The 2010 American Silver Eagle Proof coins are part of a series originally authorized by the Liberty Coin Act (Public Law 99-61) which dictated that bullion silver coins be struck annually to provide investors an opportunity to obtain small amounts of silver to add to their portfolios.
To that end, the United States Mint started issuing the bullion strikes in 1986 and also added these Silver Eagle Proof coins to their numismatic product line-up that same year. Struck solely for collectors, they have appeared annually until 2009 when the U.S. Mint was forced to cancel their production because of unprecedented demand for the bullion strikes. The series returns again with this 2010 Silver Eagle Proof.
2010 Silver Eagle Proof Coin Values
Unlike the bullion Silver Eagles which are sold through a network of authorized purchasers, the Mint sells the proof coins directly to the public. Also, whereas the bullion coins are sold for a small premium above the current spot price of the silver contained within them, the Mint charges a significant premium on these collector strikes.
When issued, the 2010 Silver Eagle Proof Coins were sold at a price of $45.95 per coin. For reference, the highest the silver market reached in the first nine months of the year was $22.07 an ounce. Collectors pay that larger premium, however, in order to obtain proofs for their collection.
Still, even if the collector market falters for the strikes (extremely unlikely), the coins will always have an intrinsic melt value equal to the one ounce of .999 fine silver contained within them. So, if silver is currently trading for $22 an ounce, these coins would have a melt value of approximately $22.
Generally, Silver Eagles that have been slabbed by third party grading services will command much larger premiums. Those which return with a high grade will be worth much more than a coin with a lower grade, or those coins which have not been graded at all.
2010 Silver Eagle Proof Coin Information
Proof American Silver Eagles had been sold annually from 1986 through 2008. In those years, over 15 million of the strikes had been purchased. However, only twice had the annual numbers reached above 1 million.
Then, owing to intense demand for the bullion eagles, the Mint was forced to cancel production of the 2009 Silver Eagle Proof Coins. They did make a return in 2010 with the release of these coins starting on November 19, 2010.
Shown on the obverse of the strike is Adolph A. Weinman’s image of "Walking Liberty." Considered one of the most beautiful designs ever struck on an American coin, it was first used on the Walking Liberty Half Dollar which appeared from 1916-1947. The Silver Eagle also contains the inscriptions of LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST and the year of 2010 on its obverse.
The reverse design was completed by John Mercanti and shows a heraldic eagle with shield along with the inscriptions of E PLURIBUS UNUM, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 1 OZ. FINE SILVER and ONE DOLLAR.
The silver coins sales figures page will contain current sales numbers for the Eagles, when available. Melt values for the strikes based on the current silver market are also shown.
2010 Silver Eagle Coin Specifications
| Face Value: | $1 |
| Composition: | .999 Fine Silver |
| Total Estimated Mintage: | 850,000 (estimated) |
| Diameter: | 40.6 mm |
| Weight | 31.101 grams |
| Edge: | Reeded |
| Minting Facility: | West Point (W mintmark) |
| Obverse Design: | Image of Walking Liberty |
| Obverse Designer: | Adolph A. Weinman |
| Reverse Design: | Image of Heraldic Eagle |
| Reverse Designer: | John Mercanti |
