2008-W 1oz Silver Eagle Burnished Reverse of 2007 PCGS SP70 Key Variety Rare

2008-W 1oz Silver Eagle Burnished Reverse of 2007 PCGS SP70 Key Variety Rare

Offered is a desirable 2008-W American Silver Eagle $1, the scarce Burnished “Reverse of 2007” variety, certified PCGS SP70 (Specimen 70). Struck at the West Point Mint on a specially prepared planchet, this coin contains 1 troy ounce of .999 fine silver and represents one of the key modern varieties in the Silver Eagle series.

Coin & Certification Details

• Country: United States

• Denomination: $1 American Silver Eagle

• Date / Mintmark: 2008-W (West Point)

• Finish: Burnished (collector “uncirculated” issue)

• Variety: Reverse of 2007

• Grade: PCGS SP70 – Specimen strike, top grade on the PCGS scale

• Weight: 31.10–31.103 g (1 troy oz) of fine silver

• Composition: 99.9% silver (with trace copper)

• Diameter: 40.6 mm; reeded edge

• Designers:

  • Obverse: Adolph A. Weinman (Walking Liberty)

  • Reverse: John Mercanti (heraldic eagle)

The PCGS holder provides secure, tamper-evident encapsulation and clearly attributes the coin as “Burnished – Reverse of 2007” on the label.

The “Reverse of 2007” Variety

In 2008 the U.S. Mint updated the reverse hub of the Silver Eagle to sharpen details and modify the lettering. A limited number of burnished 2008-W coins were mistakenly struck using the older 2007 reverse die, creating this much-talked-about variety.

Collectors identify the Reverse of 2007 by subtle design cues, including:

• The “U” in UNITED has a more bowl-shaped profile on the 2007 hub.

• Other small differences in the spacing and style of the legends and dash between “SILVER” and “ONE.”

Mint documentation and follow-up research indicate an estimated mintage of about 46,318–47,000 coins, making this a relatively low-population issue compared with the regular 2008-W Burnished (Reverse of 2008) Silver Eagle.

Among Type 1 Silver Eagles (1986–2021), this is recognized as the only major die-variety “mint error” for the series, cataloged as FS-901 and listed in standard references.

Classic Silver Eagle Design

Like all American Silver Eagles, this piece carries the iconic designs that have made the series a modern classic:

• Obverse – Walking Liberty: Liberty strides toward the sunrise draped in the U.S. flag, holding laurel and oak branches, with LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, and the date 2008.

• Reverse – Heraldic Eagle (Type 1): A shielded eagle with arrows and olive branch, 13 stars overhead, inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 1 OZ. FINE SILVER, and ONE DOLLAR, with the W mintmark signifying West Point.

The burnished finish—created by striking specially prepared, lightly polished planchets—gives the coin a distinctive satin-like look that differs from both bullion and proof issues.

Collector’s Value

This coin brings together several features that appeal strongly to modern U.S. collectors:

• Key variety in the Silver Eagle series: the 2008-W Burnished Reverse of 2007 is widely treated as a must-have for complete sets.

• Low estimated mintage around 46k–47k pieces, significantly scarcer than the standard 2008-W burnished issue.

• Top-pop grade: PCGS SP70 represents the highest numeric grade assigned, making it ideal for registry sets and high-end collections.

• Struck in 1 oz of .999 fine silver, combining bullion content with strong numismatic interest.

Whether you are building a complete American Silver Eagle run, focusing on PCGS-graded key varieties, or simply want a standout modern U.S. silver dollar with a documented mint-die story behind it, this 2008-W Burnished Reverse of 2007 Silver Eagle PCGS SP70 is a prime candidate for your collection.