1986 Silver American Eagle Proof Coin Overview and Guide

The 1986 Silver American Eagle Proof Coin is a highly sought-after collector's item. It was minted in a limited quantity of 1,045,500.

The coin's design features Adolph A. Weinman's famous Walking Liberty obverse, which was first introduced on the Walking Liberty half dollar in 1916. This iconic design has been a staple of American coinage for decades.

The coin's reverse side features John Mercanti's design of a heraldic eagle, which is a classic representation of American strength and freedom.

The 1986 Silver American Eagle Proof Coin contains 1 oz of 99.9% pure silver, making it a valuable and coveted item among collectors.

The 1986 Silver American Eagle Proof coin is a highly sought-after collectible. It features a face value of $1, with a weight of 1 ounce of silver.

The coin's design is a replica of Adolph A. Weinman's Walking Liberty half-dollar. The obverse (front side) depicts a walking Liberty with a torch and olive branch.

The reverse (back side) of the coin features a heraldic eagle with 13 stars above and 13 arrows below. This design is a nod to the original 13 colonies.

One of the unique features of the 1986 Silver American Eagle Proof coin is its proof finish, which gives it a highly polished appearance.

The 1986-S American Silver Eagle Proof Coin has a total certified population of 104,512 coins, which is roughly 10% of the total mintage.

Over the past 10 years, the certified population of this coin has nearly doubled, from 57,664 coins in 2014 to its current number.

In Proof 69 Deep Cameo, the coin has a retail value of about $75, which is slightly less than its value 10 years ago when adjusted for inflation.

The price of Proof issues has held steadily over the past decade, with an example selling for about $350 today.

The market for Proof 70 Deep Cameo coins has changed significantly since 2014, with PCGS now having a 40% higher population of graded coins than NGC.

As of February 2024, PCGS has graded 11,107 coins as Proof-70 Deep Cameo, while NGC has graded 7,877 coins as Proof-70 Ultra Cameo.

CAC, a new grading service, reports a total of 63 1986-S American Silver Eagles in its census, with all but one of them graded Proof-70 Deep Cameo.

The retail price for Proof-70 Deep Cameo coins from any of the three major services is about $350.

The 1986 American Silver Eagle Proof has a design that's truly iconic. Adolph A. Weinman's Lady Liberty is depicted mid-stride, with a flowing gown and a large billowing American flag draped over her.

She's not just a symbol of freedom, but also a nod to the country's military and civil glories, as represented by the laurel and oak branches in her left hand. The laurel branch symbolizes the civil glories of America, while the oak branch represents the military.

As Liberty strides confidently towards the rising sun, she presents a welcoming and open hand, making her a truly inviting figure. So large is Lady Liberty that she obscures half of the "BE" and almost the entire "R" in the obverse legend LIBERTY.

The design bears a notable resemblance to sculptor Oscar Roty's The Sower, a common image on French coins. This was not a coincidence, and Adolph Weinman did derive significant inspiration from Roty's work, even if he didn't directly copy it.

The reverse of the coin features John Mercanti's Heraldic Eagle at its center, clutching a ribbon with the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM. Above its head is a constellation of 13 stars configured in an upside-down pyramid formation.