2002 1 oz Silver Eagle NGC MS69

Introduction

The 2002 1 oz American Silver Eagle graded NGC MS69 combines one troy ounce of .999 fine silver with near-perfect Mint State condition. As the official silver bullion coin of the United States, the American Silver Eagle is widely recognized for its silver content, government-backed specifications, and classic American designs. Its MS69 grade from Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) places this example just one point below a perfect MS70.

History

The American Silver Eagle program debuted in 1986 following authorization under the Liberty Coin Act of 1985. Each bullion coin contains one troy ounce of silver and carries a legal tender face value of $1.

In 2002, the U.S. Mint produced 10,539,026 bullion Silver Eagles. The coin belongs to the original Type 1 generation of the series, which paired Adolph A. Weinman's Walking Liberty design with John Mercanti's heraldic eagle reverse. This design combination remained a defining feature of the Silver Eagle series until the reverse was replaced in 2021.

Design

The obverse features Adolph A. Weinman's Walking Liberty design, originally created for the Walking Liberty Half Dollar. Liberty strides toward the rising sun while draped in the American flag and carrying branches of laurel and oak. The inscriptions LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, and the date 2002 complete the obverse.

The reverse features John Mercanti's heraldic eagle behind a shield, holding an olive branch and arrows. Thirteen stars above the eagle represent the original colonies. The inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 1 OZ. FINE SILVER, ONE DOLLAR, and E PLURIBUS UNUM complete the design.