The 2000 American Silver Eagles would prove to be the last year in a three year run in which both the proof and the bullion versions of the coin would show annual increases in their total number sold.
Whether it was the market conditions or the paranoia leading up to Y2K, bullion Eagles had been on the increase since bottoming out in 1996 at only 3,603,386. This increase culminated in year 2000 dated strikes achieving the second best annual sales since 1987 (the year after the Eagle Program debuted). Coming in at 9,239,132, the bullion coins tallied up a respectable increase of 1,830,492 over the sales in 1999, or up 24.7%.
This year would be the last in which the Mint struck some of the Eagle Silver Bullion Coins at its facility in Philadelphia. Beginning in 2001, the West Point facility would be solely responsible for the coin.
Also adding to the increased mintage of the silver bullion Eagle was its inclusion in a special set from the US Mint called the "United States Millennium Coinage and Currency Set." Included in the collections was one West Point struck bullion 2000 Silver Eagle, one 2000 Sacagawea Dollar from the Denver Mint and one uncirculated 1999 series Dollar Bill which began with the serial number "2000." The set itself had a total mintage of 75,000 and sold out.
Below is a table showing the monthly totals for bullion coins sold (this table reflects only the total number of coins sold each month and may include strikes minted in other years):
2000 Bullion Silver Eagles Sold
| January | 1,011,500 | July | 499,500 | |
| February | 808,500 | August | 255,500 | |
| March | 851,500 | September | 296,500 | |
| April | 804,500 | October | 386,500 | |
| May | 925,000 | November | 580,500 | |
| June | 738,500 | December | 1,975,000 |
Released on May 15, 2000, the Proof Silver Eagles easily reached their mintage cap of 600,000 and marked the third year in a row in which the strikes showed annual increases. Collectors will note that these coins were the last annual versions of the Proof Eagles to be struck at the US Mint’s facility in Philadelphia. Beginning in 2001, the West Point facility assumed all responsibility for the coins.
Silver showed a decline for the year with the average price of an ounce of the precious metal coming in at $4.95 an ounce. It stood at $5.21 an ounce the previous year.
The US Mint charged $24 per 2000 Proof Silver Eagle ordered – the same price as it had the previous year.
2000 Silver Eagle Mintages
| Bullion Mintage: | 9,239,132 |
| Proof Mintage: | 600,000 |
2000 Silver Eagle Specifications
| Weight: | 31.101 grams (1.000 ounces) |
| Diameter: | 1.598 inches (40.60 mm) |
| Thickness: | 0.117 inches (2.98 mm) |
| Composition: | 99.93% silver, 0.07% copper |
2000 Silver Eagle Design
| Mint Mark: | Bullion – None, Proof – ‘P’ |
| Edge: | Reeded |
| Obverse Designer: | Adolph A. Weinman |
| Reverse Designer: | John Mercanti |
2000 Silver Eagles on eBay