In 1999 demand for the American Silver Eagle surged on the wave of Y2K anxiety: 7,408,640 coins were struck, more than in any year since 1987 and twice as many as in 1996.

In 1999–2000 the bullion Eagles were struck at two mints at once, Philadelphia and West Point, after San Francisco had handled the work in 1986–1998. Bullion coins carry no mint mark, so the place of striking is not indicated on an individual coin.

The first-type design has not changed since 1986. The obverse is Adolph Weinman’s Walking Liberty, the American flag over her shoulders and branches in her hand. John Mercanti’s reverse shows a heraldic eagle with a shield on its breast, an olive branch and arrows in its talons and 13 stars overhead for the original colonies, beside the designer’s initials «JM» and the legend «1 OZ. FINE SILVER».

The coin contains one troy ounce of 999 fine silver. The UNC grade means it never circulated: no wear, lustre intact. In a date set this is the millennium-turn year, and in a topical collection one of the most recognisable images of Liberty and the American eagle.

At VPcoins we select coins for collectors of every level, from first steps in numismatics to filling the hardest gaps.