Authorized by Congress in 1985 and first minted in 1986, Silver Eagles are pure .999 fine silver, the finest silver coins ever minted and distributed in the U.S.A. Each coin contains one troy ounce of pure silver and measures 1.598" (or 40.6mm) in diameter with a thickness of .117" or 2.98mm. They are impressively large and substantial coins...America's only official investment grade silver bullion coins...and make a handsome and worthwhile addition to any investment portfolio.
They are also considered by many to be one of the most beautiful coins ever minted anywhere in the world. Their obverse design is based on the U.S. "Walking Liberty" half dollar, first minted in 1916 and designed by German-immigrant sculptor Adolph Alexander Weinman, who also designed the famous U.S. "Mercury" dime, also introduced in 1916.
The reverse side of the coin features a bald eagle and shield, with 13 stars, representing the 13 original American colonies, positioned above the eagle's head.
The silver American Eagle is minted in the U.S. Mint's West Point, New York facility, and is a legal tender U.S. coin with a face value of one U.S. Dollar...granted, a largely symbolic amount, since the market price of one ounce of silver has been many times greater than one dollar for more than four decades.