United States 2006 dollar KM-273
The United States Mint inaugurated the silver eagle bullion coin in 1986 to compete with similar offerings from other countries, such as Mexico ("Libertad") and Canada ("Maple Leaf"). Sales were decent (the lowest mintage date is 1994, with 4.2 million) but really took off with the price of silver in 2008. An astonishing 47 million were made and sold in 2015. Normally, West Point and Philadelphia divide the task of striking these; in 2006, West Point made the proofs, the burnished uncirculated and the regular issue sold in bulk and the Philadelphia mint made the reverse proofs (matte fields and mirrored figures).
Recorded Mintage: 10,676,552 (West Point) plus 1,092,477 proofs (2006-W) plus 248,875 reverse proofs (2006-P) plus 468,020 burnished uncirculated (2006-W).
Specification: 31.10 g, 0.999 fine silver, 40.6 mm diameter. Designed and engraved by John Mercanti.
Catalog reference: KM 273.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 2001-Date, 13th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2018.
- Yeoman, R. S., and Kenneth Bressett (ed.), A Guide Book of United States Coins, 65th Ed., Atlanta, GA: Whitman Publishing, 2011.
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