Platinum Coins

Platinum Bullion Coins

When you are looking to buy platinum coins, you will find that your options are more limited compared to other metals like silver and gold. Platinum coins are still made in weights from 1/10 troy ounce to 1 troy ounce, but fewer mints produce them.

Investors in the fast-moving modern marketplace are always on the lookout for new opportunities, and precious metal and bullion investors are no different. While gold and silver may be the traditional metals for precious minting, platinum, a relative newcomer (having been initially used for numismatic purposes in the 18th century by the Spanish), makes for an attractive third option. With its steady rise in popularity and upward trend in value, platinum coins may be the metal of the future.

Why Platinum?

Platinum investment coins are a highly sought-after commodity among those looking to diversify beyond the collection of standard gold and silver coins. As with any portfolio, precious metal investors often enjoy splitting their investments among a variety of holdings. The platinum market has historically performed in a steady upward trend, leading some to see it as a reliable depository of value. Moreover, buying platinum coins opens up a new set of numismatic possibilities.

Types of Platinum Coin

Because platinum is not as popular as some other metals and is harder to work with, fewer governments produce platinum coins. Because of this, there are not too many options available, and investors tend to stick with only a few options. Listed below are three of the most popular coin series that are currently being produced.

Platinum American Eagle

The American Eagle bullion coin series is the U.S. government’s official bullion line, featuring beautiful coins struck in a variety of metals with American legal tender value. The Platinum Eagle is the official platinum entry in that line. The coins were first released in 1997 and have been pressed every year since then.

The coins vary from the gold and silver lines in that they alter the reverse design on the proof coins to feature a new image (often but not always featuring a bald eagle) for every year. The constant change-ups means that each year’s pressing is graphically unique, leading to a collector value that drives coin sales. The coins are also available in an uncirculated variety, featuring a common image of an eagle in flight over a rising sun. The obverse of all Platinum Eagles features an image of the face of Lady Liberty, the mottos “Liberty” and “In God We Trust,” and the year of pressing. The reverse lists the size and purity of the coin.

Platinum Eagles are available in four sizes with different face values: one-tenth of an ounce ($10), quarter-ounce ($25), half-ounce ($50), and an ounce ($100).

Platinum Australian Kangaroo

The Perth Mint of Australia is never one to be left behind in the production of bullion coins. In 2018, it introduced a new iconic coin in the form of the Platinum Australian Kangaroo. The Platinum Kangaroo features 1 Troy oz of .9995 fine platinum with a face value of $100 (AUD) backed by the federal government of Australia. On the reverse of the coins is one of Australia’s most iconic designs.

This left-profile depiction of kangaroo hopping through the Outback is based on a 1950s design that appeared on the circulation copper penny in Australia. The image here includes a radial sunburst in the background field. The obverse of the coins features Queen Elizabeth II’s effigy.

Platinum British Britannia

The Britannia coin is one of the most popular European bullion coin programs. The series was introduced in 1987 as a Gold Britannia and expanded a decade later in 1997 with the release of the Silver Britannia. Though it wasn’t exactly a decade later, 2018 saw the further expansion of the Britannia coins with the Platinum British Britannia. These beautiful coins are available only in 1 Troy oz and 1/10 Troy oz options, each one boasting .9995 fine platinum in BU condition.

On the reverse of Platinum British Britannia coins is the image of Britannia created in 1987 by Philip Nathan. This design features on all Britannia coinage regardless of precious metal content. It captures a powerful depiction of Britannia standing on a coastal cliff. She wears a Corinthian helmet, wields a trident in her right hand, and clutches a shield in her left hand that bears the Union Jack of the United Kingdom. This side of the coin has a radial sunburst behind the figure of Britannia.

The obverse of Platinum British Britannia coins includes the fifth-generation effigy of Queen Elizabeth II. Her Majesty is depicted here in right-profile relief as designed by Jody Clark in 2015. This design is found on all British coins dated 2016 and later. She wears the Royal Diadem crown in this design that reflects her appearance at the age of 89. The obverse features the guilloche background design element similar in appearance to braided rope.

Platinum British Queen’s Beast

The Royal Mint of England issued the first Queen’s Beast Series coins in 2016 with the Lion of England design. The series includes 10 designs in all and expanded in 2017 to feature two more bullion options. The silver coins gained a 10 oz option joining the 2 oz coin and the mint introduced a new 1 oz platinum coin. Each of the 10 designs in the Platinum Queen’s Beast Series comes from the coronation ceremony of Queen Elizabeth II. These designs include:

