2010 Proof Silver Eagle Update

Update: Latest information on 2010 Proof Silver Eagle

Testimony recently delivered by US Mint Director Edmund Moy to a Senate Subcommittee on Domestic Monetary Policy and Technology includes new developments for the 2010 Proof Silver Eagle. The fate of this coin has remained unknown due to the continued high demand for the bullion version of the coin.

Under current law, the United States Mint is legally obligated to produce American Gold Eagle and American Silver Eagle bullion coins in quantities sufficient to meet the public demand. The recent heightened demand for physical bullion coins has left the US Mint unable to keep up. For nearly two years, the US Mint has been sourcing all precious metals blanks to the production of bullion coins, resulting rather than collector coins. This led to the premature end of production for the 2008 Proof Silver Eagle and the cancellation of the 2009 Proof Silver Eagle.

Director Moy provided testimony on July 20, 2010 during a hearing of the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Domestic Monetary Policy and Technology on "The State of U.S. Coins and Currency." In his statement he acknowledged the disappointment of collectors and expressed his encouragement that the Subcommittee was considering an amendment to the law that would allow issuance of collectible versions of the American Silver Eagle even if the full public demand for bullion coins is not met. The US Mint has already provided technical drafting assistance for the change in law. Until this hearing, the possible amendment to the law had been unrevealed.

If such a change is enacted, the Director explained that the US Mint could produce 200,000 coins per month. If production began in September, total production of about 830,000 coins could be accomplished by the end of 2010.

Planned collectible versions of the coin would include the 2010-W Uncirculated Silver Eagle and 2010-W Proof Silver Eagle.

Moy's statement did not include any mention of collectible versions of the 2010 Gold Eagle, but this might suggest that the prospects for these coins is more likely. This year, the US Mint has managed to catch up with gold bullion offerings faster, and even quietly ended their allocation program for the one ounce coins. With the gold bullion coins apparently being minted in quantities sufficient to meet public demand, this should clear the way for production of uncirculated and proof 2010-W Gold Eagles, even without amendment to the law.

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