The American Palladium Eagle is the official palladium bullion coin issued by the United States Mint. First launched in 2017, this coin has quickly become popular among investors and numismatic collectors due to its beauty, rarity, and intrinsic precious metal value.
Palladium, a precious metal from the platinum group, features a distinctive soft silver-white appearance and is notable for being the least dense of all platinum group metals. Each American Palladium Eagle contains precisely one troy ounce of .9995 pure palladium, making it highly desirable for collectors and precious metals investors.
The obverse features a stunning depiction of Winged Liberty, a classic design crafted initially by Adolph A. Weinman for the Mercury Dime (1916–1945). On the reverse, a mighty eagle is portrayed pulling a branch from a rocky outcrop, symbolizing strength and determination. Each coin’s reverse side also includes inscriptions indicating the coin’s palladium content, purity, and face value.
Variations and Finishes by Year
Since its inception, the American Palladium Eagle program has offered collectors a variety of distinctive finishes:
- 2017: Introduced with a classic bullion finish.
- 2018: The first-ever Proof finish was released, highly prized by collectors.
- 2019: A striking reverse-proof finish was issued, quickly becoming a numismatic favorite.
- 2020: Featured a limited-edition Uncirculated (Burnished) finish, providing a distinct matte look.
- 2021: The Proof finish returned, continuing the coin’s tradition of alternating finishes.
- 2022: Collectors saw the return of the coveted reverse-proof finish.
- 2023: The U.S. Mint issued a limited Uncirculated (Burnished) finish, available in limited quantities.
- 2024: Plans have been announced for a Proof finish, continuing the rotation pattern favored by collectors.
Palladium Eagle Mintage History Chart
| Mintage Year | Finish | Mintage Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2017-W | Bullion | 15,000 |
| 2018-W | Proof | 14,986 |
| 2019-W | Reverse Proof | 18,772 |
| 2020-W | Burnished (Uncirculated) | 9,740 |
| 2021-W | Proof | 8,700 |
| 2022-W | Reverse Proof | 6,404 |
| 2023-W | Burnished (Uncirculated) | 5,777 |
| 2024-W | Proof | 3,375 |
American Palladium Eagle Values
The American Palladium Eagle coins, especially those graded by top services such as PCGS and NGC, command significant premiums due to their rarity and collectible appeal. Coins maintained in their original government packaging (OGP) also hold considerable collectible value, often closely matching the premiums of graded examples.
Recent auction sales reflect strong collector interest:
- A 2019-W Reverse Proof American Palladium Eagle (PCGS PR70) recently sold at auction for $3,850.
- A 2021-W Proof Palladium Eagle (NGC PF70 UCAM) reached $3,600.
- Original government packaging examples from the 2022-W Reverse Proof issue regularly trade around $3,000 to $3,300.
Investors and collectors alike should closely monitor market conditions and auction trends to capitalize on potential investment opportunities in this sought-after coin series.
Mintage amounts in each year are significantly lower than other precious metal bullion coins. Investors that are looking for the best deal can often find random year Palladium Eagles at the lowest price.
