| These days, more and more people are getting | | | | * Check the year of minting |
| involved in coin collecting as a serious business, or | | | | By knowing the minting years of a coin, you are |
| as a fun hobby. To answer the growing demand | | | | one step closer to identifying a fake from a real |
| of people looking for rare and valuable old coins, a | | | | coin. The Silver Eagle was minted on the year |
| lot of coin dealers are selling these coins. Sad to | | | | 1986. So if you see one for sale that has the |
| say, though, that this has been an outlet for a lot | | | | year 1906 or any year that is before 1986, then |
| of counterfeiters out there. | | | | consider it fake. It wasn't the U.S. Mint that |
| To guide you in buying a real Silver Eagle dollar, | | | | made the coin. Save yourself the money and |
| this article will provide interesting facts about the | | | | don't buy it. |
| official silver bullion coin of the United States, the | | | | * Weigh it |
| American Silver Eagle, and some ways to | | | | If you're equipped with knowledge about the coin, |
| distinguish a real one from a counterfeit. | | | | you're better to discriminate one from a fake. A |
| What is the American Silver Eagle? | | | | true Silver Eagle dollar will weigh 31.103 grams. |
| The Silver Eagle dollar was first released by the | | | | Also consider the diameter. Remember it should |
| U.S. Mint on November 24, 1986. It contains one | | | | be 40.66 mm, not anything lower or higher than |
| troy ounce of .999 pure silver, and has a nominal | | | | that. So, even if your coin 'looks' real, weight it |
| face value of one dollar. Its weight and content | | | | to see if it really is. |
| is certified by the U.S. Mint and it is authorized by | | | | * Appearance |
| the U.S. Congress. For coin collectors, the U.S. | | | | A fake Silver Eagle is dull, grayish looking, and not |
| Mint produces a proof version of the coin. | | | | lustrous. It could also have a soapy appearance |
| The Silver Eagle dollar has been produced at three | | | | to it. |
| minting locations, including Philadelphia ('P' | | | | * Check the reeding |
| mintmark), San Francisco ('S' mintmark) which | | | | Remember that an authentic Silver Eagle is |
| issued proofs, and more recent proofs from | | | | reeded, so if you happen by one that is not, skip |
| West Point. | | | | it. It's fake. |
| Physical Descriptions | | | | * Test |
| An authentic Silver Eagle dollar will weigh 31.103 | | | | You can perform the drop test, and listen to its |
| grams, and its diameter is 40.60 mm, with a | | | | distinctive ring. If you drop it and it produces a |
| thickness of 2.98 mm. Its edge must be reeded, | | | | dink sound, then this is most likely not silver. |
| and the Silver content is 99.9%. The obverse | | | | Keep in mind that a Silver Eagle is 99.9% silver. |
| design features Liberty walking and is adapted | | | | You can also do the magnetic test, where if the |
| from the design of Adolph A. Weinman during the | | | | coin is attracted to the magnet, then it is not |
| year 1916. The reverse design features a | | | | real. It is probably copper made to look 'silver'. |
| Heraldic Eagle with Shield, which was designed by | | | | As a whole, distinguishing a real from a fake Silver |
| John Mercanti on the year1986. | | | | Eagle is easy, for as long as you are equipped |
| How do I tell if a Silver Eagle is fake? | | | | with relevant information about the coin. |