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American Silver Eagle Coins - How They Are Made

The finished American Silver Eagle coin is a masterpiece of art and science - the product of a fascinating series of human and modern technological processes. Here is the story in brief.

Legislative Beginning

The American Silver Eagle coin, like other coins minted in the United States, began its life from legislative bills, in this case initiated by Senator McClure and Representative Craig in 1982 and amended by Senator McClure's 'Liberty Coin Act' in 1985 and signed into law by President Reagan in the same year.

The point of the legislation was to maximize the return on the sale of strategic stockpiles (Defense National Stockpile) of silver (to help balance the Federal Budget) through the production and sale of silver bullion coins. As the stockpiles were being depleted, as intended by the initial legislation, President Bush signed the 'Support of American Eagle Silver Bullion Program Act' in 2002 to extend the coinage program through the purchase of silver on the open market.

Senator McClure's 'Liberty Coin Act' stipulated the parameters of the Silver Eagle, including its size, weight, purity, obverse and reverse designs, inscriptions, and edge finish.

Creating the Relief Designs

Ideas for the design of coins come from politicians, citizens, artists and sculptors alike. Once the objectives and concepts of the design are established by all parties, drawings are made of both sides of the coin, including images and textual inscriptions required by law ('IN GOD WE TRUST' and 'E PLURIBUS UNUM').

The final drawings are approved before sculptors and engravers create and refine their renditions using physical and digital modeling techniques. Physical models used to be made with clay and plaster and digitally scanned into a database for more detailed work. Now, more sophisticated software tools are used to model and finish the designs directly from the original drawings.

The obverse relief on the American Silver Eagle was taken from Adolph Weinman's 'Walking Liberty' design. On the reverse side, the 'heraldic eagle' relief was created by John Mercanti.

Making the Dies

Once the digitized coin reliefs have been completed, CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) software is used to interpret this data and create instructions for CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machine cutters of different and finer diameters that will mill out each relief on the end of a separate steel 'hub'. The result is an extremely polished and accurate replica of the coin design faces on these 'master hubs', one for the obverse and one for the reverse design of the coin.

Initially, the master hubs that are fabricated are of larger diameter than the legislated coin dimensions. So, a reducing lathe is used to create a master hub of the correct size.

Because dies wear out after a certain number of impressions, the capability to produce enough dies for mass production is met by a succession of master hub to master die steps. The initial master hub of the final correct size is used to create a 'master die'. The master hub is first hardened by heat treating, while the die material is softened by annealing. The master hub which has a raised design profile is then pressed into the master die material, creating an infuse impression of the coin face in the master die - and as a result is strengthened through the compression of the press. These master dies are then used to create 'working hubs' and the working hubs are in turn used to create 'working dies'. The process is repeated until enough working dies are created for the total production run of coins.

The working dies will be used to 'strike' and manufacture the coins from silver blanks.

Punching Out the Blanks

The silver for the American Eagle initially came from the Defense National Stockpile starting in 1986. Since about 2001, when the stockpile became depleted, silver has been purchased from the open market.

The silver is processed to conform to the purity requirements of the Eagle and manufactured into thin strips slightly thicker than the final height of the coin. The coin strips are 1500 feet long by about 13 inches wide and are delivered to the Mint in coils each weighing about 6,000 pounds.

These silver coils feed into high-speed automatic presses that cut out round 'blanks'. The diameter of the blank is slightly larger than the final coin dimension to account for the formation of the 'rim' in a later stage. Its weight is the same as the final weight of the coin. About 25 per cent of the coil material is left over after punching out the blanks. This residual, called 'webbing', is recycled to the supplier and melted down for use in new coils.

Now the Silver Eagle is beginning to take shape.

Softening the Blanks - Annealing

The Eagle blanks are heated in an annealing furnace to a very high temperature - around 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit - to change their molecular structure and soften them in preparation for creating the rim and edging, and 'pressing in' the coin's designs.

After annealing, the blanks are quenched or cooled in a liquid solution and then dried.

Cleaning

The annealing process oxidizes the finish on the blank material. Consequently, the softened blanks must be chemically washed to remove these oxides and any other residual tarnish and contamination.

The result is a clean and bright blank that is ready for the next stages of coin production.

Burnishing the Uncirculated Silver Eagle

In 2006, the American Silver Eagle Uncirculated (or Burnished) coin was introduced. This coin differs from the bullion and proof versions by its particularly shiny background achieved by an extra step in the preparation of blanks for coining - 'burnishing'.

Blanks are tossed in a drum with steel pellets that texture the surfaces to eliminate visual defects, close porosity and produce a very bright shiny background to the coin's obverse and reverse designs that will be 'pressed in' during a later stage.

Fashioning the Rim - Upsetting

To finish the sizing of the coins, softened, cleaned and burnished blanks undergo an 'upsetting' process that creates a rim on each of the surfaces. The rim is made by forcing the blank through a smaller diameter opening that downsizes the diameter to specifications while raising the thickness on both sides in a small band on the outside circumference of the blank.

Presto, the blank has become a 'planchet'.

