2014 American Silver Eagle : A Collector’s Guide

By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek Notes …..
 

The United States Mint produced three versions of the American Silver Eagle in 2014: the standard bullion coin, which was sold in bulk to authorized purchasers and struck at the West Point and San Francisco mints but bore no mintmark; the 2014-W American Silver Eagle Burnished Uncirculated Coin, which was struck at the West Point Mint, carried the “W” mintmark, and sold individually to collectors; and the 2014-W American Silver Eagle Proof, a mirrored-finish coin with a beautiful cameo contrast that was also struck at the West Point Mint and sold individually to collectors. Both Burnished and Proof coins were offered at a significant premium over the prevailing spot price at the time.

Sales of the 2014 collector versions were nothing out of the ordinary. Demand for the 2014 American Silver Eagle bullion coin, however, smashed all prior records and the Mint struggled to source enough planchets.

The 2014 American Silver Eagle as a Certified Coin

More than 100,000 2014 American Silver Eagles were certified at MS70 by NGC and PCGS combined in the first year of the coin’s release. In the decade that followed, an additional 50,000 coins have been added to the census, mostly by NGC. Now CAC, now a full-service grading company, also accepts American Silver Eagles and has certified several hundred examples as it enters a well-established market.

The 2014 American Silver Eagle in MS70 was never a conditional rarity and never will be. There are more PCGS MS70s than 69s, and NGC adds about 4,600 new MS70s annually. Within its first year of release, MS70s traded for about $46 ($62 in 2024 inflation-adjusted dollars), and MS69s sold for $38 ($51). Today, MS70s trade for about $50-$55, while 69s go for about $30-$35. Raw coins trade for no appreciable premium over spot.

The major grading services will occasionally denote a parenthetical mint for the 2014 American Silver Eagle Bullion Coin, with (S) signifying that the coin was struck at the San Francisco Mint, and (W) denoting West Point. NGC has published that West Point coins were better made. Outside of the holder, or if submitted loose, no grading service can differentiate the mint of origin.

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2014 American Silver Eagle Market Data and Noteworthy Specimens

Top Population: PCGS MS70 (59,903, 4/2024), NGC MS70 (102,509, 10/2024), and CAC MS70 (459, 10/2024).

• NGC MS70 #3587183-074: eBay, October 11, 2024 – $55.99. Struck at San Francisco.
• NGC MS70 #3860886-223: eBay, October 10, 2024 – $46. First Releases.
• PCGS MS70 #29369442: eBay, October 10, 2024 – $53. First Strike.
• NGC MS70 #3856857-014: eBay, October 10, 2024 – $44.45. Early Releases.
• NGC MS70 #3844922-198: eBay, October 10, 2024 – $47. Early Releases.
• PCGS MS70 #29490053: eBay, October 9, 2024 – $50. First Strike. Struck at West Point. Tarnished.

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Design

Obverse:

Artist Adolph A. Weinman’s Lady Liberty is depicted mid-stride. She is dressed in a flowing gown and draped with a large billowing American flag. She holds laurel and oak branches in her left hand that symbolize the civil and military glories of America, respectively. As Liberty strides confidently towards the rising sun, she presents a welcoming open hand. She is superimposed over the obverse legend LIBERTY ringing the obverse, obscuring half of the “BE” and almost the entire “R”. Above Liberty’s rear foot is the motto IN GOD WE TRUST, and below her is the date 2014.

Reverse:

Mint Chief Engraver John Mercanti’s Heraldic Eagle is positioned at the center. Clutched in its beak is a ribbon bearing the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM. Above its head is a constellation of 13 stars configured in an upside-down pyramid formation. The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is wrapped around the top of the design and the fineness and denomination 1 OZ. FINE SILVER. ONE DOLLAR is at the bottom.

Edge:

The edge of the 2014 American Silver Eagle bullion coin is reeded.

Coin Specifications

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