American Silver Eagles...Unc W Mint-Marks

OneCent

When did the Mint start differentiating the bullion uncirculated ASE with the W mint-marked uncirculated ASE? Or, has the Mint always issued unc ASE's with a W mint-mark?

Thanks.

PascoWA

someone with more knowledge will chime in if i am wrong
I believe 2006 was the first year... for them

COINB0Y

Anyone who wants to jump in, please do, but I’ll give it a shot from memory and not the Internet:

(3) Kinds of Silver Bullion Coinage:

Business Strike, minted in Philly, No Mint Mark, Hit with Die twice

Proof Strike with "W" from West Point using a polished Planchet hit with the die more than Business strike (3-4)

Unc Strike with "W" from West Point, made with the same proof planchet, but stuck after the planchet has been processed in a vat w/ ball-bearings and liquid crap that helps Milk Spots develop after you buy it!

CaptHenway

2006 was the first year of the "Burnished Uncirculated" silver eagle with the W mint mark.
They had to give them a mint mark and a (theoretically) different finish to disguise the fact that they were violating a 20-year-old agreement that the Mint would not sell bullion coins in competition with its bulk distributors.

COINB0Y

Oh, The fine print in a contract has never stopped the Government, yet!

jmski52

The Proofs had "P" mintmarks for a number of years - until '95 or '96 I believe.

dlimb2

The Unc W Silver Eagles were introduced to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Silver Eagle in 2006!


They came in the 3 piece Anniversary set, they came in singles and they came in the 2 piece gold and silver set...They are of low mintage due to being released late in the season and the selling was stoped at the end of 2006.

halfhunter

Business Strike, minted in Philly, No Mint Mark, Hit with Die twice

The "business strike" i.e. regular bullion pieces are also struck only at the West Point Mint, although they have no MM.
All gold and platinum issues, regardless of mint mark are also produced at West Point.
Of course there are exceptions, The '06 Reverse Proofs were manufactured at the Phillie mint.

The first "W" mint marked "uncirculated" bullion pieces were infact first issued in '06.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

John

metallbarren

<< <i>2006 was the first year of the "Burnished Uncirculated" silver eagle with the W mint mark.
They had to give them a mint mark and a (theoretically) different finish to disguise the fact that they were violating a 20-year-old agreement that the Mint would not sell bullion coins in competition with its bulk distributors. >>

TheRaven

I do believe the "millenium currency set" has a uncirculated silver eagle from west point.....

jmski52

The Millennium Set has a West Point Silver Eagle, but it has no mintmark, so it is indistinguishable from the Philly coins. Production was transferred from Philly to West Point sometime around 1999 or 2000, so the meaning of a "no mintmark" coin has changed. Philadelphia did indeed make both Uncs and Proofs early in the program, and the "P" mintmarked Proofs were always made in Philly, not in West Point.

PascoWA

this is getting complex... <smile>