Why Are Some Silver Eagles Labeled BU and Others Are Not?

A Brilliant Uncirculated Silver American Eagle in a PCGS holder.

What Makes a Brilliant Uncirculated American Silver Eagle Special?

In coin collecting, BU stands for Brilliant Uncirculated. They contain greater detail and have a more attractive finish than regular strikes, or circulating coins do.

Brilliant Uncirculated coins are more valuable than circulating coins but generally not as valuable as Proof coins.

Silver American Eagles have been issued since 1986. The U.S. Mint produces burnished, proof, and brilliant uncirculated Silver Eagle versions for collectors.

Uncirculated Silver Eagles command a higher price than regular strike issues but not as much as burnished and proof varieties.

What Makes Brilliant Uncirculated Silver Eagles Different?

American Silver Eagle BU coins are made with quality enhancements that imbue greater detail from a higher coining force, as well as early strikes from Mint dies.

Brilliant Uncirculated Silver Eagles begin as specially burnished blanks that are hand-loaded into a coining press. They have a matte-like appearance and are sold with special packaging as well as a certificate of authenticity.

Aside from the different blanks, packaging, and die treatment, the Brilliant Uncirculated Eagles are produced with the same precious metal content as circulating, or regular strike Eagles.

Should I Focus on Purchasing Brilliant Uncirculated Silver Eagles?

If you are building a bullion collection as an investment, it might be worth adding BU Silver Eagles to your investment strategy. Consult your financial adviser and ask if these are in line with your financial goals today.

Quick Guides to Investing

Step 1:

Why Buy Physical Gold and Silver?

If you are concerned about the volatility of the stock market, you’re not alone. The extreme highs and lows of the stock market often lead investors towards safe-haven assets, like bullion. Historically, the Precious Metals market has an inverse relationship with the stock market, meaning that when stocks are up, bullion is down and vice versa.

Step 2:

How Much Gold and Silver Should You Have?

This question is one of the most important for investors to answer. After all, experts suggest limits on how much of any types of investments should go into a portfolio. After deciding to purchase and own Precious Metals and considering how much money to allocate, one can then think about how much and what to buy at any point in time.

Step 3:

Which Precious Metals Should I Buy?

With the frequent changes in the market and countless Precious Metal products available, choosing investments can be difficult. Some want Gold or Silver coins, rounds or bars while others want products that are valuable because of their design, mintage or other collectible qualities. Also, collectors may shop for unique sets and individual pieces for their collections.

Step 4:

When to Buy Gold & Silver

After considering why, how much, and what Precious Metals products to buy, an investor’s next step is when to buy them. This decision requires an understanding of market trends and the impact of economic factors on precious metal prices.

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