The 'upsetting' pressures result in a hardening of the material at the outside edge of the coin, giving it more resilience to damage, and protecting the design surfaces from wear and tear. The rim height is designed to be higher than any of the relief patterns on the coins inner surfaces to prevent the patterns from contact when the coin is lying flat.

Finished planchets are inspected for defects (for example, gouges that are unlikely to survive the coining process) and, if found unacceptable, are rejected to a 'waffler' that physically defaces them and returns them to the silver supplier for recycling.

The Coining Process

The 'piece de resistance' in this entire minting operation is the 'coining' process.

Here, the 'planchets', with their finished surfaces and rims, are fed into the stamping presses and are struck with literally tons of force to impress the obverse and reverse die patterns on both surfaces at the same time. Usually the anvil or stationary part of the press is the reverse (or 'tails') die, while the hammer or striking part of the press is the obverse (or 'heads') die. The reeded edge on the planchet is also formed during the same striking process from a reeded collar affixed inside the coining press.

American Silver Eagle bullion and uncirculated coins are struck once each in multiple die presses, while proof coins are struck in single die presses multiple times.

Inspecting, Counting and Packaging

The coining process is designed with sophisticated quality control mechanisms. Batch samples are inspected automatically and manually for adherence to quality specifications and the entire batch accepted or rejected on the basis of the inspection. Rejected coins, like defective planchets, are sent to the 'waffler' for destruction and recycling.

All coins that pass inspection continue on to counting and packaging areas.

Bullion coins are packaged and shipped in bulk to authorized purchasers in green plastic 'monster boxes' - each box contains 500 coins packaged in twenty-five 20-coin plastic tubes. These bullion coins are sold to the public through the purchasers' distribution network.

Silver Eagle proof, uncirculated and special issues are all available directly from the US Mint. The proof and uncirculated coins are packaged individually in protective plastic and mounted in a satin-lined, velvet-covered presentation case along with a certificate of authenticity.

That is how the American Silver Eagle coin is made.

If you are interested in collecting or investing in the American Silver Eagle or just want to become more enlightened, drop by my blog at: AmericanSilverEagleCoins.org

I am very busy there building up a repository of interesting articles and references to guide you along. Enjoy the tour!

Tim MacKenzie is a Professional Engineer in Ontario, Canada. He spent many years in scientific research and building information systems. His focus now is on Internet communications.

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American Silver Eagle Coins - Why Bother Collecting or Investing?

Why bother with American Eagle Silver Coins? They are not that old -- they were only minted starting in 1987. So what is it that makes them valuable?

Before we go too much further, however, we need to make a distinction in valuation between what is important to a numismatist or coin collector from that which is regarded by a commodity investor. The numismatist would undoubtedly be more interested in the historical significance of a coin, when and how it was created and for what purpose or in whose honor (the story). He or she would be particularly keen on the rarity of the coin. On the other hand, the commodity investor would be more intent on turning a profit from a change in value of the coin(s) from strictly a 'bullion' or 'rare metal' viewpoint. In the latter case, condition is important, but less so.

Let us first look at things from the perspective of a Numismatist.

Age

Any numismatist will tell you that age is not necessarily the deciding factor in determining the value of a coin. In fact, it can be a detriment if the coin has not been taken care of properly and it has ended up being defaced, scratched, or chemically eroded in some manner. In any case, we do not have age on our side as a value determinant for the American Silver Eagle.

Condition

How about condition? Whatever the age, the condition is indeed important. The closer to mint condition the better. I guess that makes the younger American Eagles more likely to be in better condition and thus more valuable than other older coins in not so good condition.

Coins are often minted for different purposes -- Circulated, Uncirculated, Proof, etc. Those that are not in circulation stand to be much more pristine or close to mint condition than others. This especially holds true for American Silver Eagle coins which are not in circulation at all.

Rarity

A coin is not necessarily rare because it is old. Its rarity depends more on how many are still 'available' after mint production has ceased. By extension, its value is related to its rarity (and on its condition, of course) and on the market demand for the particular coin. Sometimes though, the popularity of a coin brings a higher price than its rarity.

Rarity is not only a reflection of availability, but is sometimes determined by a quirk in the production process. An error in minting for some part of the total production makes for a remarkably higher value -- like a defective or worn die or a change in font from one die lot to another.

This is where the greatest measure of numismatic value lies for the American Eagle Silver coin.

The rarest and most valuable would be the '1995-W Proof Silver Eagle' (West Point Mint), part of the '10th Anniversary American Eagle Five Coin Set' -- only 32,125 sets were minted. The American Silver Eagle dollar coin in this set is valued at over dollarsignr4,000.00 today.

Following that is the exceptional '2008 Burnished Uncirculated American Silver Eagle', minted erroneously in a small quantity with the 2007 Reverse die -- changing the font of the 'U' in 'United States of America' to the sans serif font in the older die from what should have been the new serif font in the 2008 Reverse die. Public awareness of this error and its limited mintage has increased its value considerably.

The '20th anniversary of the American Silver Eagle program' produced a limited mintage 2006 Commemorative Set of 3 coins -- regular Proof, Reverse Proof Silver Eagle and Burnished Uncirculated, which are sought after for their collector's rare value.

