From mining raw silver to creating the artwork for the intricate designs, minting the American Eagle silver coin is not just technical, but an elaborate process rich in history and talent. Follow along as we explore the history of the United States Mint and how it masterfully produces one of the world’s most highly coveted coins.
The United States Mint prides itself on sourcing silver in a variety of ways, however never at the expense of purity. The Mint’s stringent requirements demand no less than .999 fine purity. This quality standard ensures that every coin produced by the Mint is not only aesthetically pleasing but also meets investors’ expectations.
To maintain these high standards, the Mint often sources its metals from domestic mines and suppliers. However, it is not uncommon for the Mint to also engage in international contracts when domestic supplies are insufficient. Such contracts are usually with countries that have a strong track record of responsible mining practices and ethical sourcing.
After selecting the source, the U.S. Mint either purchases blanks (disk-shaped pieces of metal ready to be struck into coins) from reputable dealers or manufacturers them internally.
Pre-Manufacturing
Before production can officially begin, the painstaking design process must be completed. This process can take anywhere from several months to over a year and involves multiple steps from conceptualization and artist selection to approvals and master die creation.
After the design process is complete, Congress must pass legislation to allow the U.S. Mint to begin production on any and all bullion coins. The American Silver Eagle was given the green-light with Public Law 99-61, enacted July 9, 1985.
Step 1: Blanking
The Mint purchases coils of metal, each approximately 1,500 feet long and made to the appropriate specifications for each denomination. The coil is fed through a machine that straightens the metal before being fed into a blanking press where it punches out discs like a cookie cutter.
Step Two: Annealing
The blanks are heated in a furnace before being dropped into a quench tank filled with “slippery” water (a mix of water, citric acid powder, and lubricants) to rapidly lower the temperature and prevent sticking to the machinery.
Step Three: Washing & Drying
To restore their original color, the blanks are washed in a cleaning solution made up of cleaning and anti-tarnish agents. The dryer steam dries the cleaned blanks.
Step Four: Upsetting
The term “upsetting” refers to the process of creating a raised rim on a coin’s edge. The rim serves two purposes: it protects the coin from wear and makes it stackable. After this step the blanks become planchets.
Please note: While the U.S. Mint makes blanks for nickels, dimes, half dollar, and dollar coins internally, it currently sources blanks for all bullion coins, pennies, and collectible coins.
American Eagle Silver Coin minting process starts with the next step.
Step Five: Striking
The planchets travel to the coin presses to strike the design. The press forces the obverse and reverse dies together against the planchet to strike both sides of the coin at once.
Step Six: Inspection
The most manual and detailed process the silver bullion coin undergoes is the inspection. The inspection operators use magnifying glasses to spot-check all new coins for errors.
Step Seven: Packaging
American Eagle silver bullion coins are packaged much like other silver bullion coins. This ensures the coins are protected during transport and while stored:
For more information on the benefits of adding precious metals to your portfolio or how to buy American Eagle Silver Coins, contact a Monex account representative at 800-444-8317.
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