Platinum

Platinum is one of the world’s most desirable precious metals, but it is often overlooked by investors interested in gold and silver because of the greater value of gold and increased variety of both metals. Platinum is a metal that has had an up-and-down production history in recent years around the globe. The metal was in high demand until the late 1990s as prices sank, mints and refineries exited the market. However, rising platinum prices in the early 21st century brought more producers back into the marketplace, with new coins and bars appearing for investors to snatch up.

The rising demand for platinum has more to do with its wider use. While gold and silver remain exclusively used in industries such as jewelry and small technology products, platinum is used catalytic convertors for automobile engines, dental equipment, lab equipment, electrical contacts and even electrodes. JM Bullion is proud to carry a variety of platinum coins and bars available for purchase online today.

Platinum Coins

American Platinum Eagle

American Platinum Eagle coins debuted in 1997, with authorization from the United States Congress and the backing of the United States Mint for its weight and content. All American Platinum Eagle coins feature .9995 pure platinum content and 1 oz coins have a face value of $100 (USD), which at the time of introduction was the highest face value on any American coin.

In addition to the bullion version of the American Platinum Eagle, the US Mint strikes and releases on an annual basis the Proof American Platinum Eagle. This coin is without question the most unique coin available from the United States Mint, which makes it an excellent addition to your personal collection.

The Proof American Platinum Eagle is the only major bullion coin from the United States Mint to feature a new reverse design each year. In the introductory 1997 issue, the bullion and Proof American Platinum American Eagle coins featured the same design on both the obverse and the reverse.

However, starting in 1998 the US Mint released a series of different design programs for the reverse face of the Proof American Platinum Eagle coins. The first images ever used on the American Platinum Eagle included the following:

• Portraits of Liberty – Obverse: Then-Chief Engraver of the United States Mint John Mercanti designed the obverse imagery used on the American Platinum Eagle bullion and proof coins. His depiction of Liberty as she gazes into the future is inspired directly by the Statue of Liberty’s appearance and has featured on the obverse face every year since 1997.
• Eagle Soaring Above America – Reverse: Created by Thomas D. Rogers, a sculptor and engraver with the United States Mint, this depiction shows the American bald eagle as it flies over the sun and its outstretched rays. This image was used only in 1997 for the reverse of the Proof American Platinum Eagle, but it continues in use today as the reverse of the bullion version of the coin. Rogers would create two subsequent designs in the proof series.

Throughout the course of nearly 20 years of production, the Proof American Platinum Eagle has featured a total of four different reverse design programs. These design series do not cover every year of release, but do account for the vast majority of the changing designs used in the series.

From 1998 to 2002, the United States Mint unveiled five different reverse Proof American Platinum Eagle coin designs. Known as Vistas of Liberty, the theme featured the American bald eagle flying over various different scenes from across the United States. Thomas D. Rogers created the first of these images in 1998, with the full list including the following:

• 1998: Eagle is featured flying over the scenery of New England and a rocky coast line, with a beach town’s lighthouse and the full moon featured in the design from Rogers.
• 1999: The eagle is featured flying above the wetlands of the American Southeast, with an alligator crawling through the swamp below. This was created by Al Maletsky.
• 2000: Maletsky’s second consecutive design features the eagle flying over a field in the American Midwest, with a barn and farmhouse included.
• 2001: The third and final design from Rogers, who retired in 2001, features the bald eagle as it flies above the saguaro cactus species found throughout the southwest, in particular Arizona.
• 2002: The final Vistas of Liberty design was created by Maletsky, and depicts a bald eagle as it swoops down into a lake surrounded by snowcapped mountains in the northwestern US.

Following the conclusion of the Vistas of Liberty design series, the Proof American Platinum Eagle coins would continue to feature new reverse designs in 2003, 2004, and 2005 without featuring a particular design theme. Maletsky created a fourth and final design for the Proof American Platinum Eagle in 2003 with the image of an American bald eagle perched atop a rocky mountain’s cliff, with the American flag serving as the backdrop.

Donna Weaver created both the 2004 and 2005 design in this period, with the first featuring an engraving of the sculpture known as “America” from outside of the US Customs House in New York City, which was designed by Daniel Chester French. Her 2005 design depicted the American bald eagle atop the heraldic shield of the nation, and was similar to the heraldic eagle design of other coin programs.

