The American Platinum Eagle program entered its second year of release in 1998. In the prior year, Platinum Eagles proved themselves popular with collectors and investors by selling over 100,000 ounces in less than six months. This more than doubled the initial sales goals that the United States Mint had established before the series had debuted.

The 1998 American Platinum Eagle added a new twist. As in the prior year, coins were offered in both bullion versions and collectible proof versions. The same four denominations were offered: one-ounce $100 face value coin, one-half ounce $50 face value, one-quarter ounce $25 face value, and one-tenth ounce $10 face value coins. The change had to do with the reverse design of the proof versions of the coins.

The United States Mint began a design series known as the “Vistas of Liberty.” The new series was scheduled for the next five years to provide rotating reverse designs highlighting national landscapes including bald eagles. These new reverse designs would be used on the collectible proof versions of the coins only.

According to then Mint Director Philip Diehl, “The Vistas of Liberty designs will profile the unique character and charisma of our Nation’s diverse landscapes, capturing the spirit and strength of America and its people.”

The 1998 Platinum Eagle design featured a bald eagle in flight off the coast of New England. In the background was a lighthouse on a cliff and the rising moon. The sculptor/engraver for the design was John Mercanti. The same artist’s “Portrait of Liberty” design remained in use for the obverse design.

The Mint trimmed the total authorized mintage by 36% since the inaugural year of a series usually sells stronger than subsequent years. Pricing for the proof coins remained the same as the prior year. The following table provides the final mintage figures for all denominations of the 1998 Proof Platinum Eagle plus the original issue prices.

1998 Proof Platinum Eagle Mintages

The second table shows the mintages for the uncirculated bullion version of the 1998 Platinum Eagle.

1998 Bullion Platinum Eagle Mintages

During the calendar year of 1998, the spot price of platinum ranged from a low of $335.00 to a high of $429.00. The cumulative average price for all of 1998 was $372.15.

The American Eagle Bullion coin program welcomed a new addition in 1997 when the first Platinum Eagle coins were issued. This was the first time the United States Mint issued a coin minted in platinum. The 99.95% pure platinum coins had been authorized as part of the Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations for Fiscal Year 1997 (PL 104-208). At the time of release the US Mint Director was Philip N. Diehl and the US Treasury Secretary was Robert E. Rubin.

The 1997 American Platinum Eagle was available in 4 denominations, each with a specified fractional weight of platinum and a US legal tender value:

• 1 ounce : $100 Face Value
• 1/2 ounce : $50 Face Value
• 1/4 ounce : $25 Face Value
• 1/10 ounce : $10 Face Value

The obverse design of the coin features John Mercanti’s “Portrait of Liberty.” This is a rendition of the Statue of Liberty. The reverse design features Thomas D. Roger Sr.’s “Soaring Bald Eagle.” This is an image of a soaring Bald Eagle against a background sunrise.

Bullion versions of the 1997 Platinum Eagle were available from major coin and precious metals dealers based on the market price of platinum plus a premium.

Proof versions of the coins were offered to collectors directly from the US Mint. These coins were first available on June 6, 1997 in one ounce, one-half ounce, one-quarter ounce, one-tenth ounce sizes. The coins were also offered as a 4-Coin set containing one of each denomination, and a 3-Coin “Impressions of Liberty” set containing one ounce 1997 Proof Gold, Silver, and Platinum Eagles.

In this first year of issue, the mintages for the coin were some of the highest in the series. The table below provides mintage figures for 1997 proof Platinum Eagle in all denominations. Also included are the figures for the 4-Coin and 3-Coin Sets issued the same year.

1997 Proof Platinum Eagle Mintages

The second table contains mintages for the bullion version of the 1997 Platinum Eagle in all denominations.

1997 Bullion Platinum Eagle Mintages

During 1997, the spot price of platinum ranged from a low of $342.50 to a high of $497.00.  The cumulative average price for all of 1997 was $395.23.