Platinum Bullion Coins

Currently and formerly minted platinum coins

Even though platinum is not nearly as commonly traded as gold and silver, it nevertheless merits inclusion in the precious metals portfolio of any serious investor. In fact, there are several very good reasons to invest in both platinum and palladium. Some of the platinum coins that investors could choose from in the past are no longer minted. However, more and more government mints have begun to produce and issue coins out of platinum in recent years. That trend will probably continue due to the currently relatively high spot price of that precious metal. Some of the coins that are no longer minted like the Chinese Platinum Unicorn coins were 99.9% pure whereas the purity standard for platinum bullion coins is 99.95% nowadays. The platinum bullion coins that were most recently introduced to the market are the Australian Platinum Kangaroos, British Platinum Britannias, Australian Platinum Lunar coins and British Platinum Queen's Beasts. Additionally, there are also the South African Platinum Krugerrands that were introduced to the market in 2017. With a platinum purity of 99.99%, the Platinum Krugerrands are the purest platinum coins in the world at this time. However, they were only minted in 2017 and only as proof coins.

The only platinum bullion coins that are currently also issued in fractional sizes are the Austrian Platinum Philharmonics and British Platinum Britannias. All other contemporary platinum coins are only issued in the standard size of 1 oz.

Whereas most investors prefer to buy the bullion version of the coins that are listed on this page, there also exist some special coin versions that are highly sought after by collectors. One such example is the proof version of the American Platinum Eagles. These coins change their design every year whereas the bullion version continues to use the same standard design. The Royal Canadian Mint also issues collectible limited-edition proof Platinum Canadian Maple Leafs.

The coins listed on this page are/were produced by some of the most respected minting institutions in the world. The bullion coins in this list are minted annually according to the current market demand but mintage of collectible proof coins is capped. Click on the provided links to buy these platinum coins from respected dealers online, compare current prices or just simply find out more information.

The US Mint produces the American Platinum Eagles since 1997. The 1 oz coins with a US $ 100 face value are minted out of 99.95% fine platinum. Additional fractional coins were minted until 2008 in the sizes of 1/2 oz (US $ 50), 1/4 oz (US $ 25) and 1/10 oz (US $ 10). Buyers can choose between brilliant uncirculated, proof and burnished uncirculated (only from 2006 - 2008) coins with the latter two bearing the mint mark W for the West Point branch of the US Mint. Lady Liberty is portrayed in close-up on the obverse side of the American Platinum Eagle coins and an eagle in flight is shown on the reverse. However, the design of proof coins differs from this standard design in most years. Burnished uncirculated coins displayed the same design as the proof coins of the same year.

The American Platinum Eagle page gives more information about the coins and allows you to compare current prices.

The Royal Canadian Mint produced the 99.95% fine Canadian Platinum Maple Leaf coins from 1988 - 1999 and in 2002 in the denominations of 1 oz (face value CAD $ 50), 1/2 oz (CAD $ 20), 1/4 oz (CAD $ 10), 1/10 oz (CAD $ 5) and 1/20 oz (minted since 1993, CAD $ 1). Only in 1994 was a 1/15 oz coin (CAD $ 2) produced as well. The Platinum Canadian Maple Leafs made a comeback in 2009 but are since then only produced in the 1 oz denomination with brilliant uncirculated and proof (including reverse proof) finishes. They were the world's best selling platinum coins in 2012. Radial lines and a micro-engraved privy mark were introduced as counterfeiting measures in 2015.

The Canadian Platinum Maple Leaf page gives more information about the coins and allows you to compare current prices.

The Austrian Mint started issuing Platinum Philharmonic coins in 2016. Only 1 oz coins were minted that inaugural year. The coins with a face value of 100 Euros are identical in size (37 mm diameter) to the gold and silver 1 oz coins. Fractional 1/25 oz coins are minted since 2017. Both coin denominations are only available with a brilliant uncirculated finish. The coins out of 99.95% pure platinum are identical in design to the gold and silver versions of the Philharmonic coins. The name and design of the Austrian Platinum Philharmonics was chosen as a tribute to the world-famous Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. The obverse side of the coins shows an arrangement of classical music instruments and the Great Organ that is located in the Viennese Concert Hall appears on the reverse.

The Austrian Platinum Philharmonic page gives more information about the coins and allows you to compare current prices.

The Perth Mint's inaugural 2018 Australian Platinum Kangaroos were available for order since the 23rd of October 2017. The 99.95% pure coins are only issued as brilliant uncirculated coins in the single denomination of 1 oz for now. Mintage is unlimited and according to the current market demand. The coins have an official face value of AUD $ 100 and depict the same "Red Kangaroo" design on their reverse side that is also used on the silver version of the coins as well as the larger denominations of the gold version of the coins. The Australian Platinum Kangaroo coins are available individually as well as in sealed mint rolls of 20 coins and sealed mint boxes of 100 coins.

The Australian Platinum Kangaroo page gives more information about the coins.