From 2006 to 2008, the Mint rolled out a series of three new designs known as the Foundations of Democracy series that highlighted the role of the three branches of the American government: judicial, legislative, and executive. The features of these designs included the following:

• 2006: Designed by Joel Iskowitz and sculpted by Don Everhart, this is the Legislative Muse design that is flanked by two eagles resting on columns that represent the bicameral legislature of the US Congress.
• 2007: Designed by Tom Cleveland and sculpted by Phebe Hemphill, this simple design features the overpowering image of the American bald eagle as a representative of the executive branch of the United States government.
• 2008: Designed again by Iskowitz and sculpted by Charles Vickers, this image of Lady Justice is watched over by an American bald eagle in its representation of the judicial branch of the government.

Starting in 2009, the United States Mint unveiled its longest running program to date for the Proof American Platinum Eagle coin. Running from 2009 to 2014, this six-coin explored the core concepts of American democracy by highlighting the Preamble of the United States Constitution. Design features include the following:

• 2009: With the picture of four faces that represent the diversity of the United States, this design from Susan Gamble and sculptor Phebe Hemphill represented the concept “To Form a More Perfect Union.”
• 2010: Representative of the theme “To Establish Justice,” this features the image of Lady Justice holding the scales of justice in one hand and the laurel branch in her other hand.
• 2011: Featured a design that represents the theme “To Insure Domestic Tranquility,” and depicts a worker in an American field holding out a hand to a dove as it lands.
• 2012: Designed by Barbara Fox and sculpted by Charles L. Vickers, this features the image of an American militiaman from the American Revolution, and follows the theme “To Provide for the Common Defence.”
• 2013: Imagery represents the theme “To Promote the General Welfare.”
• 2014: The final release features Liberty holding her torch aloft as the sun rises in the distant background. This design reflects the theme “To Secure the Blessings of Liberty to Ourselves and our Posterity.”

The shortest coin design series for the Proof American Platinum Eagle is the recently released Torches of Liberty design. Available on the 2015 and 2016 coins, these images come from members of the United States Mint Artistic Infusion program. Paul C. Balan designed the images used on the reverse of both releases, and United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Joseph Menna contributed to the finished product. Features of the Torches of Liberty theme include:

• 2015: Known as Liberty Nurtures Freedom, this design features Lady Liberty with her traditional torch in her right hand as she holds out her left hand to the American bald eagle as it raises its wings. The eagle is perched atop the globe of planet Earth, with the sun rising into the sky in the background.
• 2016: Known as the Torch of Enlightenment, this final design features Liberty as she holds out her torch to light the world. An American bald eagle flies through the image and a large olive branch encircles the right-side of the design.

When the American Platinum Eagle coin was first introduced in 1997, both the bullion and proof versions of the coin were available in 1 oz, ½ oz, ¼ oz, and 1/10 oz weights just like the American Gold Eagle coin. While the bullion coin continues to feature fractional-weight coins, the United States Mint last struck the Proof American Platinum Eagle’s fractional-weight coins in 2008. They are no longer in production today, with only the 1 oz Proof American Platinum Eagle available.

The Proof American Platinum Eagle coin typically has an extremely low mintage. In recent years, the mintage for the coin has been held under 10,000 annually. However, rising precious metal prices and increased demand for gold, silver, and platinum have pushed demand for American Platinum Eagles higher. After striking just 4,000 coins in 2015, the 2016 Proof American Platinum Eagle had a mintage of 10,000 coins.

Canadian Platinum Maple Leaf

Canadian Platinum Maple Leaf coins were introduced in 1988 alongside the Canadian Silver Maple Leaf coin. Originally these coins were available in a 1 oz weight and multiple fractional weights. However, that original production run lasted from 1988 to 2001 before an 8-year hiatus. When the coin series returned in platinum in 2009, only the 1 oz coin was made available.

The obverse of all Canadian Platinum Maple Leaf coins includes the right-profile portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. Her Majesty’s effigy features on the obverse of all Canadian currency, and this particular design comes from Susanna Blunt and was created in 2003. It began to appear on Canadian coins starting in 2004.

