ASE - Proof V. Uncirculated

Generally speaking, yes.

The more valuable Eagles are typically the ones with the lower mintages, which are almost always the Proofs. One exception is the 2006-W. The low mintage of those uncirculated anniversary Eagles puts its value higher than most Proof Eagles.

Personally, I think the proofs look a lot sharper than the uncirculated but I think that about any coin. The frost against the mirror fields just makes for a much better looking coin IMHO. The uncirculated ASEs are a sharp looking coin and a set of them will cost you quite a bit less than a set of the proofs but you just have to work all the pluses and minuses out for yourself.

Yes, the same amount of silver in both.

And yes, the proofs are more valuable. They take all kinds of pains to make proofs (ASEs or any other kind of coin) just to look nice for collectors and they generally don't make nearly as many proofs.

ASE = American Silver Eagles.

I collect both.

I have a completed uncirculated set, and most, but not all, of the proofs.

Thanks for filling me in. I have a dollar coin, which is 2003 and has the Walking liberty on the front. Is that the ASE?

Thankx- John

I've a completed set - 1986 thru 2008 - 23 BU - 23 PF, and have them housed in a Dansco 8181 album (all except for the '08 PF - waiting for Dansco to issue an additional page with the dates rather than just a supplememtal page).
Now, some people prefer to keep their Proof ASEs in the original mint packaging because of the retained value of an "untampered with" coin, but my collection is for me, and I like to look at them, pretty much, at the same time, and the album allows me to do that by simply turning a page.
Whether you collect them for their beauty, or for their investment potential, it's still one of the nicest series out there today (my opinion).

Ralph

I love the proof ASE's and will keep one per year. I prefer those in OGP. The UNC's are great for keeping a date set as they are not expensive and yet very attractive for showing to others - I keep those in a date album.

Brandon, I never tire of looking at my set of ASEs. Should you decide to go the route of UNC and PROOF both, a complete set isn't all that hard on your pocket -except for the mid-90s proof coins, but, over a period of time, they, too, can be had - took me the better part of three years to complete my set - now, it's just a matter of getting the new ones each year when they come out.
My advice - go for it! You'll be happy you did (and I'll bet your son will be too).

Ralph

creaton, as I stated in an earlier post here, I have all my Eagles in a Dansco 8181 album - I, too, like to look at them at the same time rather than pick up one, look at it, put it back, pick up another.....
As for toning, I have not experienced any - yet. I can't tell you what the long term effects of being in album might be when it comes to the Eagles. Maybe someone else can enlighten you as to any bad experiences they might have had with them, but, for now, mine look as good today as they did when I placed them in the album.
I would point out that, if you do collect the proofs with an eye toward investment, then you would be money ahead to leave them in the original government packaging. However, if you collect them for your own enjoyment, and intend to place them in an album, a word of caution: be very careful when handling them - use gloves, and exert enough pressure to seat them down far enough in the slot so that the plastic insert doesn't scratch them when you reinsert it.

Ralph