The United States Mint published images for the 2020-W Proof American Platinum Eagle – Pursuit of Happiness, the final of three 99.95% fine 1 oz. platinum coins from its themed Preamble to the Declaration of Independence series. The collectible will launch on Jan. 30, two weeks from today.
Coins in the three-year series feature unique obverse (heads) designs coupled with a common reverse (tails). Obverses celebrate the three tenets in the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence – Life, Liberty and Happiness.
This year’s Pursuit of Happiness design, as described by the U.S. Mint, depicts:
"Lady Liberty harvesting the fruits of her labor with a young girl at play nearby. The overflowing cornucopia she carries is a symbol of the physical, intellectual, and spiritual bounty only liberty makes possible – the good things that nourish the body, enliven the mind, and satisfy the soul. The home, orchard, and silo represent American hopes, values, and aspirations and bring to a close the narrative told throughout the backgrounds of the series – from furrowed earth, to prairies and mountains, and finally to an agrarian field. The stubble field alludes to the ingenuity and exertion required to claim liberty’s promise."
The inscription "Happiness," a facsimile of the handwritten word from the Declaration of Independence, includes the long "s," a letterform which was typical of its time but is no longer in common use. Other inscriptions include "IN GOD WE TRUST," "E PLURIBUS UNUM," "2020," "LIBERTY" and the artists’ initials of "JK and "MG."
Justin Kunz created all three 2018-2020 obverse designs for the themed series. Michael Gaudioso executed the sculpting for the 2020 obverse.
The coins’ common reverse shows an eagle in flight with an olive branch in its talons. It was designed by Patricia Lucas-Morris and sculpted by Don Everhart.
Reverse inscriptions read: "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "1 OZ.," ".9995 PLATINUM," "$100," "W" and the artists’ initials of "PLM" and "DE." The ‘W’ indicates the coin is produced at the U.S. Mint’s facility in West Point.
The U.S. Mint will begin selling the 2020-W Proof American Platinum Eagle on Jan. 30 at noon EST. The 2018- and 2019-dated editions are still available for $1,370 apiece. To order those, visit the Mint’s online catalog for platinum coins.
