Today at noon ET, the United States Mint begins selling one of its last collectible products for the year, the 2015-W $100 Proof American Platinum Eagle.
Don’t be surprised if this coin sells out quickly. There are several appealing factors that set it apart from prior issues, namely:
- A lower opening price of $1,200
- A smaller mintage of 4,000
- The first release in a 2-year design series
- An attractive design
- No companion bullion release
Last year’s proof Platinum Eagle was introduced at $1,650 with a stated mintage of 15,000. This year’s lower price is the result of plunging platinum, which is near $830 an ounce or about $440 lower than when the 2014-dated coin launched. This year’s smaller mintage and lack of companion bullion coin, according to the Mint, is "due to a lag in obtaining a sufficient quantity of production platinum blanks."
Coin Designs
Reverse designs on proof Platinum Eagles change annually. This year’s design is the first in a two-year series emblematic of the core values of liberty and freedom. (See original 2015 and 2016 Platinum Eagle candidate designs.)
Created by Joel Iskowitz and sculpted by Phebe Hemphill, the design is titled "Liberty Nurtures Freedom." It depicts Lady Liberty and an American bald eagle, representing Freedom. The earth and sun with rays are included in the image. Inscriptions are UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 1 oz., .9995 PLATINUM and $100.
A modern interpretation of the Statue of Liberty appears on obverses. The image was designed and sculpted by John Mercanti, the former Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint. It’s been on proof Platinum Eagles since their 1997 debut. Obverse inscriptions include LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST and 2015.
Coin Specifications
| Denomination | $100 |
| Finish | Proof |
| Composition | 99.95% Platinum |
| Diameter | 1.287 inches (32.70 mm) |
| Weight | 1.0005 troy oz. (31.120 grams) |
| Thickness | 0.094 inch (2.39 mm) |
| Edge | Reeded |
| Mint and Mint Mark | West Point – W |
| Obverse Design | John Mercanti |
| Reverse Design | Joel Iskowitz / Phebe Hemphill |
Ordering and Limits
Place orders for the 2015-W Proof American Platinum Eagle using the U.S. Mint’s online product page or by calling 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468).
This year’s issue does have a 1 coin per household ordering limit. That’s new. Last year’s proof had no such limit. It scored opening 7-day sales of 3,341 and it eventually ended with sales of 4,596. The bullion 2014 Platinum Eagle posted final sales of 16,900 coins.
Pricing can change weekly depending on market conditions. The coin’s current price of $1,200 is based on a weekly LBMA Platinum average that’s within the $800.00 to $849.99 range.
Mike Unser – Thanks for the timely update on this platinum coin offering! You just missed one inscription on the obverse of the coin as it has “E Pluribus Unum” also of course, although it “hides” well in the lower left corner area near the rim as the U.S. Mint photo shows. You make the editorial comment, in part, that “There are several appealing factors that set it apart from prior issues, namely: An attractive design”. Do you mean that the other annual issues of this Proof platinum coin with different reverse designs each year since 1997 are not attractive… Read more »
Hey, Mike…as I have stated in my earlier comments, due to the historical nature of this coins release today at noon, with the low mintage of only 4k, and a 2 year program; this coin should sell out quickly ! I too, will have my fingertips ready to push!!! Good luck everyone !!!
I thought we were getting a solid wood box with this one???
Where’s “E Pluribus Unum’????
Torch cut off…..
Seems the coin was “rushed”
I’ll pass..
unavailable at 1205
Sold out within 1 minute!!!
Got one! 1/4000
One just sold on e-bay for $1600.
I wonder if the mint made all 4,000 coins
That’s a first for me. I missed the bell.
Joe, My guess is they still may be available soon. Keep checking..
Site kicked me out about 5 times at 9:00 a.m. Pacific TIme, but I was persistent and finally got 1. It appears they all sold out within about 5 to 7 minutes!!!
Got this rare beauty at 12:03 Just barely made it. My damn slow computer almost locked me out! This one is a winner for sure. They will be selling. for double or triple or more with high grade specimens in the next few days on those crazy tv coin shopping shows! Just got order confirmation email at 11:35 from Mint. Thank G-D. The packaging even has a place to put the second coin of this 2-year series in 2016 so both can be displayed together in the same inner box. Wish it was a hardwood box though. But great job… Read more »
The mint said they will e-mail me joe#2. I hope they don’t make more than 4000. That’s the only reason I wanted one.
Joe? I doubt it, That was one of the main reasons this one was so hot. I’m just wondering if they sold ALL the 4000 coins or part.
If it completely sold the 4000 congrats to all who got one.
UPDATE: I reached out to the U.S. Mint (via Facebook) about today’s PM8, to which they replied, “Hi XXXXXXXX, yes the American Eagle 2015 Platinum Proof Coins are sold out.”
cool.
So this was clearly a steal if you could get your hands on it. What’s the next big thing coming out?
The unfortunate thing is that the US Mint is frustrating it’s long-term customers who actually collect the coins. Most folks who work can’t just drop everything to be on a computer. There should be an open period for all orders to be accepted on annual sets / items. After 30 years I think I’ve finally had enough. It’s no longer fun to collect from the Mint. Anyone want a complete set of proof Platinum Eagles (except for 2015)?
No regrets about not buying, I was already cutting back buying big ticket items from the Mint since end 2014 and 2016 will be the last year I buy gold from them if the designs on the commemoratives translate well into coin and maybe the “tribute” dime and quarter if the Mint doesn’t screw up the mintage and HH limits … but I might have easily gotten caught up in this Platinum proof fever if I had logged on to the Mint site today before noon ….