On the reverse of the 2017 1 oz Canadian Platinum Maple Leaf Coin is the image of the sugar maple leaf, the same iconic design on the reverse of all gold, silver, and palladium versions of the coin. It includes engravings of the nation of issue, purity, and metal content, as well as the new micro-laser engraved radial lines and maple leaf privy added to Canadian coins to deter counterfeiting.

Austrian Platinum Philharmonic

After successfully carving out a niche as the most popular bullion coin program in Europe, the Austrian Mint’s Austrian Philharmonic bullion coins took a step forward in growth in 2016 with the release of an Austrian Platinum Philharmonic Coin.

The Austrian Mint released the first Austrian Philharmonic coin in 1989 with the gold version, which stood alone in various weights for nearly two decades until the 2008 release of the silver version of the coin. Today, based upon sales figures, the Austrian Silver Philharmonic is widely regarded as the most popular coin in continental Europe.

In 2016, the Austrian Mint expanded the program to include the Austrian Platinum Philharmonic Coin. With the release of this coin, the Austrian Mint marked the introduction of a platinum bullion coin for the first time in its 800-year history.

On the reverse of the Austrian Platinum Philharmonic Coin is the image of a cornucopia of musical instruments used by members of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Included are images of the cello, four violins, harp, Vienna horn, and a bassoon.

The obverse of all 2017 1 oz Austrian Platinum Philharmonic Coins features the Great Pipe Organ found inside of the Golden Concert Hall in Vienna. Located in the Innere Stadt neighborhood of the capital city, the hall is also known as the Musikverein. Austrian Mint Chief Engraver Thomas Pesendorfer designed both sides of these coins for the gold release in 1989.

Australian Platinum Platypus

Australia was the first major, industrialized nation in the world to announce the annual production of 1 oz platinum coins for sale to investors. The striking of platinum coins was approved on June 18, 1987.

Introduced in 2011, the Australian Platinum Platypus coin series celebrates a unique species native only to eastern Australia. Like the beaver in North America, the platypus was once intensely hunted for the fur of its hide, but in the 20^th century the species is protected throughout its range against hunting and poaching. The platypus also happens to be one of the few venomous mammals in the world, with males possessing a spur on their hind foot that delivers a painful (though not deadly) venom.

The Platinum Platypus coin is an annual release from Perth with the following features common to each coin:

• Arrives in a protective plastic capsule, sealed roll of 20, or box of 100.
• Contains 1 Troy oz of .9995 pure platinum in BU condition.
• Bears a face value of $100 (AUD) backed by the federal government of Australia.
• Obverse includes the image of Queen Elizabeth II.
• Reverse features the Platypus as it swims in the water.

On the reverse of the Australian Platinum Platypus is the image of the venomous mammal as it swims in the water. Engravings on this face of the coin are limited to name of the coin issue, as well as its year of issue, weight, purity, and metal content. The obverse of the 2017 1 oz Australian Platinum Platypus Coin includes the right-profile portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. The current image in use on Australian coinage is the fourth-generation depiction created in 1998 by Ian Rank-Broadley.

The Perth Mint originally struck the Platinum Platypus coins with a state maximum of 30,000 coins in 2011 and 2012, but that has been shifted to an unlimited mintage ceiling, which for Perth means the coins are struck to meet demand until the end of a given calendar year. Sales of the Platinum Platypus through last year’s release break down as follows:

• 2011 – 30,000 coins (sold out)
• 2012 – 26,580 coins
• 2013 – 2,000 coins
• 2014 – 1,616 coins
• 2015 – 12,420 coins
• 2016 – 717 coins

Somalian Platinum Elephant

One of the world’s fastest growing coin programs, the Somalian Elephant Series from the Bavarian State Mint added a platinum option to the lineup in 2016. Somalian Elephant coins debuted in 1999 as an original issue for Zambia, but the Bavarian State Mint shifted production of the coins to a Somalian issue starting in 2004. From then until 2016, the coins were available only in silver and gold.

For 2016, the Bavarian State Mint has introduced yet another version of this increasingly popular coin. The all-new Somalian Platinum Elephant brings new variety to the program with a .9995 pure platinum coin, highlighting the value of platinum in bullion and proof coin programs.

