One of the most rare silver United States silver coins produced in recent years and limited to just over 30,000 pieces, the coin was produced at the West Point Mint.  Because of this, is known often as a 1995 W Proof Silver Eagle. The coin was originally included in the 1995 10th Anniversary Eagle Proof Set from the United States Mint and was issued as an extra bonus addition to the 1995-W Proof Gold Eagle Four Coin Set which included a one-ounce, half-ounce, quarter-ounce and tenth-ounce version.

Due to the high cost of gold, and the premium price of $995.00 that was attached to the set, the set was actually just to expensive for many Silver Eagle collectors to be able to afford. In time, the coin became a rarity whose value alone eclipses the price of the four Gold Eagles with a price in today's market running in the thousands of dollars.

This year, each set will contain 18 coins, each displaying  United States San Fransisco Mint "S" mint mark . The set includes four Presidential $1 Coins honoring John Tyler, William Henry Harrison, James K. Polk and Zachary Taylor; the new Native American $1 Coin; four Lincoln Bicentennial One-Cent Coins celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln; six commemorative quarter-dollar coins honoring the U.S. District of Columbia plus five U.S. territories (the Commonwealth of  Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands) and the Roosevelt dime, Jefferson 5-cent coin and Kennedy half-dollar coins. 

Proof Sets from the United States Mint contain coins which are manufactured using specialized dies which are highly polished, giving each coin a brilliant finish with sharp relief and mirror-like backgrounds.  The coins display a unique cameo effect due to a frosted sculpted foreground.  The coins are then sealed in a protective case to protect the coin's detailed finish. Each set is shipped with a U.S. Mint Certificate of Authenticity.

The 2009 United States Mint Proof Set are now available for ordering at the United States Mint website, or you can also call 1-800-USA-MINT toll-free.