2007 American Platinum Eagle

Every 2007 Platinum Eagle version

Again there are twelve regular coins, plus 19,583 half ounce reverse proofs sold only in the 10th anniversary set. Bullion with no mint mark: 13,003 tenth ounce, 8,402 quarter ounce, 7,001 half ounce and 7,202 one ounce. Proofs with a W: 8,176, 6,017, 25,519 and 8,363. Burnished with a W: 5,556, 3,690, 3,635 and 4,177. The W narrows a coin down to proof or burnished; the finish settles it. Mirror fields mean proof, a uniform satin surface means burnished. No W and the soaring eagle means bullion. Burnished coins came in their own Mint packaging, apart from the proofs. Bullion coins usually surface in tubes or loose.

Quick answers

How much platinum is in a 2007 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 2007 Platinum Eagles were made?

7,202 one ounce bullion coins plus 84,716 collector versions (proof, burnished and special finishes).

Is the 2007 Platinum Eagle worth more than its platinum?

Yes. With only 7,202 one ounce bullion coins sold, the 2007 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 2007 proof design

American bald eagle representing the Executive Branch. Designer: Tom Cleveland; sculptor Phebe Hemphill.

2007 Platinum Eagle by the numbers

The Mint sold 7,202 one ounce bullion Platinum Eagles dated 2007. That ranks 4th lowest of the 19 bullion dates from 1997 to 2021.

Against the dates around it, 2007 bullion sales were 1.2 times the 2006 figure and 3 times fewer than 2008.

Collector versions dated 2007 add up to 84,716 coins across 9 versions. The scarcest is the 2007-W 1/2 oz uncirculated (burnished) at 3,635; the most plentiful is the 2007-W 1/2 oz proof at 25,519.

Fractional bullion that year: 13,003 1/10 oz coins, 8,402 1/4 oz coins and 7,001 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.

The 2007 burnished coins, from 3,635 to 5,556 per size, carry a collector premium, with the half ounce the scarcest. Proofs also earn a collector premium, though the half ounce proof's large mintage makes it the most available. Bullion coins usually trade for a small premium over metal value, a bit more for the 7,001 half ounce. Original boxes and certificates add appeal for proofs and burnished coins alike. Burnished coins in clean condition, still in their packaging, are the ones to look for from this year.

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