A&L, That would be great news, I sure hope that’s true.
I can just imagine though the person responding to you on FB was someone who couldn’t care less about the difference between “sold out” and “unavailable.”
Glad I gifted myself this coin…yea me!
And congrats to all who didn’t listen to the naysayers.
@Tired of the Mint… don’t give up the ship! You can obtain them on Ebay today for $1,500 to $1,600. I am also a big fan of the Platinum proofs because of the new annual designs and the low mintages are also a plus. I did get my order in for today’s Platinum just under the wire and feel extremely lucky to have done so. The Mint website was simply c r a w l i n g along at noon and moving from item pick to final purchase was almost unbearably slow and nerve-wracking.
@Tired of the Mint I got the preamble set since I wanted a complete one but that is it for me. The Mint only caters to the big buyers and themselves, they don’t care about collectors like me who have been making regularl purchases from them for decades … yeah familiarity breeds contempt … and the straw that broke my back was the Kennedy offerings especially the gold. I got the survey from the Mint and when I wrote that I did not want a gold version the question was an indignant one, something like “what do you mean, you’re… Read more »
Dan – The next product & only thing scheduled for 2015 is the still To Be Determined (TBD) issue date 2015 Limited Edition Silver Proof Set. The 8-coin silver set is priced at $139.95 in the Mint’s Holiday catalog with product #LS4 & limited to 50,000 sets. This limited edition special packaging set series started in 2012, which is the key to the short series so far & sells for a large premium in the secondary market, especially since the regular silver proof set of 2012 sold out unexpectedly and at an over 50 year mintage low for any silver… Read more »
UPDATE #2: I followed-up my previous question [to the USM — via FB], asking whether or not they minted all 4,000 PM8’s. The USM replied, “Yes, all of the coins have been minted.”
I’m pissed! I had the coin in my bag and got Haulted at the check out line with an all solid out bs message. That’s like some idiot stealing my items right out of my shopping cart in line at the grocer store. I was logged in at 12pm and moved immediately to checkout. This sucks and honestly I guess I’m just letting out my frustration over this swindle! The mint sucks!!!!
Seth R, It’s so funny to me that the Mint has the LESPS/LS4 in their new Holiday catalog. They appear to have frequent packaging issues, this may be the same problem again. I wish I knew what was going on behind those doors!
see on e/bay one seller had 5 for sale. another had one for sale as a pr70 –interesting they could know the grade already.
As soon as the flippers are done..this will turn out to be another “dog” have you checked the prices on the Ike Johnson Kennedy C&C sets lately ?
Got mine, in 15 seconds, after the noon opening! I Knew this would be extremely Hot! Good going to everyone who got one!!!
So they sold 4,000 1 @ a time in 1 minute, to individuals, no phuckin way…the mint has sold out collectors long ago & the gripes here are eerily like the IKE C&C fiasco..I agree that it wil be a dog in the long run, the 1%’ers can plop down $1,200 a coin, I got my Kenedy 24kt. 50c for $770 on ebay last month…I hope to pull one of these for <$1k & it may happen if not, i don't give a rattts arse, cause the mint says buzz of to folks with this type of shenanigans….come on kids,… Read more »
On ebay this morning Thursday December 3, 2015 @ 10:55:04 AM PST after their earlier complete sell out, a 2015-W Platinum Proof Eagle coin sold as high as $1,929,99 Buy It Now as item #121830240586 by seller jule309999. He somehow sold three of them although the ordering limit was one per customer.
$1,929.99/$1,200 = 60.8% instant profit.
You can bet, the Big major coin dealers/websites, will be selling their so-called “exclusives” ; nice and pcgs graded, fs, fr, pf70 pedigrees, as usual, for substantial profits! Especially govmint.com! If these coins don’t grade easy; will be expensive for 70s. We’ll just have to wait and see, or you could keep your coin, if you were fortunate enough to have ordered one or send it off for grading yourself . Either way, if this low mintage holds, the coin will definitely appreciate in value! Keep collecting!!!
Well said Whistler.
Dustyroads – Yep, it is a funny thing if it wasn’t such a sad situation at the U.S. Mint on the product we are commenting on! They have had packing problems for 4 years now on that limited edition silver Proof set! Maybe they are stuck with the same outside vendors due to a Federal gov’t contract they can’t get out of for a certain period. But, the largest Mint in the world should be able to fire that vendor & get their special packaging from another source. You gave me a good idea for a new book title, ”… Read more »
Well said MB. could not agree any more the US mint sucks .
The coin flippers would have prearranged their multiple proxy buyers to order the 2015-W Platinum Proof Eagle coins so as to circumvent the U.S. Mint limit of one coin per household.
Hey, Dwight…all mints allow for that. Unfortunately, for the True collectors, we are outnumbered by the dealers, and flippers…
Anyway, that’s how the world of numismatics has evolved. At one time, for personal collection, but now, it seems for selfish, personal gain! I, for one, still Love the joy and happiness of collecting, and giving coins as gifts to family and friends. Happy collecting, everyone!…
I agree as a numismatist, I Iove the history and joy of coin collecting.
Well said, my friend.
I was lucky my order got confirmed and all, but i log in now and it says on hold, and i haven’t received the shipping confirmation yet. Has anyone had theiirs shipped?
I received a “shipped” notification at 2:24 pm today.
I find it interesting that official mint sales figures for this coin are 3,881 units sold and yet not only has the coin been listed as a sellout it has completely disappeared from their website.