What is the difference between a burnished silver eagle and the regular bullion?

Other than the "W" mint mark, is there any clear visual differences between the burnished (uncirculated) ASE and the regular bullion ASE? Is it higher quality? Less likely to milk spot? Since it's made specifically for collectors like the proof version. What makes it that much more expensive? Thanks..

 

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They are specially prepared blanks and dies used for the burnished W-mint type. The BEST normal bullion strikes can often bear a strong resemblance to the burnished type, but not uniformly so.

 

So it's more or less the same, but just done to a higher standard? Can you tell them apart without the mintmarks at all? Like deeper strikes, and more details?

 

There is an additional difference for the 2016 burnished ASE. It has the lettered edge like that on the proof, while the bullion version has the normal reeded edge.

 

IMO, it's tough to tell the burnished from a well prepared bullion planchet ASE.

 

Yes, the best bullion planchets are very similar to the burnished. No burnished were produced in 2009 and 2010. Otherwise, they exist 2006-date.

 

Numismatists use the term burnished to describe the coins’ unique finish. Burnished coins appear matte and less shiny when compared to a standard bullion coin. This is the result of polishing the blanks before they are struck. Some collectors believe burnishing adds longevity to the design. It is important to note the U.S. Mint identifies burnished coins simply as uncirculated coins. The U.S. Mint’s burnished Eagle coins are produced in limited quantities only at the West Point Mint in New York. For this reason, the coins include a “W” mintmark beneath the reverse image. They are in low mintage and that makes them worth more.

 

Not trying to be mean or anything but the last response besides yours was three years ago with answers like yours already provided and the op hasn't been on for two years.

 

I thought the difference is how much a TV Coin distributor can hype a manufactured rarity never intended for or even available to the public by the Mint. It's a travesty that the US Mint has become a market manipulating metal stamper for insiders to make obscene profits.

 

It's the coins finish. Burnished is a type of polishing.

 

I can hold a burnished silver Eagle next to a regular one and I see no difference at all. They look identical.

 

I find that typically the "burnished" eagles are is little "whiter" than the bullion coins. This is cause by the dies being a little more heavily etched than the ones used for the bullion coins. (Yes the die surfaces are etched. Probably lightly pickled with an acid solution. Used to be they would touch up that surface etching on the bullion dies by striking an ASE through a piece of emery cloth. Don't know if they still do that.) The whole spiel about the planchets for the W coins having been "burnished" is hogwash. ALL planchets are burnished. And so what if they are burnished. Once they are struck with the etched dies any surface burnishing of the planchet is lost anyway.