Platinum American Eagles
Overview of the Series
Platinum American Eagle bullion coins were first truck in 1997, and they have been struck every year since. Until 2009, they were struck in 1/10, 1/4, 1/2, and 1 oz varieties. The obverse of the coin features the Statue of Liberty. The reverse has changed every year, making the series more interesting (though still more expensive) than either the gold or silver american eagles.
The coins are struck in 99.95% fine platinum. The 1/10 oz carries a nominal face value of $10, the 1/4 is $25, 1/2 is $50, and 1 oz is $100. Despite the face values being much less than their bullion value, the 1/4, 1/2, and 1 oz represent the only coins minted for the public in the US that have face values greater than $20 - other than the gold eagles.
Coins in the Set
Each year, there have been one regular-issue proof and business-strike coin per weight (1/10, 1/4/ 1/2, and 1 oz through 2008). In 2008, the Mint announced it would be streamlining its products and not producing any fractional business-strike nor proof versions, only making 1 oz coins for 2009. With that in mind, the series has 96 different regular-issue coins through 2008, and then 2 more in 2009 makes 98.
In addition to these, the Mint released a special "10th Anniversary Set" in 2007 (even though it was the 11th year) that included the 1/2 oz regular proof, and first-ever 1/2 "Reverse Proof."
With this "special-issue" coins numbering 1, there are 99 coins in the series as of 2009.
My Collecting Goal
I started graduate school in 2005. To celebrate the event numismatically, I decided to start purchasing 1/10 oz proof versions. I did that through 2008. I had to make a choice in 2009 whether to up my platinum budget by, well, a factor of nearly 10 to go to the 1 oz coin, or to eliminate it. I chose to eliminate it - for now at least - because the $1790 asking price was just too much for me and I would much rather have some of the older designs.
Since the designs change every year and I think that the years 1998-2002 are very beautiful designs (why can't we have ones like 'em on regular coins?!), I may go back and purchase them at some point. But it's not on the horizon at the moment.
The designs have been:
- 1997 - Eagle flying away from the sun.
- 1998 - "Vistas of Liberty" - Eagle over New England
- 1999 - "Vistas of Liberty" - Eagle above Southeastern wetlands
- 2000 - "Vistas of Liberty" - Eagle above America's heartland
- 2001 - "Vistas of Liberty" - Eagle above America's Southwest
- 2002 - "Vistas of Liberty" - Eagle fishing in America's Northwest
- 2003 - Eagle standing in front of US flag
- 2004 - Magestic Liberty with eagle sitting at her side
- 2005 - Eagle with cornucopia
- 2006 - "Three Branches of Government" - Legislative
- 2007 - "Three Branches of Government" - Executive
- 2008 - "Three Branches of Government" - Judicial
- 2009 - "Six Guarantees in the Constitution's Preamble" - To Form a More Perfect Union
- 2010 - "Six Guarantees in the Constitution's Preamble" - Establish Justice
- 2011 - "Six Guarantees in the Constitution's Preamble" - Ensure Domestic Tranquility
- 2012 - "Six Guarantees in the Constitution's Preamble" - Provide for the Common Defense
- 2013 - "Six Guarantees in the Constitution's Preamble" - Support the General Welfare
- 2014 - "Six Guarantees in the Constitution's Preamble" - Secure the Blessings of Liberty for Ourselves and Our Posterity
Checklist
| DATE | STRIKE | 1/10 oz. | 1/4 oz. | 1/2 oz. | 1 oz. |
| 1997 | Business | ||||
| 1997 | Proof | ||||
| 1998 | Business | ||||
| 1998 | Proof | ||||
| 1999 | Business | ||||
| 1999 | Proof | ||||
| 2000 | Business | ||||
| 2000 | Proof | ||||
| 2001 | Business | ||||
| 2001 | Proof | ||||
| 2002 | Business | ||||
| 2002 | Proof | ||||
| 2003 | Business | ||||
| 2003 | Proof | ||||
| 2004 | Business | ||||
| 2004 | Proof | ||||
| 2005 | Business | ||||
| 2005 | Proof | YES | |||
| 2006 | Business | ||||
| 2006 | Proof | YES | |||
| 2007 | Business | ||||
| 2007 | Proof | YES | |||
| 2007 | Reverse Proof | none issued | none issued | none issued | |
| 2008 | Business | ||||
| 2008 | Proof | YES | |||
| 2009 | Business | none issued | none issued | none issued | none issued |
| 2009 | Proof | none issued | none issued | none issued |