2009 Silver Eagle Bullion Coin

The 2009 American Silver Eagle bullion coin appeared as the annual installment of a series of silver coins that have been issued by the United States Mint since 1986. The bullion coins are authorized by the Liberty Coin Act of 1985 (Public Law 99-61). Each year’s issue is an official silver investment bullion strike of the United States.

Along with these bullion coins, and featuring the same designs, the U.S. Mint also typically produces collector versions of the Silver Eagle in both proof and uncirculated condition. The proofs also debuted in 1986. The silver uncirculated coins first appeared in 2006. However, the Mint cancelled both numismatic versions for 2009 as it struggled to meet bullion demand.

2009 Silver Eagle Bullion Coin Values

Bullion products from the Mint are sold through its network of authorized purchasers. (The only other silver bullion product produced by the Mint are America the Beautiful Silver Coins, and those were introduced one year after the 2009 Silver Eagle.) This network buys the silver coins in bulk and resells them to the public for a small premium above the current spot price of the precious metal contained within them. The procedure is considered to be the most effective by the Mint in ensuring readily available supplies to the buying public who may want to purchase large quantities of them at any given time.

As each 2009 Silver Eagle bullion coin contains one troy ounce of .999 fine silver, their intrinsic melt value will always be approximately equal to the current market value of an ounce of the precious metal. Thus, if silver is currently trading for $30 an ounce, each will have a melt value of $30. Those selling expect to receive slightly under that amount, while those buying would expect to pay slightly over that amount, allowing for a small profit in handling the exchange.

Some Silver Eagles will also receive the attention of collectors giving them numismatic value. This is especially true for those that have been graded highly by a third party grading service. It is also more likely for a bullion coin to catch the eye of a collector when no numismatic versions were produced during the year, such as 2009. However, large mintages do typically detract from numismatic values.

2009 Silver Eagle Bullion Coin Information

Interest in the 2009 Silver Eagle bullion coin proved to be so high that more were sold during that year than in any year up to that point. In fact a total of 28,766,500 of the coins were purchased during the year with the total year-dated mintage coming in at an astonishing 30,459,000 (some 2009-dated coins were sold in late 2009 and early 2010).

First used on the Walking Liberty Half Dollar designed by Adolph A. Weinman that appeared from 1916-1947, the design on the obverse is considered one of the most beautiful ever to appear on American Coinage. Also shown are the inscriptions of LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST and the year of 2009.

A Heraldic Eagle with Shield is shown on the reverse and was designed by John Mercanti. The inscription of E PLURIBUS UNUM is contained within the design while UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 1 OZ. FINE SILVER and ONE DOLLAR surround it.

2009 Silver Eagle Coin Specifications