2016 W Silver Eagle On Sale Thursday

We are talking about what the mint calls an Uncirculated ASE. For this year at least it is a satin finish proof ASE. I say that because the only thing that would have prevented it from meeting the definition of a proof coin was that we had not had any indication that it was struck at least two times. At least for 2016 (and possibly in prior years) the mint has confirmed that the Uncirculated ASE is being struck multiple times. That means that we have two proof ASE coins this year, one utra-cameo and one full satin finish. You can find the ordering page here http://catalog.usmint.gov/american-...oins#start=1.

I agree with Foxwoods. The burnished W mint ASE's appear closer to the bullion coins than the proofs.

Foxwoods Man, the classic definition of a proof (paraphrased by me) is a coin struck on specially prepared planchets using specially prepared die, struck at least twice using other than mass production forces and below mass production speeds, then given special handling and individually (or in sets) packaged and sold (or given away in some cases). The 2016 Uncirculated ASE is struck on specially prepared planchets (the blanks are burnished by the mint, bullion blanks are used as received from suppliers), the die are given a special finish and then hardened so that the desired finish lass longer, they are struck at least twice at higher forces than bullion coins and at lower speeds and are individually handled and packaged. The only differences between the ultra cameo proofs and the "uncirculated" coins is that the blanks are burnished instead of polished and the finish applied to the die is different. There are many cases of satin and satin-like proof coins and there have also been fully brilliant proofs, proof is a process, not a finish. I realize that for many people, proof has become synonymous with the ultra-cameo finish but, for me at least, the classic definition holds. I personally like satin proofs, brilliant proofs, and ultra-cameo proofs pretty much equally. They are all (for the most part) a significant cut above circulation coins, which I also enjoy collecting.

Was going to pick this up but decided to wait until the annual dollar coin set comes out on Dec 14th. Hopefully the mint will extend the free shipping offer, if not then I'll save a little at least.

And the dollar set costs $5 more than the Uncirculated coin by itself (but does include 4 Uncirculated golden dollars) and does not include the nice clamshell box, still not a bad deal.

Foxwoods Man, the mint said that the uncirculated eagles would be struck multiple times (and that the proof would receive 3 strikes this year). I am having trouble finding the article (old brain not working well today) but I will post a link as soon as I find it.

Found it! Look at the very end of the article. It says that both the Proof and Uncirculated ASE coins are struck three times this year. This may only be because of the edge lettering, I don't know if the uncirculated coins have been struck more than once in previous years.

"The Proof and Uncirculated versions both are struck three times on a Gräbener GMP 360 press under 225 tons of pressure per strike."

http://www.coinworld.com/news/us-co...-16.all.html

thanks for the replies and have ordered mine.