Finally, to further make this point about numismatic value based on rarity, American Silver Eagle coins produced in low mintage years (1994, 1993, 1996 and 1995 in that order) are not only still affordable, but very much in demand by collectors.

American Silver Eagles are not minted for circulation, but more for their bullion value in the form of Proofs for collectors and predominately as Proofs and Burnished Uncirculated coins for investors. We have seen above that the value of these coins for collectors lies in their rarity due to limited mintage, mintage errors and low mintage commemorative issues. Now let us briefly address their value for commodity investors.

American Silver Eagle bullion coins are distinguished from other silver bullion by their certification and guarantee by the United States government to contain one troy ounce of 99.9% pure silver. This certainly enhances their secure value for investment purposes.

As an investor's rather than a collector's coin, the American Silver Eagle's value is driven by a bullish physical precious metal retail demand in the market place. This is particularly true today with the US Mint's overcoming past difficulties with production bottlenecks and putting a highly sustained supply of American Silver Eagle coins into the strong American retail investment market.

So there you have it. The not so old American Silver Eagle is worth the bother after all, to both collectors and investors.

If you are interested in collecting or investing in the American Silver Eagle or just want to become more enlightened, drop by my blog at: AmericanSilverEagleCoins.org

I am very busy there building up a repository of interesting articles and references to guide you along. Enjoy the tour!

Tim MacKenzie is a Professional Engineer in Ontario, Canada. He spent many years in scientific research and building information systems. His focus now is on Internet communications.

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2009 ANACS MS70 Silver Eagle Dollar - The Genuine

The American Silver Eagle dollar coin is one of the most sought after series of coins by coin aficionados. First minted in 1986, it was made from 99.9 percent silver having a nominal face value of one dollar. In the later years two versions were created intentionally for the collectors and at the same time for the government to raise fund for Individual Retirement Account Investment; the proof version and the uncirculated version. Silver Eagle Dollar coin is valued not just because of its purity but also of the elegance of the design inscribed into it. On the obverse side is the US's icon of freedom, lady Liberty, clad in a draping gown. In the reverse side is the heraldic eagle behind the shield and just above its head is the inversed triangular formation of thirteen stars representing the thirteen states.

Coin collectors are spending so much for this coin, primarily because of the beauty it holds and the value that would worth twice or trice when the market price of silver increases in the future. But due to its popularity and demand, syndicates are also doing their way to take advantage. For the collectors, it is very important to distinguish the genuine one to pirated version.

To be sure the silver eagle dollar coin you are about to purchase is genuine, you may want to ask the vendor a certification and authentication papers of the said coin from ANACS. American Numismatic Association Certification Service is the world's leader in old coin grading, authentication and certification. It does scientific way of grading using state of the art tools, procedure and standards. ANACS was established by the American Numismatic Association in 1972. Its original function was to eradicate the proliferation of counterfeit and altered coins through education. It was then estimated that one out of ten valuable coins traded could either be fake or altered. This finding had raised the ANACS concern to people who had no idea about this and had compounded the creation of counterfeit detection service. Before this service had gone into full operation the ANACS graders began to share their knowledge in counterfeit detection by writing articles in ANA's monthly journal, The Numismatist. Due to growing numbers of people having interest in collecting coins, the ANA published a book containing a collection of its articles relating to coin detection. Soon that time the ANACS built what seemed to be a photographic library of the counterfeit coins it had collected since it started to receive clients for coin grading and certification. ANACS has made significant contribution to the industry of coin collecting. To make sure the money will not be wasted to valueless coins, always ask for ANACS certified coins like 2009 ANACS MS70 Silver Eagle Dollar.

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The Distinguished American Silver Eagle Coins

The American Silver Eagle Coins hold the honor of being the first authorized silver bullion coins of the country. The inspiration for this coin came from the executive plans during the 1970s and the early 1980s as a way of selling the silver from the National Defense Stockpile. This coin was first issued as part of the American Eagle Bullion Program authorized by the Congress.

The American Silver Eagle Coins have been regularly issued on an annual basis since 1986 so as to meet the demand from collectors of precious metals, investors and coins who are interested in acquiring it as a part of their personal collection. It is the most widely collected coin in American history and can easily be converted into cash. This coin is issued with a face value of dollarsignr1, is struck only in the size of a single troy ounce and is guaranteed to contain as much worth of 99.9% purified silver metal. The composition as well as the components of this coin is tested and certified by the US Mint.

This coin is available in three versions namely the Regular Silver Bullion coins which could be purchased from authorized bullion dealers and coin dealers, the Collectible Proof Version which is issued every year and a Collectible Uncirculated/Burnished version which bears the 'W' mint mark. These coins were initially minted in San Francisco between 1986 and 1998 and in Philadelphia between 1999 and 2000 and since 2001, are being minted in West Point.

An individual looking at the obverse side of this coin would come across the design 'Walking Liberty'courtesy of Adolph A Weinman, the word 'Liberty', the phrase 'In God We Trust' and the year in which the coin was minted. This symbol has been a favorite among people which is why it is often found inscribed on many of the modern American coins.

