American Platinum Eagle Coins
American Platinum Eagles - the US Mint's official platinum bullion coins
Whereas the American Gold Eagle coins and American Silver Eagle coins are issued by the US Mint since 1986, precious metal investors had to wait until 1997 before they could buy platinum coins that were minted in America. The obverse side of brilliant uncirculated American Platinum Eagle coins shows a close-up portrait of Lady Liberty. An eagle in flight appears on the reverse side of brilliant uncirculated American Platinum Eagles. This standard reverse design differs from the current reverse side design of proof coins which show an eagle that is about to land. Until 2017, proof Platinum Eagles however always displayed a different design on their reverse side each year which was a unique feature for U.S. bullion coins. Since 2018, the proof coins change their obverse design each year.
The 99.95% fine Platinum American Eagle coins exist in the denominations of 1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz and 1/10 oz. The coins have respective face values of US $ 100, US $ 50, US $ 25 and US $ 10. Buyers can choose between brilliant uncirculated, proof and burnished uncirculated coins. The burnished version of the American Eagle platinum coins was however only minted between 2006 and 2008. It used the same reverse design as the proof coins in those years. Proof and burnished coins are mintmarked (with the W for the West Point Mint) whereas brilliant uncirculated coins are not. American buyers that are investing in platinum for their retirement can include the coins in their Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA's).
Coin Specifications
| Weight | Face Value | Purity | Diameter x Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 oz | US $ 100 | 99.95% | 32.70 x 2.39 mm |
| 1/2 oz* | US $ 50 | 99.95% | 27 x 1.75 mm |
| 1/4 oz* | US $ 25 | 99.95% | 22 x 1.32 mm |
| 1/10 oz* | US $ 10 | 99.95% | 16.50 x 0.95 mm |
* only minted until 2008
Special Designs of the Proof Platinum Eagles
Platinum Eagle Coin Design
The same John Mercanti who designed the reverse side of the American Silver Eagles also designed the obverse of the platinum version of the coin. Lady Liberty is shown in a close-up portrait with the word LIBERTY above her head. The words "E Pluribus Unum" are engraved near the coin's bottom left edge and the year of mintage as well as the phrase "In God We Trust" appears to the right of Lady Liberty's head. The obverse design is meant to represent "Liberty Looking to the Future".
Thomas D. Rogers designed the reverse side of the regular bullion version of the coins. It shows an eagle with outstretched wings soaring through the sky above a small crop of land. The low-lying sun with its gleaming rays appears in the background. The inscription "United States of America" appears above the image of the flying eagle. This standard design has appeared on brilliant uncirculated coins every year since. It only appeared on proof coins in 1997 and 2017 though. Information about the purity of the coins, face value and denomination also appears on the reverse. Additionally, proof and burnished coins display a mint mark.
From 1998 to 2016, all denominations of proof American Platinum Eagles featured a different yearly design on their reverse. That makes these proof coins special because no other coins minted by the United States Mint changed their reverse design every year. The burnished coins that were minted between 2006 and 2008 also used the proof coins' reverse design of these years.
For the 20th anniversary of the coin series in 2017, the proof coins brought back the original reverse design that also appears on the brilliant uncirculated coins every year. Another change was made to the design of the proof coins in 2018. A new reverse design of an eagle in flight that is carrying an olive branch was introduced that year. This design will appear on the reverse side of the proof coins until at least 2025. The obverse side of the proof coins was also changed (for the first time!) in 2018. It has been changed every year since then. The proof version of the American Platinum Eagles that started out as a coin series with annually changing reverse designs is therefore now a coin series with an annually changing obverse side!
