Description
1988-S 1 oz. Proof Silver Eagle in NGC PF69 UC
In 1985 an amendment to an already existing bill was passed that allowed the minting and sale of silver coins by the US mint using Defense National Stockpile silver; this ended a long debate and in 1986 the famous Silver Eagle was struck for the first time. Just two years later, this 1988-S 1 oz. Proof Silver Eagle which has been graded as NGC PF69 UC was minted and you can own it today!
Before the amendment was passed, many attempts were made to begin selling off silver from the Defense National Stockpile in the 1970’s and 80’s, but they were all blocked by the fear of it dropping silver prices and hurting the US silver mining business. The decision to use the silver to make coins was seen as a way to keep it from affecting prices. Now as the official bullion of the USA, this 1 oz. silver coin is in high demand and is still being produced.
The Design of the 1 oz. Silver Eagle Coin
The Walking Liberty design on the obverse of the Silver Eagle coin was originally created by Adolph A. Weinman. It had been a public favorite since the first coin that had featured it, the Walking Liberty Half dollar, which was minted by the US from 1916-1947. Around her shoulders is the United States of America flag and in her arms lays an olive branch. The rising sun is visible in the left hand corner of the coin with the words “In God We Trust” on the opposite side. “Liberty” and “1988” are across the top and bottom.
John Mercanti was responsible for the eagle design seen on the reverse. It is behind a shield and holds a banner in its beak with the words “E Pluribus Unum” written across it. An olive branch and arrows are in its talons. In the shape of a triangle, 13 stars represent the 13 original colonies. The reverse is also inscribed with “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and “1 OZ. FINE SILVER – ONE DOLLAR.” An “S” for the San Francisco Mint is visible just below the olive branch.
Why add this NGC Graded 1988-S Silver Eagle to your collection?
This Proof Silver Eagle coin is an Ultra Cameo (UC) and has a grade of NGC PF69. There are three big reasons why it is great to purchase a NGC graded coin – 1. You can be confident that you are getting what you think you are. The Numismatic Guaranty Corporation makes sure that every coin graded there is authentic. 2. You get the added protection of having your coin encased in NGC’s hard-plastic holder. Their case has been praised as one of the best available. 3. The numeric grade given lets you know the value of the coin based on its condition. This is very important if you are ever interested in selling your coins. Having a 69 grade means that this 1988 Silver Eagle is only one below the highest grade of 70 and you know that it is in great condition!