The reverse side would reveal a majestic eagle concealed by a shield, as designed by John Mercanti, grasping an olive branch and arrows in its in its right and left claws respectively, thus emulating the Great Seal of America. On top of the eagle are depicted 13 five-point stars which are representative of the 13 American colonies. One would also come across details like the phrase 'United States Of America' and trivia like 1 ounce FINE SILVER DOLLAR, 'E Pluribus Unum' and the mint-mark.

An alert person can guard against fake coins by following a few tips:

• Silver, as a metal, has a distinct sheen to it which is not too harsh nor too soft or soapy where as fake coins are comparatively dull and grayish looking.
• While the weight of the genuine American Silver Eagle Coin is precisely 31.101 grams, a fake is made from silvery metal alloys and therefore weighs less.

You can find a lot of information about Silver Eagles coins online. Click here to know more about 1995 W Proof Silver Eagle

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American Silver Eagle - Anatomy 101

Get ready for 'Anatomy 101' of the American Silver Eagle coin - a condensed description of all of the parts of each of the coins in the program.

Body Parts

'Heads or 'Tails'. You guessed it - the American Silver Eagle is no exception - it has one of each as usual - an 'obverse' side or the 'head' so to speak, and the 'reverse' side or the 'tail'. I guess that you could say that there is a third side too, the 'edge', but not very likely to come up in a flip of the Eagle. Each of the sides has an outside rim to protect the impressed inner designs from wear. The edge is 'reeded' with vertical ridges around the circumference that help with gripping the coin. Oh yes, I almost forgot - the coin is round.

Of course, not all coins are round and have rims and reeded edges. Rims are pretty standard now, multi-sided coins are rare, and edges are varied in style - they can be just plain, more decorative, or even lettered with the face value, date or some other identifying mark - on some coins edge patterns are used to assist the blind in identifying their denomination.

On either side of the Silver Eagle and inside the rim is where the real content lies - areas of unique and engraved design, a 'legend' or principal lettering, a mint mark, and other textual inscriptions - all in relief or raised above the flat surface background which is called the 'field' of the coin.

Facial Features

The orientation of content from the obverse to the reverse side of the coin is not something that most people are aware of. It can be a 'coin orientation' - as it is for the American Silver Eagle and all other American coins - or a 'medallic orientation' - as it is for Australian coins. 'Coin orientation' means that you see both sides upright when flipping horizontally. 'Medallic orientation' means that you see both sides upright when flipping vertically.

On the American Silver Eagle's obverse side is the principal design - Adolph Weinman's 'Walking Liberty'. This is a revived version of his original 'Walking Liberty Half Dollar' design, minted prior to 1946. It has been described as:

"a full length Liberty, the fold of the stars and stripes flying to the breeze as a background, progressing in full stride toward the dawn of a new day, carrying branches of laurel and oak symbolic of civil and military glory. The hand of the figure is outstretched in bestowal of the spirit of liberty."

Also on the obverse side of the Silver Eagle is the legend, "LIBERTY", stretched across the top half circumference in large letters. In much smaller letters located in the southeast outer area is the inscription, "IN GOD WE TRUST". The mint date is inscribed in the center of the bottom circumference.

On the American Silver Eagle's reverse side is an original relief design by John Mercanti. It is composed of an heraldic eagle behind a shield that signifies American strength. The eagle is holding an olive branch and arrows in its talons. Located above the eagle is a triangular arrangement of thirteen five-pointed stars representing the "Thirteen Colonies".

Also on the reverse side is inscribed ".UNITED STATES OF AMERICA." on the upper half circumference and "1 OZ. FINE SILVER~ONE DOLLAR" on the lower half circumference. The words "E PLURIBUS UNUM" appear, as they do by law now on all American coins, in scrolls around the wings of the eagle. Finally, a mint mark is inscribed lower down below the eagle's right wing (on the left side as we see it). Note, however, that there are no mint marks on bullion silver eagles. Proof and uncirculated (burnished) versions have an 'S' for the San Francisco Mint, a 'P' for the Philadelphia Mint or a 'W' for the West Point Mint, depending upon which mint produced the coin.

Different Species

American Silver Eagles are similar but really not all the same - the mint mark or its absence as noted above is one obvious distinction among them, the mint date is obviously another. There is also a quality distinction in the mint version that is due to the different minting processes used for bullion, proof and uncirculated (burnished) coins.

The bullion, the highest production version (about 8.3 million per year on average until 2009), is automatically pressed from standard silver planchets using a single strike - it is less striking in appearance (pardon the pun) than the other versions.

Uncirculated Silver Eagles are created from blanks that have been burnished by tumbling them in a wash of stainless steel shot, resulting in a more polished and satin-like finish. The "W" mint mark is also inscribed on these coins reflecting their striking at the United States Mint at West Point.

Finally, the proof versions undergo a specialized minting process in which burnished planchets are manually fed into presses fitted with special dies that strike multiple times, creating a magnificent appearance of detailed images floating above a mirrored background.

Minor Mutations

There is an unintentional variety or error that was generated when the United States Mint made minor alterations to the 2007 reverse design for 2008 and erroneously used the original 2007 reverse die in a small part of the 2008 production.

