2016 American Platinum Eagle

Every 2016 Platinum Eagle version

There are two 2016 Platinum Eagles, both one ounce with a $100 face value. The bullion coin has no mint mark and shows the soaring eagle, with 20,000 sold. The proof carries a W mint mark and shows Liberty with torch and olive branch beside an eagle, with 9,151 struck. The proof's mirror fields and different design make it easy to separate. Bullion usually turns up in a plastic tube or loose; the proof came boxed with a certificate. Check the W and the design before you file it away.

Quick answers

How much platinum is in a 2016 Platinum Eagle?

Each coin contains its stated weight of pure platinum: one troy ounce in the $100 coin. The alloy is 99.95% platinum.

How many 2016 Platinum Eagles were made?

20,000 one ounce bullion coins plus 9,151 collector versions (proof, burnished and special finishes).

Is the 2016 Platinum Eagle worth more than its platinum?

Yes. With only 20,000 one ounce bullion coins sold, the 2016 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 ($100), but nobody spends them: the platinum is worth far more than the face value.

The 2016 proof design

"Liberty holding a torch of enlightenment in her right hand and an olive branch in her left to symbolize peace. The olives represent the Thirteen Original Colonies. A bald eagle with its wings outstretched appears beside Liberty" Designer: Paul C. Balan; sculptor Joseph Menna.

2016 Platinum Eagle by the numbers

The Mint sold 20,000 one ounce bullion Platinum Eagles dated 2016. That ranks 10th lowest of the 19 bullion dates from 1997 to 2021.

Against the dates around it, 2016 bullion sales were 1.2 times the 2014 figure and about the same as 2017.

Collector versions dated 2016 add up to 9,151 coins across 1 version. The scarcest is the 2016-W 1 oz proof at 9,151.

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 2016 bullion coin trades for a small premium over metal value, typical for a modern bullion Platinum Eagle. The proof carries a collector premium as a sub-10,000 issue, though less than the 2015 proof. Keep the proof in its capsule and box. For bullion, a bright coin without spots or contact marks is the one buyers prefer. Many collectors buy the 2015 and 2016 proofs together, since they sit between two series. The bullion coin is common enough that only clean, bright examples draw any attention beyond metal value.

Anniversary and the Declaration series (2016 to 2021)

From 2016 the one ounce bullion coin became a yearly fixture again, starting with 20,000 pieces. The 2016 proof showed Liberty holding a torch and an olive branch beside a bald eagle. In 2017 the proof marked the program's 20th anniversary by bringing back Thomas D. Rogers's original soaring eagle, so for one more year proof and bullion shared a reverse. The 2016 proof was designed by Paul C. Balan.

The proofs from 2018 to 2020 took their themes from the Declaration of Independence: Life in 2018, Liberty in 2019 and the Pursuit of Happiness in 2020. Justin Kunz designed all three, which sit on the obverse, while the proof reverse became Patricia Lucas-Morris's eagle in flight with an olive branch. Meanwhile bullion demand climbed steadily, from 30,000 coins in 2018 to 40,000 in 2019, 56,500 in 2020 and 75,000 in 2021. Bullion buyers in these years were mostly after metal content, while proof buyers were building sets, so the two versions followed quite different paths.

The 2021 proof opened a new series on the freedoms of the First Amendment, beginning with Freedom of Religion, shown with a seedling, an acorn and the words WITH FREEDOM OF RELIGION LIBERTY GROWS. For coins from these years, the bullion pieces are common enough to trade near metal value, while the proofs remain small issues that collectors keep in their original packaging. The 2020 and 2021 proofs sold 9,837 and 9,884, far smaller issues than the bullion coins, sold boxed with a certificate like every proof before them.

Mintage chart

Specifications

Frequently asked questions