American Platinum Eagle Coins

The American Platinum Eagle was first issued in 1997, as an extension of the American Eagle Bullion Program. The platinum coin was added to the existing offerings for the Gold and Silver Eagle coins introduced in 1986. The Platinum Eagle is the first and only investment grade platinum coin issued by the United States Mint.

The obverse design of the coin features a rendition of the Statue of Liberty designed by John Mercanti. It bears the inscriptions "Liberty", "E Pluribus Unum", and "In God We Trust" as well as the date.

The reverse design of the bullion coins features a soaring Bald Eagle against a rising sun. This reverse was designed by Thomas D. Rodgers Sr. The inscriptions include "United States of America", ".995 Platinum" and the denomination and platinum content. The proof and collectible uncirculated versions of the coins feature rotating reverse designs from various artists.

Platinum Eagle Denominations

American Platinum Eagle coins are offered in four different denominations. Each denomination contains a different weight of platinum and has a different legal tender face value.

  • 1 ounce : $100 face value
  • 1/2 ounce: $50 face value
  • 1/4 ounce: $25 face value
  • 1/10 ounce: $10 face value

The four denominations were offered for both bullion coins and collectible proof coins since the series from 1997 to 2008 and for collectible uncirculated coins from 2006 to 2008. For the year 2009, only the one ounce proof version of the coin was issued.

Purchasing Platinum Eagles

Similar to Gold and Silver Eagle bullion coins, Platinum Eagle bullion coins are not sold directly to the public. The United States Mint sells the coins indirectly through a network of authorized purchasers. These are large scale bullion dealers who establish a two way market for the coins with the public.

Since the beginning of the series, the United States Mint has offered collectible proof versions of the coins for sale directly to the public. Each denomination was offered for sale individually, or as part of a four coin set. For the first year of issue in 1997, the US Mint offered a special "Impressions of Liberty" set containing one ounce 1997 Proof Gold, Silver, and Platinum Eagle coins. Starting in 1998, a series of annually changing reverse designs were used for all Proof Platinum Eagles.

From 2006 to 2008, the US Mint offered collectible uncirculated versions of the coins directly to the public. These coins were offered in all four denominations, for sale individually or as a four coin set. The coins differ from the bullion coins by the inclusion of the "W" mint mark and the use of the rotating reverse designs also used on proof coins.

Composition

The Platinum Eagle are the only bullion coins with their weight, content, and purity guaranteed by the US Government.

Platinum Eagles are struck in .9995 fine platinum. The one ounce bullion coins have a weight of 1.0005 troy ounces yielding a weight of one pure ounce of platinum. The diameter of the coin is 32.7 mm with a thickness of 2.39 mm. The weights and dimensions for the fractional denominations vary.