Looking at the obverse side of the American Silver Eagle, you can quickly recognize that its design was very identical to the “Walking Liberty” design created by Adolf A. Weinman – the trusted companion and associate of Augustus Saint Gaudens – the favorite sculptor and coin designer of President Roosevelt.

It’s not really surprising why it took much of the design from the Walking Liberty.

This iconic design that has been Adopted by the American Silver Eagle has been a public favorite…one of the most loved designs in the modern history of United States Coinage. On the reverse side of the coin, one can find the Heraldic Eagle which was crafted by the skillful hands of John Mercanti.

How valuable is this loved American silver eagle? You see, the mintages of uncirculated and proof of specimens of the American Silver Eagle varies widely. With that in mind, the value or the price of this coin is just as diverse. If you’re planning to buy an American Silver Eagle coin, it is highly recommended that you read and check a standard reference book.

In general, the American Silver Eagle has been minted in millions. On the other hand, the proofs that were issued are along the hundred thousands. In light of that, most dates of the American Silver Eagle are not that expensive…somewhere around $23 each. However, there are American Silver Eagles that have a proof as early as 1990’s that sell over $100. In addition to that, there are special issues of American Silver Eagle coins (1995W) which are valued at a couple of thousand dollars.

The price and value of the American Silver Eagle coins nowadays may be varied…BUT one thing is for sure – this is one of the most loved and adored coins in the modern US coinage history.

The Morgan Dollar is named after its designer, George T. Morgan. Lady Liberty is facing left and she is encircled by the date of issue, thirteen stars and E PLURIBUS UNUM. The reverse features a bald eagle with wings spread, perched on a branch and arrows. The eagle is surrounded by a wreath and above its head is the motto ‘In God We Trust’. Around the rim is UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Morgan placed an ‘M’ on both sides of the coin to lay his claim to the design.

When the Morgan Dollar was minted in 1878 it was the first dollar made for commercial use since the Seated Liberty Dollar of 1873. The Morgan Dollar was continuously minted until 1904 when there were many dollars in circulation and there was an absence of silver bullion. Then the Pittman Act of 1918 mandated that over 270 million coins be melted for silver. In 1921 the Morgan Dollar was minted again. Since 1921 many Morgan Dollars were melted at the times when silver prices rose.

Large caches of Morgan Dollars that were produced at the Carson City Mint were discovered and were sold to collectors by the US government in the early 1970s. Most were uncirculated and are called GSA for General Services Administration. They came in black plastic holders and are collectible today.

The Morgan Silver Dollar is a favorite among collectors, prized for its good looks and large size.

The Seated Liberty silver dollars were minted in larger quantities than the very sparsely minted Gobrecht Dollar that preceded it. They were used in general circulation until 1853 when the silver was valued more than the face value of the coin. The coin continued to be minted mainly as a trade coin to be used in the Orient, and this ended in 1870 when silver was valued lower, making the dollar able to be put back in circulation.

There were several mint marks on the Seated Liberty silver dollar. The mark CC on some of the coins designate that they were minted in the Carson City Mint in Nevada, the P were minted in the Philadelphia Mint, the O mintmark coins were minted in New Orleans while the coins marked S came from the San Francisco Mint. The mintmarks were under the eagle’s talons on the reverse.

This series has some outstanding rarities. The most valuable coin is the 1870 S, with only 12 to 15 known to exist. The rarest and most unusual is a single coin dated 1851 and marked with an O. This coin was struck under unknown and very mysterious circumstances.

The Flowing Hair dollar series is collected according to type, with most collectors collecting the 1795 because they are easier to acquire. Some of the 1795 dollars have two leaves under each of the eagle’s wings while others have three. The Flowing Hair coins are prized because of the link they have to the birth of the United States and US coinage.

The Flowing Hair dollar was produced for just two years, from 1792 to 1795.

Designer Robert Scot used a drawing by the then famous artist Gilbert Stuart to design the Draped Bust. The Draped Bust silver dollars were issued from 1795 to 1804. The composition of he coins is 89.24% silver and 10.76% copper. The Draped Bust silver dollar coin was minted at the Philadelphia Mint. There were several varieties of the coin, with the best major variety having the obverse stars configured with nine on the left and seven on the right, which was minted in 1797 and in 1798. There there were two reverses minted, one with 15 stars and the other with 13.

The Draped Bust Silver Dollars are hard to located and are highly desired by collectors.

There were two versions of the Draped Bust silver dollar struck in 1795. One featured the bust of Liberty very well centered on the coin and another with the bust too far on the left.

One of the most famous and valuable US coins is the 1804 Draped Bust silver dollar. These were actually minted 30 years after the date as special diplomatic gifts for visiting dignitaries to the United States. A very few of these were also minted as restrikes for collectors. There are only 15 known specimens of the coin today.