United States 2008 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 2008, West Point made the entire issue. THe "reverse of 2007" has slightly different "U's" in the reverse legends.
Recorded Mintage: 20,583,000 (West Point) plus 700,979 proofs (2008-W) plus 533,757 burnished uncirculated (2008-W) plus 47,000 "reverse of 2007".
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.
Link to:
- 2007 "silver eagle" dollar
- 2007-W "silver eagle" dollar
- 2007-P silver dollar, Jamestown quadricentenary
- 2008-P dollar, Bald Eagle Recovery
- 2008-W 5 dollars, Bald Eagle Recovery
- 2008-W 50 dollars, Judicial Branch reverse, ½ oz platinum
- 2009 "silver eagle" dollar
- Coins and currency dated 2008
- return to United States Silver Bullion Coins, since 1986