2018-W $25 Proof American Palladium Eagle Photos and Video

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This article presents a short CoinNews video and several photos of a 2018-W $25 Proof American Palladium Eagle, the United States Mint’s first collector issue from its series of 1-troy ounce .9995 fine palladium coins.

Despite the hefty launching price of $1,387.50 and an ordering limit of one coin per household, the West Point Mint struck proof 2018 American Palladium Eagle lasted less than five minutes from its Sept. 6 launch before becoming available.

2018-W $25 Proof American Palladium Eagle Photos
CoinNews photos of a 2018-W $25 Proof American Palladium Eagle

In the secondary market today, it’s hard to find ungraded examples for under $2,300 and coveted 70s are selling for as much as $2,900 — more than twice the issue price.

2018-W $25 Proof American Palladium Eagle - Obverse and Reverse
CoinNews photos of the obverse and reverse of a 2018-W $25 Proof American Palladium Eagle

In 2017, the U.S. Mint introduced the bullion or investor-grade American Platinum Eagle. (See photos of bullion Palladium Eagles.) This year’s proof version, made for coin collectors, shares the same designs as the bullion piece. It’s readily distinguished by its proof finish which features frosted designs against mirror-like backgrounds.

The two photos below highlight differences between proof and bullion Palladium Eagles.

2018 Proof American Palladium Eagle and 2017 Bullion American Palladium Eagle - Obverses
This CoinNews photo shows this year’s 2018-W $25 Proof American Palladium Eagle (left) and last year’s 2017 $25 Bullion American Palladium Eagle (right)
2018 Proof American Palladium Eagle and 2017 Bullion American Palladium Eagle - Reverses
A photo of the same two coins but with their reverses shown

Palladium Eagle obverses (heads) bear a high-relief likeness of Adolph Weinman’s "Winged Liberty" design that first appeared on obverses of 1916 Mercury dimes.

2018-W $25 Proof American Palladium Eagle Photo
A CoinNews photo of the obverse or heads side of a 2018-W $25 Proof American Palladium Eagle
2018-W $25 Proof American Palladium Eagle - Obverse,b
A larger view of the obverse

Reverses (tails side) feature a high-relief version of Weinman’s Eagle design for the 1907 American Institute of Architects (AIA) gold medal reverse.

Photo, Reverse 2018-W $25 Proof American Palladium Eagle
A CoinNews photo of the reverse or tails side of a 2018-W $25 Proof American Palladium Eagle
2018-W $25 Proof American Palladium Eagle - Reverse
A larger view of the reverse

The AIA was instrumental in helping with the coin’s reverse, giving the U.S. Mint access to a 14-inch diameter plaster for the medal and an actual 1907 2-1/4-inch AIA gold medal. The U.S. Mint digitally scanned the plaster and photographed the medal to aid in their design work. This Mint video shows how the plaster was scanned:

 

Here’s a CoinNews video of an encapsulated 2018 Proof American Palladium Eagle that is rotating, showing both of its sides and its reeded edge:

 

Public Law 111-303 authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to strike and issue palladium coins on an annual basis. The palladium coin joins three other American Eagle products — the American Silver Eagle, the American Gold Eagle and the American Platinum Eagle. The palladium coin’s size is nearest the 1 oz. Gold Eagle. No other coins in the series match its thickness.

Here are photos showing Silver, Palladium and Gold Eagles side by side:

Obverses of American Ealge Silver, Palladium and Gold Bullion Coins
American Eagle Silver, Palladium and Gold Bullion Coins standing on their edges (obverses shown)
Edges of American Ealge Silver, Palladium and Gold Bullion Coins
American Eagle Silver, Palladium and Gold Bullion Coins lying flat

Here is a larger view of the reeded edge found on American Palladium Eagles:

2018-W $25 Proof American Palladium Eagle - Edge
A CoinNews photo of the edge of a 2018-W $25 Proof American Palladium Eagle

Finally, below are a few more CoinNews photos of proof Palladium Eagles.

2018-W $25 Proof American Palladium Eagle - Obverse,a
Obverse photo

2018-W $25 Proof American Palladium Eagle - Obverse
Another obverse photo
2018-W $25 Proof American Palladium Eagle - Reverse,a
Reverse photo

2018-W $25 Proof American Palladium Eagle - Reverse,b
Another reverse photo
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cagcrisp

Excellent article…

Vachon

Why couldn’t we have had that reverse for the Silver American Eagle when the series debuted in 1986?

RonnieBGood

A beautiful coin.
I love both the obverse & reverse designs on this one. A win for the mint & collectors.