United States Mint to Offer American Eagle Proof Coins

Washington, DC — The United States Mint announced today that 2010-dated one-ounce American Eagle Silver Proof Coins will be made available for sale on November 19. Orders for the popular numismatic coin can be placed starting at noon Eastern Time (ET) on that date. Order fulfillment will begin by December 1. The price of the coin will be $45.95 (one ounce of pure silver is approximately $22 in the world marketplace). A shipping and handling fee of $4.95 will be added to all domestic orders.

Household orders will be limited to 100 units. Orders will be accepted on the United States Mint's secure Website - www.usmint.gov. Those who wish to order by telephone may call 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). Hearing- and speech-impaired customers with TTY equipment may order by calling 1-888-321-MINT. Advance sales are currently available through the United States Mint's subscription program, where customers can have the American Eagle Silver Proof Coin and other specified products automatically shipped as each product becomes available. Visit www.usmint.gov for more information on this convenient shopping method.

The coin was not available in 2009 because of high demand for the United States Mint's American Eagle Silver Bullion Coin. Legislation mandates that American Eagle Silver Bullion Coin production take precedence over the numismatic version of the coin. Economic conditions drove investor demand for the United States Mint's silver bullion coins to unprecedented highs in both Fiscal Years 2009 and 2010.

"We have worked very hard with vendors to increase the quantity of precious metal planchets available to us," said Director Ed Moy. "That hard work has paid off. In fact, we have tripled our supply of silver planchets from Fiscal Year 2007 levels."

Although the demand for precious metal coins remains high, the increase in supply of planchets — coupled with lower demand for bullion orders in August and September — allowed the United States Mint to come off allocation and shift some capacity to produce numismatic versions of the one-ounce American Eagle Silver Proof Coin.

The 2010 American Eagle Silver Proof Coin weighs one troy ounce and contains .999 silver. The obverse features Lady Liberty in full stride, enveloped in the folds of the American flag, with her right hand extended and branches of laurel and oak in her left. Featured on the coin's reverse is the image of a heraldic eagle with shield, an olive branch in the right talon and arrows in the left.

Struck on specially burnished blanks, the American Eagle Silver Proof Coin carries the "W" mint mark, indicating its production at the United States Mint at West Point. Each coin is encapsulated in protective plastic and placed in a blue presentation case accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity signed by the Director of the United States Mint.

The United States Mint will not offer the following products in 2010: the one-ounce American Eagle Silver Uncirculated Coin, the one-ounce American Eagle Gold Uncirculated Coin and the United States Mint Annual Uncirculated Dollar Coin SetTM, which would have included a one-ounce American Eagle Silver Uncirculated Coin.

The United States Mint, created by Congress in 1792, is the Nation's sole manufacturer of legal tender coinage. Its primary mission is to produce an adequate volume of circulating coinage for the nation to conduct its trade and commerce. The United States Mint also produces proof, uncirculated and commemorative coins; Congressional Gold Medals; and silver, gold and platinum bullion coins.

Released October 4, 2010, The United States Mint Pressroom