Palladium American Eagles

palladium coin icon USA flag icon Palladium Eagles - the US Mint's first-ever palladium coins

The Palladium American Eagles are the newest addition to this popular coin series of the US Mint. Even though the palladium version of the American Eagle coins was already authorized by Congress in 2010, it took until 2017 that investors were finally able to buy palladium coins whose weight, precious metal content and purity is guaranteed by the government of the USA. The first 15,000 brilliant uncirculated coins were released by the US Mint on September 25th of that year. The obverse side of the coins depicts Lady Liberty wearing a winged Phrygian cap and an eagle that is perched upon a rock appears on the reverse. Whereas the American Platinum Eagles exist in four different denominations, the American Palladium Eagles only exist as 1 oz coins that have an official face value of US $ 25.

The American Palladium Eagle coins are produced out of 99.95% pure palladium. The brilliant uncirculated version of the coins was produced at the US Mint's Philadelphia branch. The coins leave the mint packaged in tubes of 10 and boxes of 100 coins. A proof version of the coins was released in 2018, followed by a reverse proof version in 2019 and a burnished uncirculated version in 2020. In 2021, the US Mint released two versions of the Palladium Eagle coins in the same year, a proof version AND a brilliant uncirculated bullion version. The 'regular' brilliant uncirculated bullion version of the coins is not mintmarked whereas all the other collectible issues of the coins bear the "W" mint mark for the West Point branch of the US Mint. American buyers that are investing in palladium for their retirement can include the coins in their Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA's).

obverse side of the 2017 issue of the brilliant uncirculated 1 oz American Palladium Eagles
reverse side of the 2017 issue of the brilliant uncirculated 1 oz Palladium American Eagles
1 oz BU American Palladium Eagle 2017

Coin Specifications

Weight Face Value Purity Diameter x Thickness
1 oz US $ 25 99.95% 34.0 x 2.5 mm

Palladium Eagle Coin Design

Both sides of this new coin use historic designs that were originally created by Adolph A. Weinman, one of the most famous American coin designers. The high-relief obverse design displays Lady Liberty wearing a winged Phrygian cap in a style that is reminiscent of the Roman god Mercury. In ancient Rome, Mercury was seen as the responsible god for messengers, financial gain, commerce, poetry, travelers, boundaries and luck.

The "Winged Liberty" that appears on the obverse side of each American Palladium Eagle coin is an adaptation of Weinman's classic design that was first used on the Mercury Dime. That silver coin was issued from 1916 until 1945. Many coin collectors consider the "Winged Liberty" design as the most beautiful design on any American coin. You will also find the words LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST as well as the year of mintage engraved on the obverse side of each American Eagle palladium coin.

The high-relief reverse design of the Palladium American Eagle coins first appeared on the American Institute of Architects (AIA) annual gold medal in 1907 on which it has appeared every year since then. The design shows an eagle perched upon a rock and holding an olive branch in its beak. The United States Mint used the original reverse plaster of the AIA gold medal in the process of creating this new palladium coin. Weinman's design had never appeared on a U.S. coin before. The reverse also contains the inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and E PLURIBUS UNUM as well as the $25 face value, 1 oz palladium weight and 99.95% palladium purity (Pd .9995 FINE).

Brilliant uncirculated coins do not display a mint mark on either side. However, the proof, reverse proof and burnished uncirculated versions of the Palladium Eagle coins display the W mint mark of the West Point branch of the US Mint on the obverse side. Additionally, Adolph A. Weinman's initials AW can be seen in the form of a monogram on the obverse side of all existing versions of the coins.

History of the American Palladium Eagle

The American Congress already authorized the production of the American Palladium Eagle in 2010. The Treasury Secretary subsequently commissioned an independent third-party study by the CPM Group that was supposed to determine market demand for such a coin. The results of this study were submitted to the Secretary in 2013 and predicted the issuance of palladium coins as an unprofitable venture. Many collectors across the country were unhappy with the findings of this study though. Nevertheless, the US Mint confirmed in July 2016 that production of the bullion version of the new coins was underway at the Philadelphia branch of the US Mint. The coins were originally scheduled to still be released in 2016 but the release date was postponed to 2017. The first 15,000 American Eagle palladium coins were then finally released on the 25th of September 2017.

