This article presents a short CoinNews video and a few photos of 2017 $25 American Palladium Eagles, the United States Mint’s first issues from its new series of 1-troy ounce .9995 fine palladium bullion coins.
The Palladium Eagle’s obverse (heads side) image is a high-relief adaptation of the "Winged Liberty" design executed for the 1916 dime by American sculptor and medallic artist Adolph A. Weinman. Those 10-cent pieces were soon dubbed "Mercury dimes" because many mistook the portrait of Lady Liberty with her winged Phrygian cap as the Roman god Mercury. Inscriptions around the design include LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, 2017, and Weinman’s overlapping ‘AW’ initials.
Coin reverses (tails side) feature a high-relief version of the Eagle design for the 1907 American Institute of Architects (AIA) Gold Medal reverse. Weinman also created it. The design was commissioned in late 1906 by the AIA for their Gold Medal award. Inscriptions include UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, $25, E PLURIBUS UNUM, and 1 oz. Pd .9995 FINE for the coin’s weight and fineness. The Palladium Eagle is produced at the Philadelphia Mint but, as with other U.S. Mint bullion coins, it has no mint mark.
Here’s a quick CoinNews video of an American Palladium Eagle rotating, showing both coin sides and the edge:
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:
The palladium coin joins three other American Eagle bullion products, the American Silver Eagle, American Gold Eagle and American Platinum Eagle. Its size is nearest the 1 oz. Gold Eagle but none match its thickness.
Here are photos showing Silver, Palladium and Gold Eagles side by side:
For more comparisons of the same coins in the photos above, this table lists their specifications:
| Gold Eagle | Palladium Eagle | Silver Eagle | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denomination: | $5; $10; $25; and $50 | $25 | $1 |
| Composition: | .9167 gold; .03 silver; and .0533 copper | .9995 fine palladium | .999 fine silver |
| Weight (troy oz): | 1/10, 1/4, 1/2 and 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Weight (grams): | 3.393; 8.483; 16.966 and 33.931 | 31.1035 | 31.1032 |
| Diameter (mm): | 16.5; 22.0; 27.0; and 32.7 | 32.7 | 40.6 |
| Thickness (mm): | 1.19; 1.83; 2.24; and 2.87 | * | 2.98 |
| Edge: | Reeded | Reeded | Reeded |
| Reverse Designer | Miley Frances Busiek | Adolph A. Weinman | John Mercanti |
| Obverse Designer | Augustus Saint-Gaudens | Adolph A. Weinman | Adolph A. Weinman |
*An official U.S. Mint figure for the Palladium Eagle’s thickness was not available at the time this article was published. The measurement will be updated when it becomes available.
Public Law 111-303 authorized the Secretary of the Treasury to strike and issue palladium bullion coins on an annual basis.
On Sept. 25, 2017, the U.S. Mint kicked off Palladium Eagle bullion sales through its network of bullion distributors, called Authorized Purchasers (AP’s). A week earlier, the agency said it would issue the coins at a 6.25% premium over the prevailing price of palladium and on an allocated basis, noting that it would not offer more in 2017 after depletion of their initial inventory. All available 15,000 coins sold in the first day.
The United States Mint can also produce proof and uncirculated editions for collectors. A proof version is planned for 2018.
In ending, here are several additional CoinNews photos of Palladium Eagles:
What a beautiful coin.
I have been waiting for this coin for awhile. When I tried to talk to people about it no one knew what I was talking about. They didn’t even know that Palladium was a precious metal traded on the exchange like gold and silver. Earlier this year I wrote a letter to the US Mint ask if they were going to produce the coin. The Mint actually wrote me back to confirm it was going to be produced in late 2017. When the release date was approaching I made a visit to 2 of the local bullion dealers, with printout… Read more »
that is one nice looking coin, congrat’s to all who got their hands on one or more. lets hope they don,t try to squeeze out more before the new year. highly unlike,lee tho. Big part of US Mint coinage history, double high relief , first palladium, & only 15,000 minted.
I was fortunate enough to stumble on to these (though I’ve seen articles about their being made for years now) just a couple of days before they started to sell out everywhere. Very excited for my coin, just stunning. It would likely grade MS-70. I hope the mint takes some cues from the success of this coin and applies them to future releases. I really like how chunky it feels in the hand and that deep strike. Not to mention both sides of the coin are great designs. My only worry now is that the mint will do something foolish… Read more »
Mike Unser & CoinNews readers FYI – Thanks for posting your photos & video Mr. Unser! Even though this is the Mint’s first high relief bullion version coin, they still packaged them in plastic tubes of 10 coins each all touching on each other like the silver, gold & platinum bullion coins. Each plastic “monster” box contains 4 tubes for a total of 50 coins. I noticed a rim nick on your coin Mike Unser on the obverse in between the “L” & “I” in the word “Liberty” & possible abrasions on Liberty’s neck. That would probably only grade at… Read more »
Beautiful coin. Still, troubled by the date being tilted. Can understand the dime, date very small but this is a larger coin, date more visible. Same thing with the gold merc.
Gorgeous! The “Mercury” [sic] design’s always been one of my favorites. I’d love to see the same images replicated on a circulating coin, even if only for a year or two. Nothing like getting a brand-new Merc in change!
the more i look at it, that is the best i coin iv,e seen sent,s i don,t know when. that double high relief & finish on the palladium makes a big different,s , i like lady Mercury, but that’s the best Eagle on any coin i have just about ever seen. The Mexican Libertad lady obverse and Eagle & snake for supper would be something else in double high relief, i love that statue of Lady Libertad she’s gorgeous. Its on my to do list before i pass, maybe when i can tap into my 401 & zig*zag to the… Read more »
Mike Mezack on his tv coin collector show on HSN is offering these graded by third-rate service ANACS in MS-69 at $1999 & in ANACS MS-70 at $2199 plus S&H & sales tax! & he doesn’t even have any graded with the “Prooflike” designation. What a ripoff! So sad, as Trump would say.
-NumisdudeTX
I read somewhere that the Mint had taken extra care to package this Palladium coin even having a reduced packing to minimize contact and that is the reason for the 69 and 70 prooflikes …. sounds like the Mint did a special favor to the AP’s .. if this was pure bullion then I dunno why the Mint couldn’t package it like any other bullion .. and of course the fact that it was in high relief makes me want to go “hmmm… why?” and that the mintage was known to the AP’s before the release .. collusion here?
Tilted date I like it stay away from EBAY!!! RIP OFF!!!
Ebay is the only place to get these right now. They are sold out at every dealer which is making them scarce and also increasing demand even further. They are a steal at any price under $2k for a graded 70. After the holidays there will be none left anywhere. At that point they will be $3000-$4000 if you can even find one. This coin has everything going for it. New American Eagle, First in series, New precious metal content, The key date likely with an all time low mintage, and in my opinion the most beautiful design of any… Read more »
I have a mis struck 1 oz palladium 2017 winged liberty. Has anyone else discovered one? Regards, Jim
Jim Woodburn – not i because i don,t have one, but what did the mint miss on the new coin? that would be very rare with only 15000 minted, good luck.
I ordered a MS 69 from APMEX on Sept 19 for about $1080 and I finally received a notice that it’s on its way. I think APMEX started offering pre-sales on Sept 18 and I was afraid that I was already too late by the 19th. It seems like there was a good chance at getting one on pre-sale back then. I think APMEX is still expecting more of these coins to return from the graders and they currently have an “alert me” option on their site. My coin wasn’t in the first batch that returned from the graders so… Read more »
Joe Brown, It appears to be a little off center leaving a raised ridge around part of the coin. Regards, Jim