The United States Mint will begin sales of the 2009 Proof American Platinum Eagle coin today, December 3, 2009 at 12:00 PM ET. This coin will represent the first design in the new six year program which commemorates the core concepts of American democracy.
The coin features a reverse design emblematic of the principle "To Form a More Perfect Union." Four faces represent the diversity of our Nation with hair and clothing weaving together. An American Eagle privy mark appears to satisfy the legal requirement to have an eagle on the reverse of the coin. The obverse will feature an image of the Statue of Liberty that has been used for all American Platinum Eagles since the first coins were released in 1997. The obverse was designed by John Mercanti and the reverse was designed by Susan Gamble and sculpted by Phebe Hemphill.
The 2009 Proof Platinum Eagle contains one ounce of .9995 pure platinum. It is struck in proof quality, with frosted raised design elements and mirrored background fields creating a cameo effect. The coin will be packaged in a custom designed portfolio presentation case, which includes the John G. Robert's narrative "To Form a More Perfect Union". This narrative was written at the request of the United States Mint and used as the inspiration for the reverse design of the coin
The coins are priced at $1,792 each, under the United States Mint's pricing policy for numismatic platinum coins. The price is subject to adjustment if the average weekly price of platinum moves across certain ranges. There is an ordering limit of 5 coins per household in effect for at least the first week of sales.
The maximum authorized mintage for the 2009 Proof Platinum Eagle is 8,000 coins. This will be the only platinum coin released by the United States Mint this year.
[Online: US Mint Product Page]