Special Issues of the American Silver Eagle over the years have created some other exceptions in their appearance. One example is the inclusion of a special West Point minted proof Silver Eagle coin with a 'W' mint mark in the 1995 '10th Anniversary American Eagle Five Coin Set". In 1995, regular proof Silver Eagles were minted at the Philadelphia facility and inscribed with a 'P' mint mark. Another striking example (sorry for the pun again) is the 'Reverse Proof Silver Eagle' coin minted at Philadelphia as part of a 3-coin set to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the American Silver Eagle program in 2006 - it features a frosted background and mirrored raised surfaces, the opposite of a typical proof coin.

Genealogy

Not all versions of the Silver Eagle were produced every year since the inception of the program in 1986 - with the exception of the bullion. However, its mint source has changed during its history from San Francisco (1986-1998) to Philadelphia and West Point (1999-2000) and to West Point only (2001 to present) - these changes are transparent, however, since bullion Silver Eagle coins bear no mint mark.

Proof Silver Eagles have been produced almost every year - the exceptions being 2009 to the present (June, 2010). Production was heavily allocated in 2008 and was suspended entirely in 2009 after the economic downturn created an unprecedented demand for bullion as a hedge against inflation. It is still not certain whether there will be any production in 2010. Production of proof Silver Eagles started at the San Francisco Mint and continued until 1992 with the inscribed 'S' mint mark. From 1993 until 2000, they were minted at Philadelphia and inscribed with the 'P' mint mark. The West Point Mint took over production with their 'W' mint mark in 2001-2008.

Uncirculated Silver Eagles have had a short history. They were minted with the 'W' mint mark at West Point from 2006-2008. Production was discontinued thereafter because of the same bullion coin priority for silver blanks as suffered by proof coins and dictated by the legal requirement to meet the unprecedented bullion demand.

Dress Up

Although packaging is not really part of the anatomy of the Silver Eagle, it does really embellish them in a fashion. Bullion coins are packaged and shipped in bulk to select authorized purchasers in appropriately labelled green plastic 'monster boxes' - each box contains twenty-five 20-coin plastic tubes, making 500 coins in total. These bullion coins are available to the public through distributers associated with the authorized purchasers.

Silver Eagle proof, uncirculated and special issues are all available directly from the US Mint subject to availability. The proof and uncirculated coins for the most part are packaged individually in a protective plastic capsule mounted in a satin-lined, velvet-covered presentation case and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity - the exception here was the 2006 uncirculated coin capsule which was housed in a velvet drawstring bag instead of the presentation case.

Chemistry and Stature

To complete our anatomy 101 lesson on the American Silver Eagle, there are some other important properties that should be mentioned as follows (they are the same for all variations of the Silver Eagle coin noted above):

Mass: 31.103 g (1.00 troy oz)
Diameter: 40.6 mm (1.598 in)
Thickness: 2.98 mm (0.1193 in)
Composition: 99.9% Ag and 00.1% Cu

QED - American Silver Eagle Anatomy 101

If you are interested in collecting or investing in the American Silver Eagle or just want to become more enlightened, drop by my blog at: AmericanSilverEagleCoins.org

I am very busy there building up a repository of interesting articles and references to guide you along. Enjoy the tour!

Tim MacKenzie is a Professional Engineer in Ontario, Canada. He spent many years in scientific research and building information systems. His focus now is on Internet communications.

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Investing in Silver Eagle Bullion Coins

In this tough economic time, there is a rush for jewels and fine goods, mainly gold and silver. Everyone is looking for a place to purchase, sell or invest gold and silver, and it has even become the talk of late night infomercials. Gold and silver and precious metals that are always seen as desirable and and have a continuous monetary worth in the United States.

The American Eagles Program of the United States Mint has Gold Bullion, Silver Bullion, and Platinum Bullion coins available. Silver Eagle Bullion coins are available through the US Mint and are a great investment for any buyer. Many coin addicts would love to add this one of a kind coin to their collection. Even those who are not generally coin collectors, Bullion coins can be a good investment, especially as a general silver piece.

Silver Eagle coins are 99.9 percent pure silver, which is a much higher silver content than you will see in any silver jewelry or silver home goods. Silver coins from the U.S Mint feature a design with Lady Liberty walking, and on the reverse side feature the American eagle along with the stats of the coins. The Silver Eagle Bullion is considered one of the most beautifully design coins printed in recent U.S history.

These coins are a great investment to have. Not only are they made of mainly silver and can be used for trade, but the US minted Silver Bullion coins can also be used in IRA accounts. Many people are finding their Individual Retirement Accounts, or IRAs, worth less money due to the recession, and many consumers are not taking loans against their IRA setting themselves back further from the goal of retirement. Silver Eagle Bullion coins are precious metals that remain consistently recession proof and are a good investment to include in a personal IRA. Very few Silver and Gold Bullion coin varieties are allowed in IRA accounts, so adding the coin to your investment portfolio for retirement is a good move to make to insure stable account growth and recession proof funds.

Chris enjoys writing about silver coins. You can check out his site at http://www.silvereagleroll.net To learn more about Silver Eagle Bullion check out the link.

