We are still on our journey through this series that details the coinage that makes up United States history. It is not quite the end, but we are gathering near it with just a few more loose ends to tie up. The past few times we have talked about silver bullion coins and gold bullion coins. Up next? Platinum bullion. While not as popular as silver or gold, the program has remained since its inception in the late 1990s.
American Platinum Eagles (1997-Current)
While the first gold and silver bullion coins were struck in the mid-1980s, it was not until over 10 years later when the first Platinum American Eagles coins were introduced. Struck in four different denominations, the first coins arrived in 1997 in 1/10oz, 1/4oz, 1/2oz, and 1oz sizes. Both bullion strikes (Philadelphia) and Proof (West Point) were struck through 2008 in all four denominations while the first Burnished (West Point) strikes were minted in 2006. The coins were produced in .9995 fine platinum and featured the same obverse and reverse.
After 2008, the only size that continued to be struck was the 1oz Platinum Eagle. Even after then, the hobby was still only able to acquire the $100 denomination in a Proof finish as the Mint did not strike any bullion edition coins until 2014. Once again, they declined to produce any in 2015 until in 2016 they started to annually produce them once more.
The design of the coins has gone through a few changes since their inception. From 1997-2016, the Proof coins all shared the same obverse. The reverse, however, followed a string of themed designs. In 1997, it was the Portrait of Liberty. From 1998-2002, it was the Vistas of Liberty. In 2006 through 2008, they were themed the Foundations of Democracy. The Preamble of the Constitution was the motif from 2009-2014 and the Torches of Liberty followed in 2015 and 2016.
The 20th anniversary of the Platinum American Eagle in 2017 would see the original design revived once again. In more recent years, the series has introduced two different and significant themes. The first was minted from 2018-2020 and commemorated the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence. The 2018 coin celebrated Life, the 2019 Liberty, and the 2020 Happiness.
This all led to what we most recently are aware of: the First Amendment to the United States Constitution Platinum Proof Series. A multi-year series beginning in 2021 and ending this year in 2025, each obverse uses the lifecycle of the oak tree from seedling to full grown as a metaphor for the nation’s growth and the value it places on freedom. It continues the theme with the Bill of Rights----introducing each year’s design as the proposed freedom: the Freedom of Religion (2021), Freedom of Speech (2022), Freedom of the Press (2023), the Right to Assemble (2024), and the Right to Petition (2025). The reverse continued its same design from the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence Series (2018-2020), showcasing an eagle in flight with the olive branch of peace in its talons.
Next year in 2026, a new theme will be introduced for the Platinum Proof coins. The three-year series is called the Charters of Freedom and will go through 2028. Next year’s design will embody the Declaration of Independence followed by 2027’s United States Constitution and 2028’s Bill of Rights.
Source: NGC Coin; The Official 2026 Red Book; United States Mint
