There have been two reverse designs of the American Silver Eagle:
Type 1 (1986 - 2021) features the main part of the obverse (or front) of the Great Seal of the United States, which displays the full achievement of the national Coat of Arms. The design has the Union Shield at centre, legally blazoned as "paleways of 13 pieces, argent and gules; a chief, azure" (thirteen vertical stripes, white and red, with a blue horizontal bar on top). The supporter of the shield is a bald eagle with its wings outstretched (or "displayed", in heraldic terms). From the eagle's perspective, it holds a bundle of six arrows in its left talon, and an olive branch in its right talon. Its head is turned towards the olive branch, indicating a preference for piece over war. In its beak, the eagle clutches a scroll with the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM ("Out of Many, One"). Over its head there appears an arrangement, on four lines, of 13 five-pointed stars. The recurring number 13 refers to the 13 original states. The eagle has its head turned towards the arrows - unlike later versions where it looks towards the olive branch, to symbolise a preference for peace. In small letters below right, the initials of the designer: JM, for John Mercanti.
Around above, the name of the country: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Around below, the precious metal content and the face value: 1 OZ. FINE SILVER ~ ONE DOLLAR.
Type 2 (2021 - present) depicts an eagle landing on a branch. Below left, the designer's initials ESD, for Emily Susan Damstra; below right, the engraver's initials MG, for Michael Gaudioso.
Around left, the inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Around right in small letters, the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM; translated from Latin, it means "Out of many, one" and signifies unity in diversity.
Around below right in larger letters, the face value and the precious metal content: · ONE DOLLAR · 1 OZ. FINE SILVER. |
