For a more complete and up-to-date discussion of the material on this page, visit our new web site at
www.cmi-gold-silver.com.
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| Modern
Platinum Bullion Coins |
American Platinum Eagles and
Canadian Platinum Maple Leafs
dominate the platinum bullion coin market in the U.S. Australian Koalas
are common, but Koala sales in the U.S. fall far short of the two
leaders. Investors who like platinum should stick with
Eagles or Maple Leafs.
American
Platinum Eagles
Front
Back |
Although first minted in only mid-1997, the
Platinum Eagle is already the most popular platinum bullion coin in the U.S. Sales for
1997 were projected at 40,000 ounces but reached 115,000 ounces in just six months.Minted
at West Point, New York, Platinum Eagles come in four sizes: 1-ounce, 1/2-ounce, 1/4-ounce, and
1/10-ounce. The 1-oz coin is by far the most popular and sells at a smaller premium over
the value of its platinum content than do the smaller coins. (See American Platinum Eagle
Specifications below.) All four coins carry the same design. Because
of high platinum prices, sales of year 2000 Platinum
Eagles were greatly reduced. For example, the US Mint
reports selling only 10,000 1-oz Platinum Eagles in 2000.
Therefore, year 2000 Platinum Eagles are difficult to find
and carry high premiums.
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Platinum Eagles are .9995 pure and are symbolic legal
tender coins. Just like their sister Gold Eagle coins, Platinum Eagles sell at prices that
reflect the intrinsic value of their content, not their legal tender values. Platinum
Eagles come in tubes.
Note: The troy ounce is the unit of weight for precious metals. One troy ounce equals
1.09711 regular (avoirdupois) ounces. Where ounce and ounces are used in this Web site,
they mean troy ounce or ounces.
American Platinum Eagle
Specifications
| Coin |
Platinum
Content |
Gross
Weight |
Face Value |
Retail
Premiums |
| 1-oz |
1.0005 oz
31.12 gms |
1.0005 oz
31.12 gms |
$100 |
5%-8% |
| 1/2-oz |
0.5003 oz
15.56 gms |
0.5003 oz
15.56 gms |
$50 |
8%-11% |
| 1/4-oz |
0.2501 oz
7.78 gms |
0.2501 oz
7.78 gms |
$25 |
10%-13% |
| 1/10-oz |
0. 10005 oz
3.112 gms |
0. 10005 oz
3.112 gms |
$10 |
11%-15% |
Retail premiums column shows Platinum Eagle markups
over spot price of platinum. Actual markups depend on quantity, platinum price volatility,
and availability. Call 1-800-528-1380 for up-to-the-minute delivered prices. (See Doing Business with Certified Mint, Inc.)
Canadian
Platinum Maple Leafs
FRONT
BACK |
Canadian Platinum Maple Leafs come in
five sizes: 1-, 1/2-, 1/4-, 1/10-, and 1/20- ounce. The 1-oz coin is the most
popular. All coins carry the same design. The 1-oz Maple
Leaf comes in tubes of ten; the fractional-ounce coins are individually sealed in plastic.
Because of high prices for
platinum, year 2000 and year 2001 Platinum Maple Leafs are
difficult to find.
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Platinum Maple Leafs are pure platinum, are legal
tender, and sell at prices that reflect the value of their platinum content.
Canadian Platinum Maple Leaf
Specifications
| Coin |
Platinum
Content |
Gross
Weight |
Face
Value |
Retail
Premiums |
| 1-oz |
1.0 oz
31.16 gms |
1.0 oz
31.16 gms |
$50 |
5%-8% |
| 1/2-oz |
0.5 oz
15.59 gms |
0.5 oz
15.59 gms |
$20 |
8%-11% |
| 1/4-oz |
0.25 oz
7.80 gms |
0.25 oz
7.80 gms |
$10 |
10%-13% |
| 1/10-oz |
0.10 oz
3. 132 gms |
0.10 oz
3. 132 gms |
$5 |
11%-15% |
| 1/20-oz |
0.05 oz
1.581 gms |
0.05 oz
1.581 gms |
$1 |
19%-22% |
Retail premiums column shows Maple Leaf markups over
spot price of platinum. Actual markups depend on quantity, platinum price volatility, and
availability. Call 1-602-234-2300 for up-to-the-minute delivered prices.
(See Doing Business with Certified Mint, Inc.)
Australian
Koalas
FRONT
BACK |
Koalas are popular with coin collectors not only because of their beauty,
but because the Perth Mint limits production.
For year 2000, no more than 100,000 1-oz, 5,000 1/2-oz, 20,000 1/4-oz, 20,000 1/10-oz, and 20,000 1/20-oz coins
will be minted.
Koalas are popular with
coin collectors not only because of their beauty, but
because the Perth Mint limits production. However, because
of high platinum prices, few Koalas have been imported to
the United States since 1999.
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Australian Platinum Koalas are recognized as the most beautiful platinum coins in the world.
They are renowned for their quality of finish, which incorporates exquisite proof-like frosting that
sets Koalas apart from other platinum bullion coins. The front of the
Koalas carry an image of Queen Elizabeth II that is identical to the one on the Platinum Maple Leafs, but the reverse depicts a koala, a design that
changes every year. Each Koala comes encapsulated in a protective hard plastic container.
Koalas are 9995 fine, are legal tender, and sell at prices that reflect the value of their platinum content.
See Specifications Table below for more information.
Australian
Platinum Koala Specifications:
| Coin |
Standard
Weight |
Gross
Weight |
Face
Value |
Retail
Premiums |
| 1-oz |
1.0 oz
31.185 gms |
1.0 oz
31.185 gms |
$100 |
5%-8% |
| 1/2-oz |
0.5
oz
15.605 gms |
0.5 oz
15.605 gms |
$50 |
8%-11% |
| 1/4-oz |
0.25 oz
7.815 gms |
0.25 oz
7.815 gms |
$25 |
10%-13% |
| 1/10-oz |
0.10 oz
3. 317 gms |
0.10 oz
3.317 gms |
$15 |
11%-15% |
| 1/20-oz |
0.05 oz
1.571 gms |
0.05 oz
1.571 gms |
$5 |
20%-25% |
Retail premiums column shows Koala markups over
spot price of platinum. Actual markups depend on quantity, platinum price volatility, and
availability. Call 1-602-234-2300 for up-to-the-minute delivered prices.
(See Doing Business with Certified Mint, Inc.)
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