All special reverse and obverse designs of the proof Platinum American Eagles can be seen in the slider above. Whereas some annual proof editions have their own unique theme, others display a design that is a part of a multi-year program. The proof coins between 1998 and 2002 were designed under the "Vistas of Liberty" program. Each of these five coins showed the American eagle in the midst of a different natural scenery that is reminiscent of a certain region of the USA. The reverse design of the three proof coins between 2006 and 2008 represented the three branches of government under the "Foundations of Democracy" program. The six proof coins from 2009 to 2014 were inspired by the Preamble to the United States Constitution and visualized concepts of American democracy.
The 2015 and 2016 proof coins make up the 2-coin "Torches of Freedom" series that features Lady Liberty in modern interpretations. "Liberty Nurtures Freedom" was the theme of the 2015 coin that showed Lady Liberty hand-feeding an American bald eagle that sits on the globe. The 2016 proof Platinum Eagle shows Liberty with a torch of enlightenment in her right hand and an olive branch (that represents peace) in her left. A bald eagle flies close by under her gaze.
The 1 oz proof Platinum Eagles that were issued between 2018 and 2020 take their inspiration from the Preamble to the American Declaration of Independence and its three guiding principles of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. The 2018 "Life" coin shows Lady Liberty with a child on her arm planting seeds. The following 2019 "Liberty" coin shows Lady Liberty with her torch keeping watch over prairies, lakes and mountains while pioneers can be seen heading westward in the background. The final 2020 "Happiness" coin in the "Preamble to the Declaration of Independence" series shows Lady Liberty with her child enjoying the happiness and bountiful harvest that freedom provides.
A new five-year series was launched in 2021 that has the "First Amendment to the United States Constitution" as its theme. The five proof coin designs that will come out in succession under this theme show the lifecycle of an oak tree from a seedling to a mighty oak. The 2021 obverse depicts the text "WITH FREEDOM OF RELIGION LIBERTY GROWS" along with the image of an oak seedling sprouting from an acorn. On the obverse of the current 2022 edition of the coins, the words "WITH FREEDOM OF SPEECH LIBERTY BLOSSOMS" frame the depiction of a branch from a juvenile oak tree.
History of the Platinum American Eagles
Three institutions worked together to make America's first platinum bullion coin a reality. These were the United States Mint, the American Numismatic Association and the Platinum Guild International. The legislation process that led to the creation of the American Platinum Eagle started in 1995. The American Congress gave its authorization in 1996 and 1997 already saw the release of the first American Eagle coins out of platinum in the four denominations of 1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz and 1/10 oz. To this day, the coins are the only official platinum bullion coins that are minted in the USA.
The last year that all four denominations of the American Platinum Eagle coin were minted was 2008. Since then, only 1 oz coins were struck. Whereas the mintage of 1 oz proof coins was never interrupted, mintage of 1 oz brilliant uncirculated coins stopped between 2009 and 2013 and again in 2015. Burnished uncirculated Platinum Eagles were only produced between 2006 and 2008 in all four denominations.
In 2007, the US Mint inadvertently released a very small number of pre-production proof strikes. On these proof coins, the word "Freedom" on the reverse appears frosted like the rest of the raised design. A die polishing error was the cause for this mistake. On all the other proof coins that were released that year, the word "Freedom" appears mirrorlike like the rest of the coin field that surrounds the frosted raised design in the middle.
Mintage Numbers
Annual mintage numbers of the Platinum American Eagle coin are low in comparison to the silver or gold version of the coins. The highest mintage of brilliant uncirculated coins was reached in 1998 when 133,002 coins of the 1 oz denomination were minted. Only 6,000 such coins were minted in 2006.
Proof coin mintage varied between 3,886 coins (1 oz coins in 2015) and 36,993 coins (1/10 oz coins in 1997).
A burnished uncirculated version of the American Eagle platinum coin was only minted in the years from 2006 to 2008. The 2,253 half-ounce burnished coins that were minted in 2008 are the rarest of all Platinum Eagle issues. The largest annual output of the burnished coin type was set in 2007 with 5,556 pieces of 1/10 oz.
