The 2008 American Silver Eagle has many noticeable design changes
Goldbully
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New Year Brings Rehubbed American Silver Eagle
Posted by Justin Katz, NGC Numismatic Quality Control on 1/9/2008
As 2008 begins many yearly products are released, such as the American Silver Eagles from the United States Mint. The reveal of the 2008 Silver Eagle has caused enthusiasts of this series to take note of its subtly modified design.
When compared to the 2007 American Silver Eagle, the 2008 issue has many noticeable design changes. In order to make changes in the design of the American Silver Eagle, the United States Mint must create new hubs. A hub contains a raised image or relief of a coin’s design and is impressed into steel to created new dies. Dies have an incused image of the coin’s design and are used in the actual striking of coins. This year, NGC believes, the US Mint transitioned from traditional engraved hubs – made from reducing a hand engraved galvano – to laser engraved hubs.
During the transition process, sometimes referred to as rehubbing, several design changes were made with an emphasis on the lettering on both sides of the coin. The letters on the 2008 Silver Eagle are taller and skinnier, filling the fields more so than in previous years.
Many of the lettering changes can be seen on the obverse:
The L in LIBERTY has an angled feature to the foot rather than two straight lines forming the letter. The foot of the letter is also shorter than prior years.
The E of LIBERTY is also quite different in that the center portion extends to be in line with the upper extension of the letter. On prior years, the center stem does not extend to the length of the upper stem.
The G of GOD has no serif.
Probably the most obvious and interesting redesign effect is the U of TRUST as well as the U of UNITED on the coin’s reverse. On the 2008 issues the U is shaped as a small case “u” would be. That is, it shows the down stroke on the right side of the letter.
The date is much smaller on the 2008 than on the 2007 dated American Silver Eagle
On the reverse, one of the most obvious differences from previous years can be found in the stars above the eagle. On the 2008 American Silver Eagle, the stars appear flatter, slightly larger and closer together. They also occupy more space of the design, that is their overall arrangement is larger. Other notable changes to the reverse legends include the following:
The letters of 1 OZ. FINE SILVER ~ ONE DOLLAR are all taller and actually sit closer to the rim than in previous years.
The tilde, ~, is also markedly different in shape than on prior years’ issues.
The 2008 issue, of course, is not alone in design changes. Looking carefully at American Silver Eagles from prior years, a number of styles changes will be noticed. The most obvious is a change to the finish of these coins which ranges from a shinny surface used early in the series to the matte finish of today. For collectors, it is exciting to know that even though the coins are similar year to year, they can look forward to minor changes that only a specialist might recognize.
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Comments
Just kidding of course.
The more obvious answer is the US Mint outsourced them to the counterfeiters! Now try to tell if it is spurious!
How about doing a thread for each design change?
The Eagle was rotated 360 degrees!!!!
It's difficult to tell, but believe me!
I was pleased with them when I got them home. They seems to be fully struck....nice and clean...with few if any flaws. I am not an experienced grader...but I have 2 of the 10 that perhaps....maybe....on a good day....go 70.
Overall I was quite pleased with them....Much better than the ones I got in 2007.
RAH
Edited to add: for those who buy them at their local B&M...I would be curious as to price you paid?
<< <i>"The Eagle was rotated 360 degrees!!!!"
Hoard the keys.
<< <i>Are the milk spots the same or have they improved those as well? >>
They are now using buttermilk.........
Maybe we'll end up with type 1 and type 2 reverses if a die from 2007 gets used.
Said another way, her smile in the '07 is quite flat and bland relative to the '08, and it appears under 200% view she might be able to enter a wet t-shirt contest.
Or am I seeing things!
<< <i>
NGC Link >>
Uh, correct me if I'm wrong about this but is Lady Liberty's um, breast showing, uh, some greater definition?
Said another way, her smile in the '07 is quite flat and bland relative to the '08, and it appears under 200% view of these scans that the same can be said about her breast plate.
Or am I seeing things!
or maybe not
<< <i>Is it possible that some of the changes made it through on any of the 2007 dates. That could be interesting. >>
Probably a good place to look it the dollar sets that came out in December 2007.
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CoinsAreFun Toned Silver Eagle Proof Album
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Gallery Mint Museum, Ron Landis& Joe Rust, The beginnings of the Golden Dollar
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More CoinsAreFun Pictorials NGC
Don't forget to add "LAST STRIKE"...
<< <i>PCGS MS-71?
Don't forget to add "LAST STRIKE"...
well or in your neck of the woods....late release
I was going thru the 2008's last night and something was different, but I wasn't motivated enough to look!
This is a huge change. Different Font, the date of 2008 is smaller, less pronounced.
I laid out (3) 2007 W Proof's and (3) 2008 W Proof's on a Plate, but with the Reverse Sides up.
I called over and allowed my 10 Year old son and had him sort which 3 were alike and place them in two stacks, no turning them over. (They were in Mint Capsules) He immediatley sorted them correctly.
He said "Dad, this pile also has an indentation circle around the letters. He was right! You know, that pressure ring that Eagle Proofs have? It is GONE in the 2008 W's !
I did the same thing with my wife. She doesn't pay attention to my coin collecting all that much. (thank God) , but within 60 seconds she had sorted them out.
Question, does this happen alot, such a noticable change between years?
Pictures Shortly!
If not, why wouldn't they?
<< <i>Would the noteable differences in the later '07s constitute a true variation?
If not, why wouldn't they? >>
I would say yes, especially when you think of the Presidential Dollars and all their "positions!!!"
These ASE's are pure silver and have way less mintage than those "Golden Dollars."
<< <i>Are the milk spots the same or have they improved those as well? >>
<< <i>Proofs Posted, Above! Of course, I left the good camera at my office! >>
Thanks COINBOY, great post!!!! I look forward to your office camera results!!
There's hope yet for your wife and son!!!!
This means the 2006 W Uncs & 2007 W's Unc (both Burnished) are special indeed ;>
<< <i>I just received a group of 2007 w ase's yesterday that were ordered early in Nov..........to my surprise they look a lot better the ones I received in June.....the planchet prep seems a lot more uniform..
Forgot to tell you.....gorgeous pics Sumorada.
Please come back with pics of the 2008 when you get them.
2008 ASE MS70 FS
2008-W MS70 FS
2008-W PR70FS
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CoinsAreFun Toned Silver Eagle Proof Album
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Gallery Mint Museum, Ron Landis& Joe Rust, The beginnings of the Golden Dollar
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More CoinsAreFun Pictorials NGC
The sun has had a weird appearance to it for the last 5 or 6 years, now it looks nice and uniform again.
Edited to add: for those who buy them at their local B&M...I would be curious as to price you paid? >>
$17.25 In So IL
Maybe these were really made in China by the low bidder!
<< <i>Uh, correct me if I'm wrong about this but is Lady Liberty's um, breast showing, uh, some greater definition? >>
Uh, correct me if I'm wrong about this but is Lady Liberty's um, breast showing, uh, some greater definition?
Said another way, her smile in the '07 is quite flat and bland relative to the '08, and it appears under 200% view of these scans that the same can be said about her breast plate.
Or am I seeing things! >>
It's just a bit colder in the vault these days.