Because of that provision in the original enabling legislation for the American Palladium Eagle coin that said that if collector versions were issued, to the greatest extent possible different finishes were supposed to be used on those coins, in 2019 the United States Mint offered a Reverse Proof version of the coin.
Launched on September 12, 2019, the 2019-W Reverse Proof Palladium Eagle (Buy on eBay) was sold for $1,987.50 with a household order limit of one coin and a mintage limit of 30,000 coins. The price was $600 higher than the 2018-W Proof Palladium Eagle because the spot price of palladium had risen to about $1,600 at the time.
Due most likely to the combination of a higher price point than the 2017 and 2018 coins were initially sold at plus the fact that the maximum mintage was double from that of the earlier coins, the Reverse Proof coin was not an instant sell-out.
It had first day sales of 9,086 coins, and sales of 16,690 coins in the first three days. Then sales really slowed down as the coin remained available for months, and some coins were returned likely by dealers who realized it would be hard to turn a good profit on the coins. By December 1, sales were down to 15,437.
Over the course of 2019 the coin became available at times on the retail market for prices well under Mint issue price, or as low as about $1,750 for examples that graded Reverse Proof 69, which was very close to the lowest spot price of palladium in 2019.
The coin remained available into 2020 with current cumulative sales of 18,772. It is likely the U.S. Mint produced an initial batch of 20,000 coins and no more.
Today with palladium spot in the range of $2,000, raw and 69 coins typically sell for $2,700 and 70s for about $3,000 or more.
2019 Palladium Eagle Specifications:
- Designer: Adolph A. Weinman
- Composition: 99.95% platinum
- Diameter: 34.06 mm (1.34 inches)
- Weight: 31.120 grams (1.005 oz)
- Edge: reeded
- Mint Mark: West Point
2019 Palladium Eagle Mintage:
- Reverse Proof: 18,833
Mintage based on U.S. Mint sales figures as of December 19, 2023
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