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 Replies: 12 / Views: 790 |
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
 United States
12252 Posts |
In July 1985, during the 99th United States ("US") Congress, a bill authorizing the 1986 Statue of Liberty - Ellis Island ("SoL-EI") commemorative coin program was authorized - it produced a Gold Half Eagle, a Silver Dollar and a Copper-Nickel (CuNi) Clad Half Dollar. The program was very popular among collectors in the early days of the modern US commemorative coin series, selling nearly 15.5 million total coins (~500,000 Gold Half Eagles, ~7.1 million Silver Dollars and ~7.9 million Clad Half Dollars). What not all collectors realize, however, is that the legislation that authorized the Statue of Liberty - Ellis Island coin program also authorized the American Silver Eagle coins (termed "Liberty Coins" in the legislation). The SoL-EI bill did not include provisions for a silver bullion coin when it was introduced in the US House of Representatives ("House"); it initially moved through Congress as purely a commemorative coin bill. Things changed, however, when the bill was considered in the Senate. In June 1985, Senator James Albertus McClure (R-ID) introduced an amendment to the House bill that added a one-ounce silver bullion coin to the mix - it was referred to as the "Liberty Coin" and specified that "the Secretary [of the Treasury] shall mint and issue, in quantities sufficient to meet public demand, coins which" had a diameter of 40.6 millimeters, a weight of 31.103 grams (a troy ounce of silver) and a silver fineness of 0.999. The obverse design of the coin was to be "symbolic of Liberty", and the reverse design wsa to depict an eagle. The amended bill easily passed in the Senate and was also quickly passed in the House (by Unanimous Consent). The bill was presented to US President Ronald Reagan, and signed into law on July 9, 1985. The American Silver Eagle was born! I'm not a dedicated collector of the ASE series, but I do have an example of the first year of issue: 1986 American Silver Eagle - Bullion  (I also have a 1986-S Proof example.) For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more modern US commemorative coin stories, see: Commems CollectionCollecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
73628 Posts |
Good information, commems! Thank you for posting.  Errers and Varietys.
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Moderator
United States
15386 Posts |
Very informative, thank you for sharing. I hope our dedicated ASE collectors appreciate this origin story. Take a look at my other hobby ... http://www.jk-dk.art |
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Moderator
United States
94728 Posts |
And now we learned about the conception of these wonderful ASE coins! |
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
 United States
12252 Posts |
Quote:I hope our dedicated ASE collectors appreciate this origin story. Me too! They were the target audience for the post! Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5602 Posts |
Very Interesting , I learn something every single day. The American " Liberty coins " or The Liberty Coin Act, which Brought Our Beloved American Silver Eagles Too. Were a Tremendous boost to 1985-1986 Commemoratives, I bought the Silver dollar sets to Celebrate Our First Sons birth. Going to Chemical banks and placing the orders in 1986. The " Liberty coins " were Awesome, The American Silver Eagles Series also began in 1986, the Rejuvenation of an Iconic Obverse design, Along with a Newly designed Reverse that was IMO, Sorely needed. COMMEMS Collecting coins back then was a Tad different, You would write to the Mints of choice with a request and Wait to get a Awesome coin in the U S Mail, No immediacy of Todays pace, We just waited for the Mint sets or ASE's to arrive, Imagine going to your parent's mailbox and seeing an Originally packaged Yellow U S Mint envelope and Could not wait to see the Coins inside, A Tad different for Sure.Always a Great day. America needed a Modern day Silver dollar, The predecessors, The 1804, The Gobrecht , Liberty Seated dollar, Trade dollar, Morgan silver dollar, Also Peace dollar. We needed a Silver Dollar!!!! I Always enjoyed my Father walking around with coins, Silver jinggling coins in His pockets, The Sound I have come to enjoy Still.!!!! The series has Many stars after Almost 40 years, 2026 being the 40th Anniversary of the First ASE, I am hoping for Another Milestone 5-Coin set, Enhanced Uncirculated -W, Reverse proof -P, Enhanced Proof -P, Uncirculated -W, Proof -S.  Much Thanks COMMEMS, I too appreciate your Informative Posts, MD |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5602 Posts |
COMMEMS,
Great Topic, Target Audience indeed, This forum Has a Multitude of Extraordinary, Very Organized, Very Determined, Very differing collectors of The American Silver Eagles Series, Some collect in Only OGP'g, Some Slabbed Only examples, Some collect the Mint marked examples Only, Some Bullion examples Only, Some Both Mint marked and Bullion , Some in Albums that store the Coins, Some in albums that hold Capsules that hold the coins, There are as many differing collectors as the Series unfolds. Your topic Hopefully Will bring " Other " Collector's and Opinions on This Awesome Historic 2026 approaches. I Would like to hear what Other collector's think about a 5-Coin 40th Anniversary set " Might " look like, Thanks in Advance MD.
Could you Please post the 1986 American Silver Eagle Proof you mentioned you Have, Maybe in All Original Velvet clam shell.
If not I understand, Just Would like to see what other's think of the PROOF in 1986's Package, ..
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Valued Member
United States
379 Posts |
Thanks Commems, always glad to read a new tidbit of info about the ASE. Quote:
Imagine going to your parent's mailbox and seeing an Originally packaged Yellow U S Mint envelope and Could not wait to see the Coins inside, A Tad different for Sure.Always a Great day. M.D. This brings back the memory of waiting what seemed like an eternity for the prize from collecting the cereal boxtops! |
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Moderator
United States
187582 Posts |
I did not realize they were in the same legislation, but am not surprised. Thank you for sharing! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5602 Posts |
Mojo stated, Quote: " M.D. This brings back the memory of waiting what seemed like an eternity for the prize from collecting the cereal boxtops! " Waiting did seem to be the ONLY way, Back then, Boxtop prizes were the Start of learning patience, HA! Innocent times ...  |
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
12252 Posts |
Quote:
Could you Please post the 1986 American Silver Eagle Proof you mentioned you Have, Maybe in All Original Velvet clam shell. I'm sorry, but mine is store away at the moment and I don't have any previous images of it. Maybe another member can show their images in the interim before I can get to mine? Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
Edited by commems
12/09/2025 08:35 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2460 Posts |
that was interesting, commems, thanks for posting that. I have a few ASEs, too, and my favorites are the burnished coins.
Edited by MrPink2018
12/10/2025 03:33 am
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
12252 Posts |
@All: Thanks for checking out this post and for engaging. Always appreciated!
Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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Replies: 12 / Views: 790 |
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Posted 12/07/2025 10:09 am