The Perth Mint issued the first-ever Australian Platinum Lunar coins in 2020, the year when the 3rd Australian Lunar series started. The coins are minted out of 99.95% fine platinum. Only 1 oz coins are minted for now and both brilliant uncirculated as well as proof coins are produced and issued. Annual mintage numbers of both brilliant uncirculated as well as proof coins are subject to strict mintage limits. The design of the reverse side of the coins changes every year and always depicts the Chinese zodiac animal for that year of issuance. The displayed zodiac animal design is identical to the one that appears on the gold version of the coins. The coins of the Perth Mint Platinum Lunar series have a face value of 100 AUD and measure 32.6 mm in diameter and 2.45 mm in thickness.

The Australian Platinum Lunar coin page gives more information about the coins.

For the 20th anniversary of the popular Gold Britannias in 2007, Britain's Royal Mint released the first limited mintage of proof Platinum Britannias. In 2018, the coins were then first released as bullion coins. The female idol Britannia is displayed on the reverse side of the platinum version of the coins, just like on the gold and silver version. Brilliant uncirculated coins are available in the two sizes of 1 oz and 1/10 oz. The coins are 99.95% fine just like all contemporary platinum bullion coins. The British Platinum Britannia coins are fully backed by the British government that guarantees their weight and purity. The legal tender coins are also exempt from the UK Capital Gains Tax.

The British Platinum Britannia page gives more information about the coins and allows you to compare current prices.

The Royal Mint started issuing the British Platinum Queen's Beasts in 2017 in the wake of the successful market introduction of the gold and silver version of the coins. The new 1 oz platinum coins of the Queen's Beasts series are 99.95% pure and have a face value of £100. Only brilliant uncirculated coins are issued. They are very thin with a thickness of just 1 mm and 32.69 mm in diameter. A portrait of Queen Elizabeth II can be seen on the obverse side of all the coins whereas the reverse side always depicts one of the 10 heraldic animal statues that appeared in the coronation ceremony of the Queen. The reverse design of the inaugural issue for example shows the Lion of England and the 2nd coin shows the Griffin of Edward III. In total, this coin series is made up of 10 different coin designs.

The Platinum Queen's Beast coin page gives more information about the coins.

South African Platinum Krugerrands

The South African Mint started producing Krugerrand coins out of platinum in 2017. The coins are 99.99% pure whereas most other platinum bullion coins are 'only' 99.95% pure. Only 1 oz proof coins are issued for now that are comparable in their dimensions to the 1 oz Gold Krugerrands. Mintage is capped at 1,967 pieces in order to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Krugerrand coins that were first issued in 1967. Just like the silver version of the coins, Platinum Krugerrands have an official face value (10 Rand) which the gold coins do not have. The design of both sides is identical to the gold and silver coins and shows Paul Kruger's portrait on the obverse and a springbok on the reverse. The 50th anniversary privy mark appears on the reverse as well.

Chinese Platinum Pandas

Chinese Platinum Panda coins with a fineness of 99.95% were only released by the China Gold Coin Incorporation from 1987 - 1990, 1993 - 1997 and 2002 - 2005 in the denominations of 1 oz (100 Yuan face value), 1/2 oz (50 Yuan), 1/4 oz (25 Yuan), 1/10 oz (10 Yuan, 100 Yuan in 2002 and 2005) and 1/20 oz (5 Yuan, 50 Yuan in 2003 and 2004). The 1 oz Chinese Platinum Pandas were minted between 1987 and 1990. Those coins bear the same design as the gold coins of that year. The 1/2 oz and 1/4 oz coins were only minted in 1990 and both of them displayed a unique panda design. The 1/10 oz coin was minted in 1990 (with unique panda design), 1993 - 1997, 2002 and 2005. Finally, the 1/20 oz platinum coins were minted between 1993 and 1997 and in 2003 and 2004.

Chinese Platinum Unicorn

The China Gold Coin Incorporation minted the 99.9% fine Chinese Platinum Unicorn coins between 1995 and 1997 in the denominations of 1/20 oz (5 Yuan face value), 1/4 oz (25 Yuan), 1/2 oz (50 Yuan) and 1 oz (100 Yuan). Only the 1 oz version was minted in more than one year (1996 and 1997). The 1/2 oz Platinum Unicorns were only minted in 1995 and the 1/4 oz and 1/20 oz coins only in 1996. All the platinum coin issues display images of two mythical beasts, a Unicorn on the obverse and a Chinese kirin on the reverse.

Read our blog article for more information about these coins.

Mexican Platinum Libertad

The Mexican Platinum Libertad was only minted in the year 1989. That year, the Casa de Moneda de México produced 3,500 Platinum Libertads out of 99.9% fine platinum. Mintage was limited to a single denomination of 1/4 oz. These coins were only available with a proof finish. The design of both sides of the coins was identical to the gold and silver version of the Libertad coins that was minted until 1994.

The inscription on the mintmarked obverse side of the coins with the Angel of Independence reads: 1/4 ONZA PLATINO PURO 1989 MEXICO LEY 999.