2005 American Platinum Eagle

Every 2005 Platinum Eagle version

Bullion without a mint mark: 14,013 tenth ounce, 12,013 quarter ounce, 9,013 half ounce and 6,310 one ounce. Proofs with a W: 8,104, 6,592, 5,942 and 6,602. The eagle, shield and cornucopia mark the proof. The soaring eagle with no W marks bullion. If you're looking at a fractional coin, read the size on the reverse carefully, since the tenth and quarter ounce look alike in photos. Proofs came in capsules with a Mint box and certificate, both singly and in four-coin sets. Bullion coins, sold through authorized purchasers, tend to surface loose or in plastic tubes.

Quick answers

How much platinum is in a 2005 Platinum Eagle?

Each coin contains its stated weight of pure platinum: 1/10 troy ounce in the $10 coin, 1/4 troy ounce in the $25 coin, 1/2 troy ounce in the $50 coin and one troy ounce in the $100 coin. The alloy is 99.95% platinum.

How many 2005 Platinum Eagles were made?

6,310 one ounce bullion coins plus 27,240 collector versions (proof, burnished and special finishes).

Is the 2005 Platinum Eagle worth more than its platinum?

Yes. With only 6,310 one ounce bullion coins sold, the 2005 is a low mintage date, so it brings a premium over its platinum value.

Is the Platinum Eagle legal tender?

Yes. Each size carries a face value ($10, $25, $50 and $100), but nobody spends them: the platinum is worth far more than the face value.

The 2005 proof design

American bald eagle perched on a heraldic shield with symbols representing America's strength and beauty. Designer: Donna Weaver.

2005 Platinum Eagle by the numbers

The Mint sold 6,310 one ounce bullion Platinum Eagles dated 2005. That ranks 2nd lowest of the 19 bullion dates from 1997 to 2021.

Against the dates around it, 2005 bullion sales were 1.1 times fewer than 2004 and about the same as 2006.

Collector versions dated 2005 add up to 27,240 coins across 4 versions. The scarcest is the 2005-W 1/2 oz proof at 5,942; the most plentiful is the 2005-W 1/10 oz proof at 8,104.

Fractional bullion that year: 14,013 1/10 oz coins, 12,013 1/4 oz coins and 9,013 1/2 oz coins. The 1/2 oz is the scarce size of the year.

What to check on yours

• Weigh and measure it. A genuine one ounce Platinum Eagle weighs 31.12 g and measures 32.7 mm; the fractional sizes are 3.112 g (1/10 oz), 7.78 g (1/4 oz) and 15.56 g (1/2 oz). Fakes are usually the wrong weight or the wrong thickness.
• Try a magnet. Platinum is not magnetic, so a coin that sticks is not genuine. A coin that does not stick still needs the other checks.
• Look for the mint mark. Bullion strikes have none; proofs and burnished coins carry a small letter. A mirror field with frosted design means a proof, a soft satin look means burnished.
• Handle it by the edge and never clean it. Fingerprints, wiping and polishing leave marks that cost collector versions much of their premium.
• Keep the original capsule, box and certificate with collector versions. Coins that come with them are easier to sell and more likely to bring their full premium.

Low mintages across the board give 2005 coins collector interest. The one ounce bullion coin at 6,310 is among the scarcest bullion Platinum Eagles and can earn a collector premium. Proofs carry a collector premium too, with the half ounce at 5,942 the lowest. Original packaging matters for proofs and clean surfaces matter for bullion buyers paying extra for scarcity. A full four-coin proof set from 2005 is a solid holding for anyone building a run of early dates. Look for original Mint boxes.

Annual designs and Foundations of Democracy (2003 to 2008)

After the Vistas of Liberty ended, the proof designs became single-year pieces. In 2003 an eagle perched on a pine branch in front of the flag. The 2004 proof borrowed from Daniel Chester French's sculpture America outside the US Custom House in New York. The 2005 design showed an eagle and a heraldic shield guarding a cornucopia. Bullion coins still carried the soaring eagle in all four sizes.

From 2006 to 2008 the proofs told a three-part story called Foundations of Democracy. The 2006 coin stood for the legislative branch, 2007 for the executive and 2008 for the judicial. The same years brought a new finish: uncirculated burnished coins with a W mint mark, sold directly to collectors. Burnished mintages were tiny, often only two or three thousand coins per size. Look closely at any W coin from these years, because the finish tells you which version it is.

Demand for bullion was modest through most of this period and the one ounce bullion coin dropped as low as 6,000 pieces in 2006. The 2008 coins closed the chapter. It was the last year for the fractional sizes and the last year for the burnished finish and its proof mintages were among the lowest of the four-size era. That makes 2008 the year collectors chase most in this group. Anyone sorting a mixed group from these years should separate the W coins first, then split them by finish. That one step usually reveals whether a box of platinum holds ordinary bullion or a few genuinely scarce collector coins.

Mintage chart

Specifications

Frequently asked questions