Since 1986, the American Silver Eagle has been one of the most successful bullion and collector coins in the world. In 2021, the U.S. Mint gave the coin its first major redesign — creating what collectors now call the Type 2 Silver Eagle.
From Type 1 to Type 2
The Silver Eagle was authorized by the Liberty Coin Act, signed into law by President Ronald Reagan in 1985. For 35 years, its reverse featured John Mercanti’s heraldic eagle with a shield. In mid-2021, that design was replaced by Emily S. Damstra’s “Eagle Landing” design, showing an eagle coming in to land with an oak branch in its talons.
The obverse still features Adolph A. Weinman’s beloved Walking Liberty design, refreshed with details restored from the original artwork. The Type 2 coins also introduced new anti-counterfeiting features, including a reeding variation on the edge.
Coins from 2021 come in both types, so collectors can own the final Type 1 and first Type 2 issues from the same year.
Three Finishes to Collect
Like the original series, Type 2 Silver Eagles are made in three standard finishes:
- Bullion strike — the most common version, with no mint mark.
- Burnished (uncirculated) strike — with the “W” mint mark of West Point.
- Proof strike — with mirror-like surfaces; 2021 proofs were issued with both “W” and “S” mint marks.
The 2021 collector versions sold out quickly at the U.S. Mint, underlining the demand for first-year coins.
Following the Type 1 “Treasure Map”
Collectors of the original series built sets by date, mint mark, finish, grade and special releases. The same approach works for Type 2:
- First-year coins (2021): the foundation of any Type 2 set.
- First full year (2022): popular for complete three-finish sets.
- Perfect grades: MS70 and PF70 examples for top-quality collections.
- Special designations: First Day of Issue or Early Releases labels.
- Special issues: limited releases that may appear in future years.
Signed by the Creators
For an extra-special collection, many collectors look for certified Type 2 coins with labels hand-signed by designer Emily S. Damstra (whose initials “ESD” appear on the reverse) or sculptor-engraver Michael Gaudioso (whose initials “MG” also appear on the coin).
The Bottom Line
The Type 2 American Silver Eagle opened a new chapter for one of the world’s most popular coins. Starting with the early years now gives collectors the chance to build a complete set from the very beginning.