The Palladium Eagle is the first-ever palladium coin that the US Mint produced and issued. Only brilliant uncirculated coins were issued in 2017 and these coins were sold exclusively through the US Mint's network of authorized resellers. No further brilliant uncirculated coins were issued in the following years until the 2nd release of such coins in 2021. However, the following years saw the release of proof (2018), reverse proof (2019) and burnished Palladium Eagle coins (2020). These coins were directly sold to the public and their annual mintage was always capped. The West Point branch of the US Mint was responsible for the production of the proof, reverse proof and burnished coins and the W mint mark therefore appears on the obverse side of all these collectible coins.

For the first time in the history of this coin series, two different coin versions were then released in 2021. These were 8,700 brilliant uncirculated bullion coins AND 12,000 proof coins. As it is the custom, the proof version of the 2021 Palladium Eagle coins that was minted at the West Point branch of the US Mint bears the "W" mint mark on its obverse side. However, the brilliant uncirculated version that was produced at the mint's main facility in Philadelphia is not mintmarked.

Mintage Numbers

A total of 15,000 brilliant uncirculated coins made up the initial release of Palladium Eagles on the 25th of September 2017. All these coins were minted at the U.S. Mint facility in Philadelphia. A total of 15,000 proof American Palladium Eagles were then minted by the West Point branch of the US Mint in 2018. The same branch mint also produced the 30,000 reverse proof coins as well as the 10,000 burnished coins that were then respectively issued in 2019 and 2020.

In 2021, both brilliant uncirculated and proof coins were then produced again, each for the 2nd time. Whereas mintage of the brilliant uncirculated coins in Philadelphia was limited to 8,700 pieces, proof mintage at the West Point branch was set at 12,000 coins.

obverse side of the 2021 Type 2 issue of the brilliant uncirculated 1 oz American Eagle coins
reverse side of the 2021 Type 2 issue of the brilliant uncirculated 1 oz American Gold Eagle coins

American Gold Eagles

The US Mint produces American Gold Eagle coins since 1986 with an obverse design that depicts Lady Liberty with flowing hair, holding a torch in her right hand and an olive branch in her left. This design is reminiscent of the historic Saint-Gaudens Gold Double Eagles. In 2021, a new reverse side design was introduced and some minor changes were made to the obverse side of the coins as well. The 91.67% pure gold coins exist with brilliant uncirculated, proof and burnished (only between 2006 and 2008) finishes. Four denominations of 1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz and 1/10 oz are available. American Eagle coins count among the most popular gold coins. By law, the gold that is used to mint these coins must have been mined in the United States.

The American Gold Eagle page gives more information about the coins and allows you to compare current prices.

obverse side of the 2021 Type 2 issue of the brilliant uncirculated 1 oz Silver Eagles
reverse side of the 2021 Type 2 issue of the brilliant uncirculated 1 oz American Silver Eagle coins

American Silver Eagles

The US Mint started with the production of American Silver Eagle coins in 1986. The coins are minted out of 99.9% fine silver and are offered with brilliant uncirculated, proof (no proof coins in 2009) and burnished uncirculated (2006 - 2008 and since 2011) finishes. Whereas the gold version of the coins is minted in four different denominations, Silver Eagles exist only as 1 oz coins. Another unusual feature for bullion coins is that the silver coins bear a totally different design (on both sides!) than their gold counterparts. The obverse side of the coins uses Adolph A. Weinman's famous "Walking Liberty" design that depicts Lady Liberty in stride towards the rising sun. In 2021, a new reverse side design was introduced and some minor changes were made to the obverse side of the coins as well.

The American Silver Eagle page gives more information about the coins and allows you to compare current prices.

obverse side of the 2017 issue of the brilliant uncirculated 1 oz American Platinum Eagles
reverse side of the 2017 issue of the brilliant uncirculated 1 oz American Platinum Eagle coins

American Platinum Eagles

The US Mint produces the American Platinum Eagles since 1997. The 1 oz coins with a US $ 100 face value are minted out of 99.95% fine platinum. Additional fractional coins were minted until 2008 in the sizes of 1/2 oz (US $ 50), 1/4 oz (US $ 25) and 1/10 oz (US $ 10). Buyers can choose between brilliant uncirculated, proof and burnished uncirculated (only from 2006 - 2008) coins with the latter two bearing the mint mark W for the West Point branch of the US Mint. Lady Liberty is portrayed in close-up on the obverse side of the American Platinum Eagle coins and an eagle in flight is shown on the reverse. However, the design of proof coins differs from this standard design in most years. Burnished uncirculated coins displayed the same design as the proof coins of the same year.

The American Platinum Eagle page gives more information about the coins and allows you to compare current prices.