By CoinWeek Staff Reports ……2024 American Silver Eagle Day Starts Official Sales Period
At noon today, 2024 American Silver Eagle Day kicked off. Each year in January, the United States Mint releases its first American Silver Eagle coins of the year. Lining up to order the coins were collectors, coin dealers, and bulk buyers. The Silver Eagle is the most popular numismatic product offered by the U.S. Mint, and an entire industry has been built to support the secondary market for the coins.
Additional Insight: The American Silver Eagle is a staple in the numismatic world, sought after by both collectors and investors for its silver content and iconic design. Its annual release creates a buzz in the collecting community, with many eagerly awaiting the new edition each year.
### The True Silver Eagle Market Takes Shape Later
The Mint expects extraordinarily high web traffic when the coins release, and as of 15 minutes before the noon launch, visitors to the United States Mint’s website were greeted with the following screen notifying them that they had entered a virtual waiting room.
Upon entering the Mint’s web store, visitors were given a finite amount of time to complete their purchase.
### PCGS First Strike
PCGS was the first company to introduce a special designation for coins submitted for grading within the first 30 days of the product’s official release. Click here to learn about the PCGS First Strike program.
### NGC Releases Designations
NGC offers a variety of designations to designate that a coin has been graded within the 30-day launch window. In addition, NGC offers a special label for coins submitted on the First Day of Issue. Like the PCGS First Strike program, NGC’s programs have proven to be popular with marketers and collectors. Learn more here.
### CACG First Delivery
CACG launched in 2023 as a full-service grading evolution of the CAC stickering service, which launched in 2007. The CAC stickering service offered very limited service for modern coins. The CACG company, in contrast, grades modern and vintage U.S. coins and has introduced programs similar to those at PCGS and NGC. CACG designates coins submitted within 30 days of release as First Delivery.
Additional Insight: The introduction of various grading designations by agencies like PCGS, NGC, and CACG adds layers of collectibility and value to the American Silver Eagle coins, making them even more desirable to numismatists.
After the 30-day submission window closes, submitters switch their focus to novelty insert labels. Novelty labels not only convey the same information found on a standard grading company insert label but also provide a theme that can add to a collector’s enjoyment of the coin.
Taken as a whole, secondary market buyers and sellers play a significant role in cultivating and growing the market for United States Mint products.
### 2024 Marks the 38th Year of the American Silver Eagle Program
With the release of the 2024 American Silver Eagle Proof, the United States Mint’s silver bullion coin program enters its 38th year. With each passing year, the program grows in complexity, but it still remains a series that can be completed by determined collectors.
Additional Insight: As the American Silver Eagle program continues its legacy, collectors and investors can expect new innovations and exciting releases in the future. The anticipation of the 40th-anniversary celebration in 2026 adds to the allure of collecting these iconic coins.
Looking forward, 2026 will be the 40th Anniversary of the program. CoinWeek expects the United States Mint to mark that anniversary with a series of limited edition coin products and special releases. Expect news on those plans to develop within the next 12 to 18 months.