Value of Silver Eagle Dollars

Silver Eagles

• Silver Eagles have been produced since 1986 using exactly the same design based on "Walking Liberty" half dollar, and in exactly the same purity and weight: one troy ounce (31.1 grams) of 99.9 percent silver.

Bullion Value

• Except for proof versions, Silver Eagle coins are not collector's items. Their value entirely depends on the price of silver, which is an internationally traded commodity.

Spot Price of Silver

• The benchmark for the price of silver on international markets is called the spot price. It changes daily with the most current prices readily available online or in newspaper financial sections.

Spot as a Guide

• The spot price is a guide to valuation, not an absolute. Sellers of Silver Eagles will receive a little less than spot, and buyers will pay a little more.

Estimating Value

• Since Silver Eagles contain one troy ounce of silver, it is very easy to estimate their value. Silver is traded in basic units of a troy ounce, so one Silver Eagle will be worth roughly the spot price of silver on any given day.

Face Value

• The coins have a face value of $1, but that is a formality of making them legal tender. The silver content is worth much more.