2012-W American Silver Eagle Proof Coin Released

One of the United States Mint’s most popular annual numismatic products is now available. The 2012-W American Silver Eagle proof coin was released for sale beginning at Noon (Eastern) today, April 12, 2012.

The American Silver Eagle has an initial price listed of $59.95, plus the U.S. Mint’s standard shipping and handling charge of $4.95 per order. No household order limit is in place for the proof coin and the maximum mintage will be determined by customer demand, according to the Mint.

At $59.95, the 2012 proof Eagle is offered at the same price as last year’s 2011-W American Silver Eagle which made its debut appearance on June 30, 2011. The U.S. Mint had initially planned on offering the newest version for two dollars more at $61.95, according to a notice in the Federal Register earlier this year. However, the price was adjusted down with a new notice issued last month.

The American Silver Eagle proof coin is a high-demand product as hundreds of thousands are ordered annually by coin collectors. That interest was especially intense in 2010 as collector’s placed orders for 273,212 of them in less than three days in an attempt to satisfy pent-up demand for the strikes which were cancelled the previous year.

That demand was still apparent last year as 367,623 were ordered in just six days. Final sales those years placed mintages around 860,000 in 2010 and 950,000 in 2011. (2011 figures include 850,000 sold individually and 100,000 sold as part of the American Silver Eagle 25th Anniversary Set).

American Silver Eagles made their debut in 1986 in both bullion and proof versions. Since that debut, the coins have contained the same obverse and reverse imagery with the obverse showing Adolph A. Weinman’s "Walking Liberty" design used on the 1916-1947 silver half-dollar. The reverse shows a heraldic eagle design as completed by John Mercanti. This year’s bullion version was released on January 3, 2012.

Silver Eagles are each struck from one ounce of .999 fine silver. The proof coin showcases a mirror-like background and is struck at the U.S. Mint’s facility in West Point. That is indicated by a ‘W’ mintmark on the reverse. The bullion version has no mintmark or special finish. At some point later this year, an uncirculated version for collectors is expected out. This will also feature the ‘W’ mintmark. There has been some talk of an uncirculated Eagle struck at San Francisco with a ‘S’ mintmark, the start of annual Silver Eagle sets and/or a special 75th Anniversary San Francisco Set containing a proof and a special "reverse proof" — both with ‘S’ mintmarks. No information has been officially revealed by the U.S. Mint on these possible offerings, however.

The U.S. Mint places each proof Silver Eagle in a protective capsule and ships it in a satin-lined presentation case. A certificate of authenticity is also included with each purchase.

Orders for the 2012-W American Silver Eagle proof coin may be placed directly from the United States Mint website at http://www.usmint.gov/catalog or by calling the bureau directly at 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468).