellations referred to variously as “Advanced Release”, “First Release” and “Early Release” I would put into the category of “contrived provenance” in that none of them have any real-world meaning in numismatics. It’s just a rather transparent name game to acquire either a little or sometimes even a lot of extra profit.
https://www.cmi-gold-silver.com/article/first-strike-coins-buffalos-eagles/
in the end they are still coins and in most cases when you try to sell them – you won’t get your money back
Yes, they’re just collectibles. I’d say the ASE’s are the worst series bc they’re so over-produced and over-priced and over-slabbed (with a cacophony of designer labels).
Just received my 2023 W burnished ASE. It looks….burnished.
Dave, many thanks for the link to the extremely informative and exceptionally definitive article regarding the history, intent and rather sobering reality of “First Release” and “Early Release” silver and gold coins, whether of bullion or numismatic grade. Clearly it’s best to avoid this entire fancifully named niche of collecting and stick to purchasing coins priced without the gratuitous surcharges these fictional grandiosities involve.
Great article. I have read similar articles and came to my own conclusion to longer send in coins for grading. That was in 2010. Those first strike or early releases coins could actually be the last coins produced.
The entire “this and that type of assorted release” gambit, Rooster, has been revealed to be a house of cards, literally without any truth or substance to it.
FYI, NGC got sued by the government way back in the day for its use of the plural phrase “First Strikes” & had to pay a fine & the judge made NGC provide some free services such as authentication/grading/slabbing for the Smithsonian Institution’s National Numismatic Collection in Washington D.C. owned by the USA Government. “First Strikes” in numismatic terminology, of course, means the first few coins struck from a fresh pair of dies, and usually exhibiting Proof-like surfaces & Deep Cameo features. The term has nothing to do with when you send the coin to the TPG coin grading company,… Read more »
Hi Seth,
Does that method apply to all the other coins too? I always assumed that ordering any coin at noon on release day would likely mean getting one of the first ones struck, but now I am not sure if that ever is the case.
Jeff, Sorry, but I forgot to say I was speaking about the silver, gold, platinum & palladium bullion version coins that the Mint doesn’t sell directly to the public, but only to their 13 Authorized Purchasers companies…(Last I checked it was 10 companies in the USA, 2 in Germany & 1 in Japan). Those companies are required to pick the coins up at their own expense at the West Point Mint in West Point, NY by appointment. The Mint’s other coins are shipped randomly from each Mint facility to the Mint’s contracted private vendor fulfillment warehouse in Memphis, Tennessee &… Read more »
Just a minor footnote, Seth, but I find it rather interesting that the only three Mint Authorized Purchasers not based in the United States are located in the two leading Axis Powers of WWII. Another emphatic example of how things do indeed change.
Interesting. Sounds like the Mint uses Last In, First Out (LIFO) method for inventory costing accounting.
Not a problem if the product is coins, Major D; with fish it could get a bit smelly.
Only 50 dollars over silver price what a bargain
Chant the mantra: “I’m not buying a precious metal, I’m purchasing a precious coin.”