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What's So INK-Credible About Inkwells!

Imagine a writer sitting at his desk by candlelight or lantern during the early 1800's, using a quill pen and occasionally dipping it in ink. With the creation of writing fluids came the question of what to house it in. The origins of inkwells date back to cave dwellers, the early Egyptians and ancient Chinese. An inkwell is a small container often typically made from metal with glass inserts, used for holding ink. They were conveniently placed where the writer can easily access it. Sometimes inkwells served a duo purpose: holding ink and used as a paperweight. As the writer dipped his pen into the inkwell, he retracted what was needed to continue writing.

antique ink bottles are just as fascinating as the contents they hold. When thinking about collecting inkwells, be sure to thoroughly research an inkwell's period and material it is made from, to distinguish counterfeits and reproductions. Most inkwells produced prior to the 1800's may be found in museums. Usually, an inkwell has a hinged or screwed-on lid to prevent contamination, evaporation, accidental spillage, and excessive exposure to air. Many inkwell motifs were made in the shape of people, animals, geometric shapes, shoes and boats.

You will find that inkwells were produced in a variety of materials like shells, pottery, wood, sandstone, porcelain, cast iron, bronze and brass. Many vintage pieces are heavily ornate with intricate details. Inkwells came in assorted categories:

o Travel inkwells

o Brush inkwells

o Colored glass inkwells

o Art Deco

o Figural inkwells

o Architectural

o Tiffany

o Pump inkwells

Several companies sporting their names on the labels of ink bottles during the fame of the fountain pen were Quink, Carter's Ink, Sanford's Pen It, Hall's Ink, Pelikan, Visco Ink and Palmer's Ink. antique ink bottles, were sometimes used in advertising as a gift with purchase. With the design of pens carrying their own supply of ink, by the 1930's the need for inkwells declined.

Here are some resources to refer to as you either begin or add to your vintage inkwell collection:

o The Collector's Guide to Inkwells: Identification & Values (Paperback) by Veldon Badders

o The Collector's World of Inkwells (Hardcover) by Jean and Franklin Hunting

o The Write Stuff: Collector's Guide To Inkwells, Fountain Pens, and Desk Accessories by Ray and Bevy Jaegers

You can find many antique ink bottles in antique shops, antique shows or gain information from SOIC. The Society of Inkwell Collectors (SOIC) was founded in 1981. It is dedicated to the establishment and enhancement of collecting inkwells and writing accessories as a hobby, and to the scholarly study of the role of inkwells and writing accessories in history. The SOIC provides its members with an opportunity to meet, communicate, and share information with inkwell collectors worldwide.

The more we study the progression of writing, the more we continue to discover many elements that contributed to the success of writing. Inkwells clearly defined their importance as a necessary writing accoutrement. Functionality, along with rare beauty and design characteristics give inkwell collecting an incredible place in writing history.

Kym Gordon Moore is a public relations strategist for budget conscious new authors and coordinates creative marketing packages for her clients. She is fascinated with writing instruments, machines and other noteworthy objects that contributed to the progression of the art of writing. Many of her articles, essays, short stories and poems appeared in a variety of magazines, newspapers, ezines and anthologies. http://www.kymgmoore.com For additional information on the SOIC, visit http://www.soic.com.

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Silver Eagle Coins Are the Most Popular Way to Buy Silver

With the production of silver on the decrease the demand for it continues to increase as people seek out investment opportunities beyond that of the typical 401K Plan. The most sought after silver coins are the American Silver Eagle Coins. The first of these coins were released in November, 1986. They became the official silver coin of the U.S. They continue to be issued on an annual basis. The face value is dollarsignr1.00 and is certified to be 99.9% pure with a U.S. Mint certification. The remaining 0.1% metal is copper. They are produced at the Philadelphia, San Francisco or the West Point Mints.

The American Silver Eagle Coins has a receded edge and measures 1.598 inches around and 0.77 inches in thickness. The artistry is always a historic story that represents honor and patriotism. The Mint engraver for this coin was John Mercanti. One side shows the American eagle heraldry with an inverted pyramid showing 13 stars for 13 colonies with the nation's name above the stars. The lower portion displays "1 oz Fine Silver" and "One Dollar". The opposite side places the eagle at the center of the opposite side with the breast having a shield, its right talons holding arrows and the left talons holding an olive branch. The eagle's outstretched wings are the nation's motto "E Pluribus Unum". The minting year is listed with the words "Liberty" and "In God We Trust".

The design of the Silver Eagle Coins was not the creative ideas of just one artist. The ideas are a combination of suggestions from citizens, politicians and artists. Artists create drawings of both sides from the suggestions gathered and the final drafts are submitted for approval. Physical models are created with clay and plaster then digitally scanned to be ready for the intricate software to finish the fine details using the original drawings.

The digitized designs, called reliefs, of the Silver Eagle Coins are then sent through machine cutters that mill out the reliefs on separate ends of a steel hub. The final result is a master hub that is a perfectly polished and accurate replica of the original coin design. The finished product is considered to be a masterpiece. Owning one of these is an investment that can be trusted and one of the most popular ways to own silver.

