1996 American Silver Eagle Coins
The 1996 American Silver Eagle Coins had mixed results when it came to their mintages: the proof coins hit their mintage cap while the bullion versions dipped to their lowest level ever.
Stagnant prices in the silver market may have had some influence on the strikes as the annual average for the precious metal came in at the same level it had the previous year, $5.20 an ounce. The high for the year occurred in February at $5.83 an ounce with the low happening in early December at $4.71 an ounce.
Unchanging since their introduction, the designs on both the obverse and reverse of the coins remained the same.
1996 Silver Eagle Mintage
Bullion Silver Eagle Mintage
The Silver Eagle Bullion coins showed the poorest mintage for the strikes since they were first created in 1986. In fact, the dismal mintage of only 3,603,386 would mark the lowest point in the first twenty five years of the coins availability. The annual sales were a decrease of 1,068,665 from the previous year.
The chart below is a monthly breakdown of the Bullion Silver Eagles sold during the year by the US Mint. (Numbers may include coins minted in other years.):
Bullion Silver Eagles Sold in 1996
| January |
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July |
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| February |
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August |
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| March |
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September |
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| April |
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October |
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| May |
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November |
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| June |
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December |
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Proof Silver Eagle Mintage
Proof Silver Eagles hit their mintage cap of 500,000, making it the first year the strikes reached that level since the 1991 Eagles were available.
Issue Information
The 1996 Silver Eagles were the eleventh year in which the Mint created these coins under the Eagle Program.
Release Date
The 1996 Eagles were available for most of the year from the US Mint.
Issue Price
Proof Silver Eagles were sold by the US Mint to the public for $23 each. The Bullion Silver Eagles were only available from the Mint’s network of authorized purchasers which obtained the strikes directly from the Mint and then resold them for a small premium above the spot price of the silver contained within them.
U.S. Mint Production Facility
Proof Silver Eagles were struck at the US Mint’s facility in Philadelphia and carried the ‘P’ mintmark. Bullion Eagles were struck at the US Mint’s facility in San Francisco but did not have a mintmark.
Designer & Sculptor
Adolph A Weinman’s "Walking Liberty" design is shown on the obverse (heads side) of the Eagle. It was first seen on the 1916-1947 half dollar. The reverse shows John Mercanti’s heraldic eagle.
Coin Specifications
| Face Value: |
$1 |
| Finish: |
Bullion, Proof |
| Composition: |
99.93% Ag, 00.07% Cu |
| Standard Weight: |
31.103 g |
| Standard Diameter: |
40.60 mm |
| Edge: |
Reeded |
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