No 2015 American Eagle Platinum Bullion coins will be produced, however.
By Hubert Walker for CoinWeek ….
On Wednesday, November 25, the United States Mint announced that sales of the 2015 American Eagle Torch of Liberty Platinum Proof coin will begin on December 3. A maximum of 4,000 coins will be minted, and an order limit of one per household will be in effect.
The coin is now listed on the Mint’s online catalog at http://catalog.usmint.gov/american-eagle-2015-one-ounce-platinum-proof-coin-PM8.html.
Artist Joel Iskowitz (View Designer’s Profile) created the initial design for the reverse, which was recommended to the Treasury Secretary with modifications by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) in 2014. Mint Sculptor-Engraver Phebe Hemphill (View Designer’s Profile) engraved the reverse. Former Chief Engraver of the United States Mint John M. Mercanti (View Designer’s Profile) designed the obverse portrait of Liberty, in use since 1997.
Wednesday’s announcement also stated that, due to issues concerning the timely procurement of an adequate number of blanks, no platinum bullion coins will be minted for 2015. The U.S. Mint sold 16,900 American Platinum Eagle bullion coins in 2014, which was the first year that platinum bullion coins had been available since 2008. After 2014, the Mint took steps to expand the supplier base for blanks, with trial strikes and production validation for two new suppliers having been completed only last month. Because of the time constraint this presented, all available platinum blanks have been directed towards the production of 2015 Proof platinum eagles.
The Mint anticipates producing a full run of 2016 American Eagle Platinum Bullion coins at its West Point facility sometime next year.
