Description
1998 1 oz Silver Eagle
This 1998 Silver Eagle is in near perfect condition, as evidenced by the MS69 grade that it received from the Numismatic Guarantee Corporation (NGC), arguably the most respected coin grading service in the world. Please note the NGC holder your coin is encapsulated inside of may be an older style than what is shown in the image. It has patriotic American images on both sides, including Adolph Weinman’s highly acclaimed Walking Liberty, which he initially created for the half dollar coin that bears the design’s name. The coin has reeded edges and consists of 1 Troy oz. of .999 fine silver.
Design of this 1998 Silver Eagle
Weinman’s design is featured on the obverse of this 1998 Silver Eagle. Lady Liberty is draped in the American flag, part of which waves behind her. She dons a Phrygian cap that is nearly touched by the laurel and oak branches that she carries in her left hand. Her right hand extends in front of her toward the upper left portion of the coin. Her elbow is bent and her palm is open. In the lower left, the sun is setting behind a mountain. On the right is the national motto, “IN GOD WE TRUST.” As with other American coinage, the word “LIBERTY” is inscribed along the rim, and the year of mintage, “1998,” is inscribed on the ground under her foot.
On the reverse is John Mercanti’s adaptation of the design on the Great Seal of the United States. An eagle is spread out behind a shield, which it guards. On the shield, there are thirteen stripes, one for each of the original states. In its beak, the eagle holds a ribbon. That ribbon spreads out on either side of the bird, with the portion on the left bearing the words “E PLURIBUS” and the part on the right having the word “UNUM.” The phrase is Latin for “From many, one.” In the talon that is on the right, the eagle grasps arrows, while the talon on the left holds an olive branch, symbols of a willingness to fight for American values and a desire for peace. Thirteen stars are arranged above the eagle’s head, again referencing the original states. Two inscriptions share the rim of the coin. At the top, the words “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” denote the country that issued the coin, while “1 OZ. FINE SILVER~ONE DOLLAR” on the bottom provides information about the coin’s silver content and face value.
