Today, Jan. 30, the United States Mint started accepting orders for its 2020-W Proof American Platinum Eagle — Pursuit of Happiness coin, the final of three issues from the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence design series.
Struck in 1-ounce .9995 platinum, coins in the themed program feature unique obverse (head side) designs that are paired with a common reverse (tails side) design. Obverses celebrate the three tenets in the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence — Life, Liberty and Happiness.
This year’s obverse design is emblematic of the "Pursuit of Happiness." As described by the U.S. Mint, it 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. Michael Gaudioso executed the sculpting for the 2020 obverse.
The coins’ shared reverse depicts an eagle in flight with an olive branch in its talons. Patricia Lucas-Morris created the design and Don Everhart sculpted it.
Reverse inscriptions include "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "1 OZ.," ".9995 PLATINUM," "$100," and the artists’ initials of "PLM" and "DE."
U.S. Mint-provided specifications for the program coins follow.
Specifications of Proof American Platinum Eagle Coins
| Denomination: | $100 |
|---|---|
| Finish: | Proof |
| Composition: | 99.95% Platinum |
| Diameter: | 1.287 inches (32.70 mm) |
| Weight: | 1.0005 troy oz. (31.120 grams) |
| Edge: | Reeded |
| Mint and Mint Mark: | West Point – W |
These coins are produced at the U.S. Mint’s facility in West Point. As such, the West Point’s mintmark of "W" is also found on the reverse.
Price, Ordering and Limits
The latest 2020 as well as the 2018- and 2019-dated proof American Platinum Eagles are $1,545 apiece.
Pricing is subject to change weekly based on the U.S. Mint’s precious metal coin pricing policy. As a perspective, last year’s coin initially sold for $1,220 when platinum was at $821 an ounce while the coin from 2018 launched at $1,420 when platinum was at $1,020 an ounce. Platinum is currently hovering around $976 an ounce.
Order the collectibles from the Mint’s catalog of platinum coins or by calling 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468).
This year’s issue has a mintage limit of 13,000 — compared to 15,000 for last year’s release and 20,000 for the coin from 2018. It also has an order limit of one coin per household for the first 24 hours of sales.