• Lion of England – the most significant heraldic beast in England’s history, the Lion of England was adopted in the first official royal arms by King Richard I, known as Richard the Lionheart.
• Griffin of Edward III – the mythical Griffin was one of the personal symbols of King Edward III, a Plantagenet king who ruled England for 50 years during the Middle Ages.
• Red Dragon of Wales – the design of the Red Dragon, now the official symbol of Wales, dates back to the 6^th century in Wales. The Tudor Dynasty brought to the Red Dragon into the heraldic arms, starting with King Henry VII.
• Unicorn of Scotland – the heraldic beast of Scotland joined the Royal Arms of England in 1603 when King James VI of Scotland ascended to throne of England and combined the two crowns.
• Black Bull of Clarence – the Black Bull comes from Roger Mortimer, descendant of the Duke of Clarence, and his great-grandson King Edward IV. Edward IV was the first king from the House of York.
• Falcon of the Plantagenets – another heraldic beast from King Edward III, the White Falcon was featured on his personal shield.
• Yale of Beaufort – the mythical Yale is another beast associated with the House of Tudor. King Henry VII brought the Yale to the royal arms through his mother, Lady Margaret Beaufort.
• White Lion of Mortimer – the white lion came to the royal arms with Edward IV, who inherited it from his grandmother, the heiress of the Mortimers. The White Lion is the only other lion in the Royal Arms, but is always featured seated with its tail between its legs, unlike the Lion of England.
• White Greyhound of Richmond – the white hound is common in British heraldry and is special to Richmond in Yorkshire. King Henry VII, founder of the House of Tudor, is the son of Edmund Tudor, Earl of Richmond.
• White Horse of Hanover – the white horse came to the Royal Arms through King George I, formerly George of Hanover. He ascended the throne after the end of the House of Stuart and represents Hanover during the reigns of King George I, George II, and George III.

Canadian Platinum Maple Leaf

Canada’s Maple Leaf coin line is the official bullion coin line of the Great North, and one of its more prominent varieties is the Platinum Maple Leaf. The coin was first pressed in 1988, and consistent production of the coin continued until 1999, when production ceased. Two more issues, however, were eventually made, one in 2002 and another in 2009.

The obverse of the coins features an image of Queen Elizabeth II, monarch of the United Kingdom. Coins pressed in 1988 and 1989 depict a 39-year-old monarch, while those created from 1990-1999 (as well as the 2002 run) show her at 64. The 2009 issue has a new portrait of the Queen at age 79. All faces feature the words “Elizabeth II,” the face value, and the year of issue. The reverse shows a Canadian maple leaf, an important national symbol, as well as the country’s name, the purity of the coin, and the weight.

Platinum Maple Leaves are available in a variety of weights with different face values in Canadian Dollars: one-twentieth of an ounce ($1), one-tenth of an ounce ($5), quarter ounce ($10), half-ounce ($20), and a full ounce ($50).

Platinum Australian Platypus

Australia’s Platinum Platypus is the most recent of the three platinum designs listed here, first being pressed in 2011. One of several coin lines produced by the Perth Mint, the platypus line shows the unusual animal, one of the country’s symbols. Platinum Platypus coins are only available in one size, a full ounce, and feature a face value of $100 Australian. The obverse of the coin features Queen Elizabeth II and lists her name, the name of the country, and the face value of the coin. The reverse shows a platypus underwater, with the words “Australian Platypus,” the year of issue, the purity, and the weight.

Platinum Somalian Elephant

One of the more impressive coin collections in the world, the Somalian Elephant collection started out in 1999 as the Zambian Elephant Series. Starting in 2004, the Bavarian State Mint began to issue the coins as Somalian Elephants. The collection initially included a Silver Elephant and Gold Elephant option. 2016 was a big year for the series as the silver coins gained fractional options and a new Platinum Somalian Elephant coin was introduced.

Somalian Elephant coins are famed for the use of new African elephant designs on the obverse each year. The reverse of the coins always features the coat of arms for Somalia. The new Platinum Somalian Elephant coins include 1 Troy oz of .9995 fine platinum and come with a face value of 1,000 Shillings (Somali).

Platinum Coin Prices

With platinum coins, as with other precious metal bullion coins, the pricing depends on the spot price, or current commodities market value, of the metal. As platinum is an actively traded commodity, price can change day to day, or minute to minute, for that matter. When buying any precious metal, however, the price you actually pay is based on the spot price plus another figure, known as the premium, which contains both the costs of shaping the metal into the form you are purchasing and the markup that allows dealers to make profit. Bars are less intricate to shape than coin designs, leading to a lower premium in comparison.

Platinum coins have a somewhat higher premium than other coins, as platinum is a harder metal to shape than gold or silver; the exact amount varies, but could be between 5 percent to 20 percent over spot. Of course, this also means that the coins themselves have a higher value to other buyers, so the premium cost isn’t always lost to the buyer. Moreover, coins have the potential to gain collector (or numismatic) value, increasing their worth beyond the spot value or even spot plus premium. Silver.com, as an online dealer, is able to offer relatively thin dealer markup by selling in bulk.

Buying Platinum Coins Online

Coin buyers looking for a smooth investing experience need to go no further than Silver.com. We carry a wide array of precious metal products, including several lines of platinum bullion coins. The Silver.com checkout process is secure, fast, and easy, and it can be done online or on the phone, at your convenience. Because we know how important your investments are to you, all our shipments are insured to make sure you get the bullion you need, when you need it.

Moreover, for orders over $3,000, the shipping is on us! With our wide range of products, competitive prices, and friendly customer service, an order from Silver.com is always an investment in quality. If you come across any questions or would like to learn more about purchasing platinum coins, you can call us toll-free at 1-888-989-7223.