American Gold Eagles
The US Mint produces American Gold Eagle coins since 1986 with an obverse design that depicts Lady Liberty with flowing hair, holding a torch in her right hand and an olive branch in her left. This design is reminiscent of the historic Saint-Gaudens Gold Double Eagles. In 2021, a new reverse side design was introduced and some minor changes were made to the obverse side of the coins as well. The 91.67% pure gold coins exist with brilliant uncirculated, proof and burnished (only between 2006 and 2008) finishes. Four denominations of 1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz and 1/10 oz are available. American Eagle coins count among the most popular gold coins. By law, the gold that is used to mint these coins must have been mined in the United States.
The American Gold Eagle page gives more information about the coins and allows you to compare current prices.
American Silver Eagles
The US Mint started with the production of American Silver Eagle coins in 1986. The coins are minted out of 99.9% fine silver and are offered with brilliant uncirculated, proof (no proof coins in 2009) and burnished uncirculated (2006 - 2008 and since 2011) finishes. Whereas the gold version of the coins is minted in four different denominations, Silver Eagles exist only as 1 oz coins. Another unusual feature for bullion coins is that the silver coins bear a totally different design (on both sides!) than their gold counterparts. The obverse side of the coins uses Adolph A. Weinman's famous "Walking Liberty" design that depicts Lady Liberty in stride towards the rising sun. In 2021, a new reverse side design was introduced and some minor changes were made to the obverse side of the coins as well.
The American Silver Eagle page gives more information about the coins and allows you to compare current prices.
Palladium American Eagles
The Palladium American Eagles are the US Mint's latest addition to the American Eagle bullion coin series. The first 15,000 brilliant uncirculated coins were issued on the 25th of September 2017. Proof coins were then released in 2018, followed by reverse proof coins in 2019 and burnished coins in 2020. In 2021, the US Mint released two versions of the Palladium Eagle coins in the same year, a proof version AND a brilliant uncirculated bullion version. All American Palladium Eagles are minted out of 99.95% fine palladium in the single size of 1 oz (US $ 25 face value). A young Lady Liberty wearing a winged Phrygian cap is depicted on the obverse side of the coins. The reverse shows an eagle perched upon a rock and holding an olive branch in its beak. The high-relief design of both sides was originally created by Adolph A. Weinman, one of the most famous American coin designers.
The American Palladium Eagle page gives more information about the coins.
American Eagle Platinum Coin Sets
1997 Impressions of Liberty Set
total gold weight: 1 oz
total silver weight: 1 oz
total platinum weight: 1 oz
The Impressions of Liberty Set contains the 3 proof American Eagles in gold, silver and platinum, all in the 1 oz denomination. The coins are mintmarked with the W for the West Point branch of the US Mint.
Inaugural Uncirculated 4-Coin Set 1997
total platinum weight: 1.85 oz
In the first year of issue of the American Platinum Eagle coins, all four brilliant uncirculated coins of 1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz and 1/10 oz were sold in a special presentation box with a certificate of authenticity. Only 2,500 such sets exist.
4-Coin Burnished Sets 2006 - 2008
total platinum weight: 1.85 oz
The burnished American Platinum Eagles that were only minted at the West Point branch of the US Mint between 2006 and 2008 are also available in sets aimed at collectors. The W mintmarked coins of these sets come in capsules within an original mint box along with a certificate of authenticity.
4-Coin Proof Sets 1997 - 2008
total platinum weight: 1.85 oz
All four denominations of the American Platinum Eagle coins were only issued between 1997 and 2008. A 4-coin proof set containing one proof coin of every denomination was issued in those years in a box with a certificate of authenticity.
10th Anniversary 2-Coin Proof Set 2007
total platinum weight: 1 oz
For the 10th Anniversary of the US Mint's American Platinum Eagles in 2007, a special 2-coin proof set was issued. It includes two 1/2 oz coins, one with a proof and the other with a reverse proof finish. A total of 19,583 such sets were sold.