A new frontier of American history has arrived. The American Silver Eagle (ASE), a classic bullion coin, received a makeover in 2021 dubbed the “Type Two” design. As a result, the U.S. Mint made design changes and security updates to ensure that this coin stays a reliable staple for investors. Want to learn more about this renewed classic? Keep reading to become an expert on the Type Two American Silver Eagle.
The History of the American Silver Eagle
The American Silver Eagle is the official silver bullion coin of the United States. The U.S. Mint released the ASE in 1986 and President Ronald Reagan finalized it, cementing the coin in American history. Today, the U.S. Mint creates the coins at their Philadelphia, San Francisco, and West Point facilities.
Design of Type Two American Silver Eagles
The first thing coin lovers will notice about the Type Two design is an entirely new eagle. Prior to the Type Two redesign, the Type One ASE’s reverse sported a design by John Mercanti featuring a heraldic eagle behind a shield grasping an olive branch and arrows. Now, the Type Two design features a reverse design by Emily Damstra, a U.S.-Canadian artist. According to Coinweek, Damstra has designed a number of coins for the Royal Canadian Mint, including the popular Birds of Prey series. With the Type Two ASE, Damstra opted for an American bald eagle with outstretched wings carrying oak branches. The oak branches symbolize longevity and strength. Most importantly, it’s also a tree species native to the U.S.
In addition to a brand-new reverse, the U.S. Mint also modernized the obverse side. For example, “2021” appears in a larger font, and the letters in “LIBERTY” have smaller serifs.
Security of The Type Two ASE
Being a collector’s favorite coin comes with its challenges. Counterfeiters are always looking for weaknesses to exploit. The Type Two update adds an anti-counterfeiting measure in the form of a notch at the six o’clock position sculpted into the die collar on the reverse side, interrupting the reading. While that might not seem like much of an anti-counterfeiting measure, it’s just one of many. U.S. Mint officials are not disclosing other security enhancements to avoid tipping off counterfeiters.
Type Two American Silver Eagles are a wonderful, modern addition to your collection. Bullion Express has the 2023 in stock. Get yours today here!