On the obverse side is the most recent Elephant design, which depicts the world’s largest land mammal standing along the edge of a river in Africa, with the sun rising into the sky in the background. Engravings include the name of the series, as well as the coin’s metal content, weight, and purity.

The reverse of the coin features the Somali national crest, which features a pair of wild cats holding the national shield. The shield’s design bears a single star against a background of horizontal lines.

British Platinum Queen’s Beast

The coin series launched in 2016 with the Lion of England design on gold and silver coins, and is expanding in 2017 to feature new Lion of England images on a 1 oz platinum coin. The Queen’s Beast Series debuted with the Lion of England design in 2016 on two gold coins and one silver coin, which was the first 2 oz bullion silver coin ever from the Royal Mint. Now, a new option is available in this collection with the release of a British Platinum Queen’s Beast Lion Coin.

On the obverse of each Queen’s Beast Lion coin you’ll find the newest right-profile portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. Her Majesty appears on this coin in a fifth-generation depiction and was created in 2015 by Jody Clark, the youngest engraver at the Royal Mint ever to create the effigy of the Queen.

The reverse of all 2017 1 oz British Platinum Queen’s Beast Lion Coins features the design of the Lion of England. As the first design release in the Queen’s Beast collection, the Lion of England is featured with the heraldic shield of the kingdom and the massive lion standing on hind legs ready to defend the kingdom.

Isle of Man Platinum Noble

The Isle of Man has been inhabited since roughly 6500 BC, but the first established kingdom came in the 9th century when Viking Norsemen formed the Kingdom of the Isles on the island in the 9th century, and Norway’s King Magnus III ruled as the figure head of the island throughout his reign. In 1266, the Treaty of Perth established the Isle of Man as part of Scotland.

Over the course of 500 years from 1266 to the late 18th century, control over the Isle of Man switched between Scotland and England. Today, the Isle of Man is a crown dependency of Great Britain and Queen Elizabeth II serves as head of state as the Lord of Mann.

The history of the Isle of Man is evident on the 1 oz Isle of Man Platinum Noble Coin. On the reverse of these legal tender platinum coins you’ll find the image of a Viking longboat saling across the North Atlantic with its sails at full stretch. The face value of “One Noble” is engraved on this fact of the coin.

On the obverse of the coin is the image of Queen Elizabeth II in right-profile relief. Her Majesty’s image appears with engravings that include the nation of issue, year of issue, and her name. These 1 oz Isle of Man Platinum Noble Coins were produced by the Popjoy Mint from 1983 to 1989. Popjoy Mint, located in Surry, England, struck these coins for the Isle of Man as legal tender platinum coins.

Platinum Bars

In addition to a wide array of platinum coins, you’ll also find a strong selection of platinum bars available to purchase from JM Bullion. Among them is the popular Fortuna Bar from PAMP Suisse. PAMP Suisse is a well-known precious metal refinery that creates one of the most sought-after bar designs on the planet. The refinery’s popular Fortuna bar is popular among gold and silver investors, and is now garnering attention in platinum as well.

In ancient Roman society, Fortuna fulfilled many roles. She was most popular as the goddess of fortune and as a personification of luck in Roman religion. It was said that she could bring you good luck or bad. There are many symbols that were associated with the goddess during ancient times, and the most visible of those appear on the Fortuna bar design from PAMP Suisse.

On the obverse face of each 1 Gram PAMP Suisse Fortuna Platinum bar is the depiction of Fortuna. The goddess is often featured with a veil or blindfold over her eyes, similar to modern depictions of Justice. In the PAMP Suisse design, Fortuna is blindfolded, with a cornucopia on her head spilling forth a bounty of riches that are captured by her hands at the bottom. She is also wearing a wreath atop her head, with a wheel featured behind her figure.

The reverse side of each platinum bar features an engraving of the PAMP Suisse corporate logo. Below it, inscriptions include the weight, metal content, and purity of the bar. All PAMP Suisse bars also feature an individual serial number and the assayer’s mark as signs of authenticity.

