The nation’s official platinum bullion coin is back in 2016, with its familiar obverse and reverse designs once again captured on a brilliant 1 oz coin with .9995 pure platinum content. The American Platinum Eagle debuted in 1997 and has gone through ups and downs in its nearly 20-year history. Today, the 2016 1 oz American Platinum Eagle Coin is available from JM Bullion with a BU grade.
Coin Highlights:
- Ships in a plastic flip to protect the coin’s condition. Multiples of 20 come in tubes and multiples of 100 come in monster boxes.
- 15th American Platinum Eagle bullion release.
- Contains 1 Troy oz of .9995 pure platinum.
- Face value of $100 (USD) is fully backed by the US government.
- Obverse features John Mercanti’s depiction of the Statue of Liberty.
- Reverse includes the bald eagle design from Thomas D. Rogers.
- Features a Brilliant Uncirculated grade.
American Platinum Eagle coins were introduced in 1997 with a bullion and proof version. The proof version of the coin differs from the bullion counterpart in that a new reverse design has been used every year. In fact, 1997 was the only year that the reverse of the bullion and proof coins was the same.
Bullion American Platinum Eagle coins were offered from 1997 to 2008, but the impact of the Great Recession on the demand for silver and gold forced the US Mint to suspend production of the Platinum Eagle. In 2014, the US Mint restarted the bullion version of the coin and sold a total of 16,900 coins.
The 2016 1 oz American Platinum Eagle coin is available from the United States Mint until the production limit is reached. The US Mint has not announced a maximum mintage for the 2016 issue of the coin, just the third year of availability following the 2008 suspension of the program.
On the obverse of the American Platinum Eagle is John Mercanti’s “Portrait of Liberty” design, which has featured on the coin’s obverse since 1997. Mercanti is the former Chief Engraver of the United States Mint (1986-2010), and his vision depcits Liberty looking forward into the future.
The reverse of all 2016 1 oz American Platinum Eagle bullion coins features the image of a bald eagle flying over the setting sun. Engravings on this face include the nation of issue, face value, weight, metal content, and purity of the coin. Designed by Thomas D. Rogers, a former engraver at the US Mint, this image has also been in use since 1997 on the reverse of the bullion coin.
Each 2016 1 oz American Platinum Eagle coins in this listing has a BU grade. Coins in Brilliant Uncirculated condition exhibit no signs of wear and tear, though you may notice minor flaws such as breaks in the luster, spotted surfaces, or contact marks.
If you have any questions about the latest American Platinum Eagle coins, please feel free to reach out to JM Bullion. Our customer service team is available at 800-276-6508, online using our live web chat, and via our email address.
“Platinum – What else can we say? The coolest thing to me about Platinum is the density of the metal. When you hold an ounce of Pt in your hand you feel the weight relative to its smaller size (when compared to silver). The look is very similar to Silver, so the main differentiator is that feeling in hand.
Plus it’s PLATINUM!! And now (relatively) affordable USA Platinum.”