1990 American Silver Eagle: A Must-Have Coin for Collectors

The 1990 American Silver Eagle has been a top choice for collectors since its release. With a total mintage of 5,840,110 coins, it might not seem rare at first glance. However, this coin gained attention for being hard to find in a perfect Mint State 70 (MS70) condition back in the day. But is it still that hard to find today?

Over the years, more of these coins have been certified by grading services. As of 2024, about 2.22% of the 1990 Silver Eagle coins have been certified, with 129,551 pieces officially graded. This is a big jump compared to the 89,066 coins reported in 2014, with over 3,000 coins graded every year!

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The Decline of the MS70 Market for 1990 Silver Eagles

In January 2024, an MS70 1990 Silver Eagle sold for $3,362.62 at an auction held by GreatCollections. While this is a high price, it’s not as rare as it used to be. Just a year earlier, the same type of coin sold for an average of $2,800 across different auctions.

One standout coin, a fully mirrored NGC MS70, was sold for $7,500 in early 2024. But overall, prices have stabilized. Ten years ago, this coin was a PCGS Pop 1 (meaning only one coin was graded MS70 at the time), making it extremely rare. Today, the number of these MS70 coins has increased significantly, making them more common.

First Strike Coins: Once Rare, Now Easier to Find

In 2015, collectors paid big money for “First Strike” versions of the 1990 Silver Eagle. These coins were among the first released and were much harder to find. At the time, there were only 37 MS69 First Strike coins and none graded higher. Fast forward to 2024, there are now 1,017 First Strike coins, including 48 graded as MS70.

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NGC vs. PCGS: Who Grades the Best?

When it comes to grading 1990 Silver Eagles, NGC has graded more coins than PCGS. NGC has certified 113,222 MS69 coins and 630 MS70 coins. PCGS, on the other hand, has certified only 183 MS70 coins.

Interestingly, NGC seems to grade more conservatively, as less than 1% of the coins they grade achieve MS70 status. However, the percentage of MS70s has increased over time, with more recent submissions seeing a higher success rate.

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Quick Coin Facts:

  1. Year of Issue: 1990
  2. Mintage: 5,840,110
  3. Alloy: .999 silver
  4. Weight: 31.1 g
  5. Diameter: 40.6 mm
  6. Designers: Adolph A. Weinman (Obverse), John M. Mercanti (Reverse)

What’s Next for the 1990 Silver Eagle Market?

The market for 1990 American Silver Eagles has changed a lot in the last decade. While prices are still strong, the coin has moved from being extremely rare to just uncommon. It will be interesting to see how the market evolves as more coins get graded, and whether these coins will maintain their high value.

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