First Look: American Eagle Type-2 Reverse Official Images Released

The United States Mint has released the official high resolution images of the upcoming American Eagle Type-2 Reverse designs. The release of the official images comes after photos of the new Reverse for the American Eagle Silver and Gold coins were shown for the first time in the Mint’s Collection Guide mailed to customers.

As readers know, the Mint has announced new Reverse designs for both the gold and silver American Eagle. For the gold American Eagles, the new Reverse design will be used on the one-ounce coin as well as the fractional coins the Mint offers in the series.

The 2021 American Eagle gold Reverse design was designed by Mint Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) designer Jennie Norris. The Reverse will be scuttled by Mint Medallic Artist Renata Gordon.

The American Eagle silver Reverse for 2021 was designed by AIP designer Emily Damstra. It will be sculpted by Mint Medallic Artist Michael Gaudioso.

The new Reverse designs are a significant departure from the current designs on the American Eagle. Note that the Obverse (Heads) of both coins will remain the same for the coins.

The United States Mint has already said that the 2021 Eagles that the Reverse change will integrate security enhancements. Counterfeiting of these coins has increasingly become an issue as counterfeiters themselves have become increasingly more sophisticated in their dark art. In recent years, an influx of bogus silver Eagles have flooded into the country, most notably from China. The Mint wants to curb that if not stop it all together.

What exactly those anti-counterfeiting measures are that the Mint implements is not clear. Officials have, understandably, been quiet about what will be done. It is possible that techniques used by other Mints around the world could be used. For example, the Royal Canadian Mint uses micro engraving on the silver and gold Maple Leaf bullion coins as well as each die for the coins having a textured Maple Leaf on it. Similar features could make their way to the American Eagle and then will likely make their way into other bullion coins.