1989-S American Silver Eagle | History & Value

By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek Notes …..
Regardless that silver spot costs retreated in 1989, American Silver Eagle bullion and Proof gross sales elevated barely that 12 months. For the Proof model, the United States Mint held agency with its $23 USD subject value ($57.93 in adjusted 2024 {dollars}).

What Is the 1989-S American Silver Eagle Proof Coin Price?

The licensed inhabitants of 1989-S American Silver Eagles stands at 49,154 cash (7.96% of the overall mintage), with 78.6% graded PR69 DCAM/UCAM. This information level ought to affirm that the 1989-S is a really well-made coin. That is strengthened by the truth that the 1989-S is, historically, the least costly Silver Eagle from the Nineteen Eighties in “Excellent 70“.

Over the previous 10 years, the licensed inhabitants has elevated from 29,301 to its current whole, for a median of 1,985 new submissions per 12 months. CAC Grading, a newly-formed full-service grading firm, has licensed solely 39 1989-S Silver Eagles (as of April 11, 2024), with 38 of them incomes the PR70DCAM. These are probably crossover cash, with the service and the shopper agreeing to a minimal PR70DCAM grade. CAC doesn’t publish its failure charge.

NGC had graded 15,045 PF69UCAMs via 2014; that quantity has grown to 22,310. In PF70UCAM, the inhabitants has virtually quadrupled, from 1,148 in 2014 to three,928 as of April 11, 2024. NGC’s 70s accounted for simply 7% of the overall cash graded in 2014, however for the entire cash graded since, the proportion of cash added to the PF70 inhabitants has risen to 27.6%.

PCGS had graded 10,533 PR69DCAMs via the identical interval; as of April 11, that determine has risen to 16,422. In PR70DCAM, the PCGS inhabitants has elevated from 2,001 to five,456 cash. In the meantime, the proportion of PCGS PR70DCAM via 2014 was 15.9%; measuring solely the cash graded since then, that charge has elevated to 37%.

As with CAC, neither service publishes its failure charge, however as Proof-69 cash are largely unprofitable, some submitters could have a minimal grading of 70.

The retail worth of the 1989-S American Silver Eagle has basically held at $50 to $60 since 2014, although silver costs are about $9 an oz larger immediately than they have been a decade in the past. The common retail worth of a 70 was between $180 and $250, with NGC cash routinely promoting for extra money. NGC cash seem to have maintained that slight market benefit for this date. Collectors have proven a willingness to pay extra for sure signed labels.

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Market Knowledge and Noteworthy Specimens

High Inhabitants: PCGS PR70DCAM (5,836, 2/2025). NGC PF70UCAM (4,079, 2/2025). CAC PR70DCAM (67, 2/2025).

• PCGS PR70DCAM: eBay, February 23, 2025 – $131.38. 9 bids.
• NGC PF70UCAM: eBay, February 22, 2025 – $242.50. 32 bids.
• NGC PF70UCAM: eBay, February 22, 2025 – $289.02.
• NGC PF70UCAM: eBay, February 19, 2025 – $239.
• PCGS PR70DCAM: eBay – M.Barr Cash, April 8, 2024 – $224.02. Vendor could use the identical picture for a number of gross sales.
• NGC PF70UCAM: eBay – KNH Collectibles, April 7, 2024 – $325. John Mercanti-signed label.
• PCGS PR70DCAM: eBay – Bullion Specific, April 4, 2024 – $145.50.
• NGC PF70UCAM: Stack’s Bowers, April 3, 2024, Lot 13525 – $192.
• PCGS PR70DCAM: eBay – FirstModernCoins, March 29, 2024 – $185.

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Design

Obverse:

Sculptor Adolph A. Weinman’s Woman Liberty is depicted mid-stride. She is seen as a full-body determine, wearing a flowing robe, and draped with a big billowing American flag. She holds laurel and oak branches in her left hand that symbolize the civil and navy glories of America, respectively. As Liberty strides confidently in the direction of the rising solar, she additionally reaches out and presents a welcoming and open hand. So massive is Woman Liberty that she is superimposed over the obverse legend LIBERTY ringing the obverse – actually, she obscures half of the “BE” and virtually your entire “R”. Above Liberty’s outstretched rear foot is IN GOD WE TRUST, and beneath her is the date (1988).

The design resembles sculptor Oscar Roty’s The Sower, a typical picture on French cash. Numismatist Roger Burdette posited in his guide Renaissance of American Coinage (2007) that this was not a coincidence. Whereas Adolph Weinman didn’t immediately copy Roty’s work, he did derive vital inspiration from it. Weinman’s Liberty Strolling design shortly grew to become one in every of America’s most iconic numismatic photographs and could be used with minor modifications on the American Silver Eagle bullion coin beginning in 1986.

Reverse:

Future United States Mint Chief Engraver John M. Mercanti’s Heraldic Eagle is positioned on the heart of the reverse. 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 (high) UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is wrapped across the design and the fineness and denomination (backside) 1 OZ. FINE SILVER. ONE DOLLAR. Beneath the olive department is the S mint mark of San Francisco.

Edge:

The sting of the 1989-S American Silver Eagle Proof coin is reeded.

Coin Specs

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