Chris enjoys writing about silver coins. You can check out his site at http://www.silvereagleroll.net
Silver Eagle Coins

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20 Coins Makeup A Silver Eagle Roll

In today's difficult economic times, many people are selling their valuable items, including collectible coins. The modern technology of the internet provides numerous online sites that someone needing to sell Silver Eagle coins can access. The prospective seller can learn a lot about his or her Silver Eagle coins, including mintage information and release dates. Some of these online sites also buy coins, either as individual coins or in a Silver Eagle Roll.

The official silver bullion coin of the United States is the American Silver Eagle. This coin was first issued in 1986 and is made from one ounce of silver. The United States Government guarantees the weight, purity, and content of each coin, and the coins must be minted using exact specifications. Silver Eagle coins are desired by coin collectors as well as those who invest in precious metals. they are offered in three versions. The first is the regular bullion version, which can be obtained from authorized bullion dealers or from coin collectors. The second is the collectible proof, which must be obtained from the United States Mint. The third is the collected uncirculated version. These coins are also referred to as burnished, because they are struck on special burnished blanks. These uncirculated coins have a "W" mint mark. The Silver Eagle coin value will, of course, be different for each of the three versions of the coins.

A Silver Eagle roll contains twenty coins. These rolls are widely available for sale at various sites, including online auction sites such as eBay. Eagle rolls often have a distinctive green top, which means they have been packaged in official United States Treasury Department rolls. Many coin dealers and collectible coin experts consider them to be the best choice for collectors. This is because the collector receives the coins exactly as they left the United States Mint, with no chance of scratches or handling marks.

Although the price of silver has quadrupled since 2001, silver is still considered the most affordable of the precious metals. This fact makes these Coins an excellent choice, whether it is for a gift or one's own collection. Another interesting fact about American Eagle Silver coins is that they are the largest silver dollar coins that the United States has ever minted. In addition, United States American Eagle Silver Dollars are even allowed to be added to an IRA account.

Chris enjoys writing about silver coins. You can check out his site at http://www.silvereagleroll.net To learn more about how to buy a Silver Eagle Roll.

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Collecting Antique Glass Bottles

There are many different categories of antique glass bottle available to collect. There are flasks, medical bottles, antique ink bottles, milk or soda bottles too. If you are serious about collecting old glass bottles, you should learn as soon as possible, how to identify them and spot fakes. Many bottles have the name of the maker stamped or pressed onto the glass, which is a great help. Another easy way to tell if the piece is reproduction, is to look at the lip of the bottle.

Those that were made before 1870 have a very poorly made lip and you will be able to easily spot seams and marks from the making process. These seams and poor quality designs stopped being made after 1880, when new processes make the manufacture of them much better. During the 1800's, the most popular color for glass makers was green, or 'Aqua' as they called it. There were other colors, but this was the most commonly used. By examining the bottom of the glass bottle, you can see the 'pontil marks' which are from the making process. If the bottle does have this round and rough piece of glass present, then it was made before 1855. After that time, new tools were used to create smoother and cleaner separations from the 'holding rods' used when the bottle was made.

The real revolution came in the 1920's when machines were used to make glass instead of people. The mark left by the bottle making machines is called the 'Owens Ring' and is larger than the pontil marks, but is also very smoothly made. Apart from the color of the glass, the markings on the bottom and the kind of lip it has, you can also tell lots about the glass from the patent number, which should be stamped on there too. There are many guides and websites that list these different kinds of markings and you can find out lots about each type and manufacturer. If you are interested in how much a particular piece of glass is worth, make sure you first check to see that it is genuine. Secondly, look for any cracks, chips or damage that might reduce the value. You will also want to consider the rarity of the bottle, kind of glass or markings, the age, design or color when making a decision to buy a piece.

Bottles that still contain liquids or substances and have not been opened are worth far more than just the bottle on their own. Also, bottles with the original painting or label on fetch more value too. If you already have a collection, then you will need to ensure that they are kept safe. Antique glass breaks very easily and you could lose several pieces with one accident. One option is to keep them in separate boxes, surrounded in padded material, which will absorb any knocks or bumps. You could also buy or build a display cabinet to show off the pieces too. A good tip to keep the bottles clean is to keep them away from sunlight or bright halogen bulbs. These bright lights can cause the glass to fade over time and make the labels peel and fade too. This will have an effect on the value of the bottles too.

Depression Glass is also highly collectable and comes in many shapes, colors and sizes.

For more information, check out this website on finding, caring for, collecting and owning depression glassware:

http://www.depression-glassware.com

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Learn About Silver Eagle Prices

Many people like to buy silver as an investment. They find that buying silver coins like silver Eagles is the best way to do it. Silver is a quick and easy way to invest and save your money. Silver Eagle Prices vary due to several things, but they are generally trending upwards. The silver eagle is also highly desirable as a collectible. People who collect coins like to have them. There are also people who like to give them as gifts for birthdays, Christmas or other special occasions.