Credit Suisse is another major producer of platinum bars for the investment market. Credit Suisse is one of the world’s leading refiners of precious metals. The refinery focuses not on the production of coins and rounds, but rather sticks strictly to the refinement of gold, silver, platinum, and palladium bars in minted ingot form, with the additional production of cast bars as well.

On the obverse of these 1 oz Credit Suisse Platinum Bars you’ll find the image of the Credit Suisse name and logo in its trademark rectangle at the top of the bar. This is followed by the weight, purity, and metal content of the bar engraved in the center, with additional markings of the assayer’s stamp and the individual serial number.

The reverse of all 1 oz Credit Suisse Platinum Bars includes only the image of theh Credit Suisse logo, which consists of the company name inside of a rectangle. This appears numerous times on the reverse in a repeating design with the logos set at a 45-degree angle. Each of these 1 oz Credit Suisse Platinum Bars ships to you inside of a plastic sleeve and includes a numbered assay card.

Credit Suisse is a multinational financial services and holding firm headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. It was founded in 1856 to help finance the construction of the national railway system in Switzerland.

Other producers of platinum bars include Baird Mint and Engelhard. The Baird & Co. mint was founded in 1967 as a dealer of numismatic gold coins. Today, it deals in both investment coins and its own bullion bars, and is listed as a member of the London Bullion Market Association.

On the obverse face of the 1/10 oz Baird Mint Platinum Bar is the name of the mint, Baird & Co. Below it are engravings that include “Bullion Merchants, London,” the bar’s weight, purity, and metal content, and an individual serial number. Each bar features a mirror-like finish on the background, with a matte, frosted finish around the edges.

The 1/10 oz Baird Mint Platinum Bars offered by JM Bullion today ship to you in a tamper-proof package. Each one arrives sealed in its plastic packaging, and is complete with an Assay card to verify its authenticity.

Engelhard Corporation was founded in Newark, New Jersey in 1902 by Charles W. Engelhard. The company was, at one point, the world’s largest refiner and fabricator of platinum metals. Today it is owned by BASF of Germany, which purchased the business in 2006 for $5 billion.

On the obverse of the 1 oz Engelhard Platinum bar you’ll find the Engelhard logo, which consists of a globe with a giant “E” in the center. Engravings on this face include “One Ounce,” “Platinum,” and “99.95.” The company name and an individual serial number are also engraved on this side.

The reverse of the Engelhard Platinum Bar has only one design feature, that of the “Engelhard” brand name in an oval outline repeating across the face of the bar on a 45-degree angle. Each 1 oz Engelhard Platinum Bar in this Silver.com listing arrives in protective plastic, including an assay card that verifies the individual serial number and authenticity of your purchase.

Purchase Your Platinum Coins and Bars from JM Bullion

JM Bullion proudly accepts a variety of payment methods to complete your purchase of platinum bars and coins. In addition to accepting major credit and debit cards, JM Bullion accepts paper checks, money orders, cashier’s checks, Pay Pal, and bank wire transfers.

Pay Pal and bank wire transfers are our newest options when it comes to completing your transactions. Both options allow for immediate processing of your payment and quicker shipment of your precious metals products because they are released to our fulfillment queues faster. Additionally, both options offer our highest maximum purchase amounts for those interested in bulk orders, with Pay Pal maximums set at $60,000 and bank wire transfers set at $150,000.

Once your payment has been received, we’ll release your products into the shipping queue for fulfillment. JM Bullion is proud to offer all of our customers with free standard shipping and insurance on your purchase. We have partnered with the United States Postal Service and UPS as official carriers for JM Bullion products, and offer the opportunity to upgrade to expedited shipping if you wish, for an additional fee.

All of our products ship in discreet packaging to ensure the privacy of your products. In the event that your products are lost, damaged, or stolen, we’ll work first with your carrier to recover any misplaced shipments. In the case of damaged goods, we’ll do our best to provide you with a replacement product if some are available. Please keep in mind that limited mintage products often sellout quickly, and replacements may not be available. JM Bullion also offers a full refund on the purchase price of your goods if you do not receive them or they are damaged and replacements are not available.

If you have any questions about our payment methods, shipping services, or our variety of platinum products, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at JM Bullion. Our associates are available on the phone at 800-276-6508. We’re also available online using our website’s hosted live chat service or by submitting your questions to us via email