Palladium Eagles

Authorized by Congress in 2010 as an investment-grade coin, the first Palladium Eagle wasn’t issued until seven years later in 2017. In 2018, the U.S. Mint introduced a new series of numismatic/collector palladium coins with the American Eagle design in one-ounce palladium proof coins. Although these coins are relatively new to American coinage, the Mint is expanding its reach with this precious metal. It has been tradition thus far in the series to alternate which finish the annual collector’s version of the American Palladium Eagle is struck with.

In 2019, the Mint added yet another robust offering in its palladium reverse-proof design, and more recently in 2020, the U.S. Mint began offering these iconic palladium coins in a collector’s uncirculated finish. 2021 would see the return of the proof finish, while 2022 saw the return of the reverse-proof finish.  The American Eagle Palladium Coin is the only palladium bullion coin offered by the United States government whose weight, content, and .9995 purity are guaranteed.

Does the U.S. Mint Make Palladium Coins?

Yes. In 2017 the first Palladium Eagle coin was minted as an investment-grade coin with the first collector version in 2018. By 2019, the U.S. Mint began minting Palladium Eagle reverse-proof coins with an uncirculated finish in 2020. So far in the series, the United States Mint has alternated the finish that appears on the annual collector versions of the American Palladium Eagle between proof,  reverse proof, and uncirculated finishes. 

Palladium American Eagle Design

The obverse design of the Palladium American Eagle features a similar design to Adolph A. Weinman’s 1916 Mercury Dime with a bust of Lady Liberty wearing a cap with wings similar to the Roman god. The coin’s reverse also features another design by Weinman taken from a high-relief version of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Gold Medal reverse in a beautiful portrayal of an eagle and a branch that appears on a coin for the first time.  The Palladium Eagle coin carries a face value of $25 depicted on the reverse, and although all American Eagle Coins are legal tender coins, their face value is mostly symbolic, providing proof of their authenticity as official U.S. coinage.

Collecting Palladium Eagle Coins

While the American Eagle coin program has been around for some time with U.S. numismatics, palladium is a rather new precious metal when it comes to collector coins. The first palladium coin minted by the United States was the Palladium American Eagle coin in 2017. It has had a new release every year since with proof, reverse proof, and uncirculated, all with the same design from Adolph A. Weinman. So, if you’re going to begin your palladium coin collection, especially with coins minted within the United States, now is the best time to start!