The United States Mint has struck the American Platinum Eagle coin now since 1997, with intermittent interruptions in production over the course of nearly 20 years in production. Over that time, the obverse and reverse design of the bullion version has remained the same from year to year. While the obverse of proof coins remained the same, the Proof American Platinum Eagle is notable for its use of new reverse design sets every year; making it the only US Mint bullion coin series with new designs each year.
Recently, the US Mint unveiled some of the designs competing for the Proof American Platinum Eagle coin from 2018 to 2020, and made a major announcement about the fate of the obverse design on the coin as well. Take a look at some of the concepts that could be coming to the program in the years ahead.
A Monumental Shift
Since the 1997 debut of the American Platinum Eagle series, the United States Mint has used John Mercanti’s vision of the Statue of Liberty on the obverse face of the coin. The one pure constant in the program, Mercanti’s Liberty design has featured on the obverse face of the bullion and proof version of the coin every time it has been struck since 1997.
However, the US Mint has announced that starting in 2018, and running through at least 2020, the obverse side of the Proof American Platinum Eagle is going to receive a makeover. Rather than changing the reverse design every year, the mint is going to release a new obverse design between 2018 and 2020, while keeping a common design theme on the reverse side of the coins.
Reverse Changes
Throughout the history of both the bullion and proof versions of the American Platinum Eagle release, the reverse side has always featured the American bald eagle in some way, shape, or form. Proof coins have deviated at times from the inclusion of the bald eagle for certain design series, but more often than not the nation’s official symbol features on the coins.
According to the US Mint, the reverse side of 2018-2020 Proof American Platinum Eagle coins will share a common design depicting the American bald eagle surrounded by inscriptions of “United States of America,” “1 oz,” “.9995 Platinum,” and the coin’s denomination of $100 (USD). In a release, the US Mint noted that:
“Most participating artists also submitted optional reverse designs of American eagles to be considered with their obverse sets.”
The US Mint will choose a singular reverse design and use it throughout the 2018-2020 Proof American Platinum Eagle release schedule. Several options have been submitted to the mint, which will make a decision in the coming weeks and months on the official designs.
New Obverse Series
New design series are nothing strange in the Proof American Platinum Eagle series. Over the last 20 years, the Mint has unveiled new proof design sets for the reverse based upon themes such as Vistas of Liberty and the more recent Torches of Liberty. This part isn’t going to be new with the latest series, Life, Liberty, & The Pursuit of Happiness, but its placement on the obverse side of the coin instead will be.
The US Mint asked artists to submit their designs for all three releases in the 2018-2020 schedule, noting the following in a press release:
“The US Mint asked artists to develop submissions for all three years, creating designs that not only well represent each individual theme, but that also work together harmoniously to give expression to the core American principles of ‘Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”
As you might expect, the US Mint will release those designs in the order of the core principles listing. The 2018 release will focus on Life; the 2019 on Liberty; and the 2020 on the Pursuit of Happiness.
Examples of 2018-2020 Designs
In total, roughly 12 obverse design themes were submitted along with 14 reverse concepts. Some artists submitted alternative renderings of their obverse designs as well as their reverse designs. The Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) and Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) have already made recommendations that the US Mint combine the obverse designs of one artist with certain reverse designs from another.
According to Coinnews.net, the CFA recommended the US Mint pair the official obverse Set 3 with reverse design 9 for the 2018-2020 series. CCAC has recommended the Set 7 obverse to be paired with the same reverse design (9). These designs are outlined below:
- Set 3: For 2018, the Statue of Liberty is featured from a perspective below and to her left. The 2019 coin features the broken chains of free people, and Liberty’s torch is the focus on the 2020 release.
- Set 7: Liberty is featured in a more modern, human disposition in these designs. For 2018 Liberty holds a young child a symbol of life, her torch and wreath crown in 2019 for Liberty, and a bountiful harvest and small child reaching for a butterfly as a sign of Happiness for 2020.
- Set 9 Reverse: The preferred reverse pairing of both committees, it depicts the American bald eagle flying with an olive branch in its hands.
Insight on the 2017 Release
Also noted recently was information on the 2017 Proof American Platinum Eagle release. As 2017 will be the 20th anniversary of the American Platinum Eagle’s introduction, the United States Mint has opted to feature the same designs from the original 1997 release of American Platinum Eagle coins.
This means your 2017 Proof American Platinum Eagle coin will feature John Mercanti’s “Liberty looking into the future” design on the obverse (likely for the last time, for now) and the image of the eagle soaring above America that still appears on the reverse of the bullion coin, which was created by Thomas D. Rogers.
