This past week the United States Mint published its preliminary product page for the 2013-W Proof American Platinum Eagle, the collectible coin produced at the West Point Mint and carrying the "W" mint mark.

2013-W American Proof Platinum Eagle – Obverse and Design of Reverse

Details on the product page provide a release date, which is July 18, 2013, and design details.

The one-ounce, 99.95% pure platinum series debuted in 1997. In 2009, the U.S. Mint introduced a six-year series that explores the major concepts of American democracy by highlighting the Preamble of the United States Constitution. Each year since 2009 and until 2014, a different reverse design is unveiled. This year’s design theme is "To Promote the General Welfare."

Nine possible Platinum Eagle designs were revealed earlier in the year. While the U.S. Mint has yet to show an actual image of the reverse — it did for the obverse with its new "2013" date, the new product page offers the following description of the reverse design:

The reverse (tails) design is emblematic of the principle ‘To Promote the General Welfare,’ the fifth of six principles of American democracy found in the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution. It features Young America against interlocking gears, symbolizing the interconnection of power between the states and the national government.

Only one of the nine design candidates fits this description. Labeled design candidate AEP-R-03, it was the one recommended by the Commission of Fine Arts. A larger image of the design is shown here:

2013 Proof Platinum Eagle Design Candidate AEP-R-03

Certain design refinements are possible since the candidate was first released, but the major elements are unlikely to change.

Pricing for the 2013 Proof Platinum Eagle will not be known until the Wednesday before its release, which is July 17, 2013. For a reference point, the U.S. Mint is still selling the 2012 Proof Platinum Eagle at a price of $1,800.00. Sales of the coin are at 9,530 as of June 16, 2013.

For this year, the United States Mint has stated a maximum mintage of 15,000. That is the same max mintage as last year’s proof coin. Initial per household ordering limits will be set at 5 coins.