One of the things that can impact the cost of these coins is the current spot price of silver. The price of silver itself fluctuates from day to day, but it generally stays within a certain range. Another factor is the quality or grade of the coin. Like any other coin or collectible, they are rated by the condition they are. The less wear, the more shine, the higher the price for that silver Eagle. A roll of 20 Eagles in perfect mint condition will cost much more than a roll of them that has been beat up. Likewise, if there were only a small number of coins minted in a specific year, that year's coins will be more expensive than a year where more coins were coined.

If you are looking for the best silver eagle prices, then you want to try the Internet. There is a much better selection on the Internet. You will also want to buy them in bulk. Buying the coins in ones or twos will cost you more in the long run then buying a roll will cost.

Before you buy any coins, do a little research. You want to know around what a roll will cost. If you find silver eagle prices that seem too good to be true, they probably are. If you are familiar with the range of prices and what to look for, you won't get scammed. Finding out what an average price is shouldn't take long. A few minutes search online will give you suggestions as to what to look for and what the average price is.

Chris enjoys writing about silver coins. You can check out his site at http://www.silvereagleroll.net to learn more about how to find the best silver eagles prices on the net.

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1996 Silver Eagle Coins

For many collectors, the 1996 Silver Eagle coin is a must have due mainly to the fact that 1996 was a low mint year for the coin. All bullion Silver Eagles minted from 1986 until 1998 do not have mint marks but were done so at the San Francisco Mint. Between 1999 and 2000, they were minted in Philadelphia and at West Point though, from 2001 and forward, they were minted only at West Point.

Proof sets of the 1996 Silver Eagle were minted at the Philadelphia Mint and have the letter "P" engraved upon them. On the obverse side, is a design from Adolph Weinman and inscribed with the words "Liberty" and "In God We Trust". The reverse side bears a design by John Mercanti and it is of an heraldic eagle standing behind a shield grasping an olive branch with his right talon and holding onto arrows with his left talon. Just above the eagle's likeness are thirteen five point stars, representative of the thirteen colonies. Also on the reverse side, you will find the words "United States Of America" inscribed as well as words "E Pluribus Unum" which means "one of many" or "out of many".

Many collectors use the bullion coins to fund retirement accounts as there are less than four million in circulation. There are about 400,000 proof coins which have never been circulated, in existence today. The 1996 Silver Eagle comes in a velvet lined box with a certificate of authentication. This is very important to note because the US Mint, in the past, has found fakes circulating around on the Internet.

The best bet in finding this coin would be to contact a local coin collector to get a rough idea of where to find them if he does not have any himself. Their costs can range anywhere from fifty dollars up to a few hundred dollars per coin and there again, there are lots of fakes still in circulation on some action websites so be very careful when placing bids with these venues. Question the proof and bullion amounts and from which Mint they came from, a true collector will know this information without having to look it up.

Chris enjoys writing about silver coins. Check out his site http://www.ussilvereagles.org to learn more about 1996 Silver Eagle.

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Vintage Bottles

Collectors of antique ink bottles may start out by simply coming across one in the attic. Others have actually discovered their first treasure while finding the top of an old bottle while walking in the woods. A glint of light on the ground, makes them curious. With luck, that first find may turn out to be a rare antique - perhaps a historical flask or bitters bottle worth thousands of dollars. There have even been bottles which sold for over sixty thousand dollars.

Once the first vintage bottles are found, it may not take long to develop a passion for collecting them. After all, they are a part of history, with some only being made for a few select years and some shapes (including animals or famous people) being particularly rare and in demand. Many products which used to be produced in glass may no longer be sold that way, including many medicines and pharmaceutical supplies. Milk bottles, medicine and even soda have all changed through the years.

Collecting vintage bottles appeals strongly to those with a nostalgic streak or for those who may remember parents telling of milk being delivered in glass. Collecting them is a way to preserve pieces of history which no longer exist. Not only is there the nostalgia factor but aesthetic appeal, since vintage glass is often lovely and come in nearly every color imaginable.

But how do collectors know which ones are truly popular and desirable and which are common? There are several factors which can help. These include the age, condition, color, any special designs or embossing and types of bottles. To get a final determination of value, of course, expert help is often desirable and can be found online or with the aid of a local museum or antique specialist. Among the most popular are milk bottles, whiskey containers, bitters, specially shaped bottles (famous figures, unusual shapes), ink and soda bottles. antique bitters bottles, including 1860s plantations, are regularly listed in the three hundred dollar price range on auction sites and at estate sales.

To help determine the value, it helps to have it on hand and keep a list of specific details. Important factors to note are any words on it and whether they are raised or embossed or not, the color, condition, type of base and even details about the top or stopper. If the bottle was blown by hand and has an uneven or free shape, it may have been made before 1860. Sometimes, it can be a single detail which makes the difference between a valuable vintage and a copy.

One way to get a rough idea of value is to look at auction prices on sites like eBay or specialized collectibles bottles sites. Many serious collectors will wait till the last minute to snap up an item, perhaps getting in a bidding war. Looking at closed auctions can give collectors an idea of their value, as well as which ones are most popular (but keep in mind the popularity of specific bottles can rise and fall through the years). For serious collectors, websites may be an integral part of keeping track of vintage bottle prices and updates.

Peter Murray loves collecting! Visit his Collectables Bottles website for great information on collecting.

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