United States 2009 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 2009, West Point made the entire issue. The mintage, which set a record for the type, caused such a backlog that the Mint announced that it would not make any proofs, much to the rage of collectors who saw their sets interrupted.
Recorded Mintage: 30,459,000 (West Point).
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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