1996 1 oz American Silver Eagle BU

Coin Highlights:

• Contains 1 oz of fine silver.
• Multiples of 20 are packaged in mint issued tubes. All other Silver Eagle coins will come in protective packaging.
• Worldwide mintage of 3,603,386 coins.
• Eligible for Precious Metals IRAs.
• Obverse: Adolph A. Weinman’s design showing Lady Liberty draped in an American flag, walking gracefully as the sun rises over a ridge.
• Reverse: A heraldic eagle is shown below 13 small stars, representing the original colonies.
• Guaranteed and backed by the U.S. Mint.

Protect your American Silver Eagle with this clear plastic capsule or display it in style by adding an attractive jewelry bezel to your order.

One of the most popular designs in American coinage, the Silver Eagle combines beauty with silver bullion appeal. Add the 1996 Silver Eagle to your cart today!

History of the American Silver Eagle Program
The U.S. Mint attempted to establish selling Silver bullion in the 1970s and early 1980s to help reduce the Defense National Stockpile. The reasoning was that domestic needs exceeded that of strategic needs. Many refiners had actually opposed the plan due to concerns of diminishing the need of in-state mining and possible reduction of Silver spot at the time. Throughout the back-and-forth, the United States did end up selling off large amounts of Silver (roughly 105 million troy ounces) but not as coin, as they had originally intended. When this happened, it did in fact cause the price of Silver to drop immediately. Many traders started unloading futures with the anticipation that price would fall, which it did. Over a span of several years and suspensions, it wasn’t until June 21, 1985, that the Senate finally agreed to an amendment by a voice vote. The amended bill was signed by President Ronald Reagan on July 9, 1985. The bill, know as the “Liberty Coin Act” authorized the law of the American Silver Eagle program with an effective date of October 1, 1985, but came with stipulations that no coins may be struck or sold until September 1, 1986. Finally, after all of this, the first American Silver Eagle was released on November 24, 1986, and has gone on to become one of the most beloved, best-selling coins in the world.

The Design (1986 to 2021)
The obverse (front) of the coin was taken from the “Walking Liberty,” originally designed by Adolph A. Weinman in 1916. The iconic design had already been a public favorite and one of the most beloved of any United States coinage of modern times, which made it an instant favorite among collectors and enthusiasts once released. The reverse (back) was designed by John Mercanti and portrayed a heraldic eagle behind a shield. The eagle holds a banner in its beak while grasping an olive branch in its right talon and arrows in its left, an image that echoes the Great Seal of the United States. Above the eagle and below the legend are 13 five-pointed stars representing the original 13 colonies.

Direct from the U.S. Mint
The U.S. Mint does not sell its bullion coins directly to the public. Instead, they distribute their coins to only a handful of authorized purchasers who then sell the coins to the public. As one of these authorized purchasers, APMEX is able to get coins directly from the U.S. Mint and pass them along to you, our customer.

Learn about advantages Silver Eagles have over silver rounds, like this 1996 Silver Eagle BU, which has a face value and is backed by the U.S. government.

The coins you receive may exhibit some level of natural toning and/or oxidation such as spotting. This is a normal process that and can occur over time when exposed to hydrogen sulfide which is naturally occurring in the air.