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American Silver Eagles...Unc W Mint-Marks

OneCentOneCent Posts: 3,561 ✭
in U.S. Coin Forum
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.
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Collector of Early 20th Century U.S. Coinage.
ANA Member R-3147111

Comments

  • PascoWAPascoWA Posts: 191
    someone with more knowledge will chime in if i am wrong
    I believe 2006 was the first year... for them
  • COINB0YCOINB0Y Posts: 4,505
    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!
  • CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 33,788 ✭✭✭✭✭
    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.
    Numismatist. 54 year member ANA. Former ANA Senior Authenticator. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and ANA Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Also won the PNG's Robert Friedberg Award for "The Enigmatic Lincoln Cents of 1922," Available now from Whitman or Amazon.
  • COINB0YCOINB0Y Posts: 4,505
    Oh, The fine print in a contract has never stopped the Government, yet!
  • jmski52jmski52 Posts: 23,953 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The Proofs had "P" mintmarks for a number of years - until '95 or '96 I believe.
    Q: Are You Printing Money? Bernanke: Not Literally

    I knew it would happen.
  • dlimb2dlimb2 Posts: 3,449
    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.
  • halfhunterhalfhunter Posts: 2,770 ✭✭✭
    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
    Need the following OBW rolls to complete my 46-64 Roosevelt roll set:
    1947-P & D; 1948-D; 1949-P & S; 1950-D & S; and 1952-S.
    Any help locating any of these OBW rolls would be gratefully appreciated!
  • metallbarrenmetallbarren Posts: 135


    << <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. >>


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  • TheRavenTheRaven Posts: 4,163 ✭✭✭✭
    I do believe the "millenium currency set" has a uncirculated silver eagle from west point.....
    Collection under construction: VG Barber Quarters & Halves
  • jmski52jmski52 Posts: 23,953 ✭✭✭✭✭
    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.
    Q: Are You Printing Money? Bernanke: Not Literally

    I knew it would happen.
  • PascoWAPascoWA Posts: 191
    this is getting complex... <smile>

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