2012 American Platinum Eagles
The release of the 2012 American Platinum Eagles continues an annual series which first started in 1997. Each Platinum Eagle is struck from one ounce of .9995 pure platinum at the United States Mint facility in West Point, N.Y.
American Platinum Eagle (2011 version shown)- Click to Enlarge
Unlike the Gold Eagles and the Silver Eagles, bullion Platinum Eagles are not required by the law which authorized them (Public Law 104-208). This fact was made painfully clear to both investors and collectors in 2009 when the Mint cancelled production on the bullion Platinum Eagles. That cancellation remained in effect the following years as well.
During that time, however, the US Mint did strike the Ounce Proof Platinum Eagles. In fact, the 2009 Proof Platinum Eagles started a six-year series featuring a reverse design theme based on the six principles found in the Preamble of the Constitution of the United States. Those six principles and the years they are to be struck on a Platinum Eagle are:
- 2009 - To Form a More Perfect Union
- 2010 - To Establish Justice
- 2011 - To Insure Domestic Tranquility
- 2012 - To Provide for the Common Defence
- 2013 - To Promote the General Welfare
- 2014 - To Secure the Blessings of Liberty to Ourselves and our Posterity
As shown above, the theme of the reverse of the 2012-dated Proof Platinum Eagle will be "To Provide for the Common Defence."
Sizes and Denominations
When struck in its bullion variety, the Platinum Eagle is typically featured in four different sizes - ounce, 1/2 ounce, 1/4 ounce and 1/10 ounce with face values of $100, $50, $25 and $10, respectively. The ounce Platinum Eagle carries the largest face value of any coin struck by the US Mint.
These strikes are the only platinum coins that are guaranteed for weight and purity by the United States government.
Platinum Eagle Design
The obverse of the Platinum Eagle shows a John Mercanti design of the Statue of Liberty looking towards the future. This design has remained unchanged since the introduction of the Platinum Eagles in 1997. Obverse inscriptions include "LIBERTY," "IN GOD WE TRUST" and the year of minting.
The reverse of the Platinum Eagle varies with 2012 set to depict the theme of "To Provide for the Common Defence" - one of the six basic principles found in the Preamble of the Constitution of the United States.
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US $3,599.99
American Platinum Eagle Specifications
Mintmark: W for Proof, None for bullion
Composition: 99.95% platinum
Weight and Diameter: Depends on denomination
Date of Issue: 2012
Mintages: Based on Demand
Obverse Designer/Sculptor: John Mercanti
Reverse Designer/Sculptor: TBA
