"The U.S. Mint will release a limited edition, two-coin set containing a Cameo Proof 2007-W American Eagle half-ounce platinum $50 coin and a Reverse Proof 2007-W half-ounce platinum coin later this year to celebrate the 10 th anniversary of the platinum coin program. " That is what they have at Coin World. Also: "The U.S. Mint is considering the inclusion of an eagle “privy mark” on the reverses of the next series of Proof and Uncirculated American Eagle platinum coins, to be introduced in 2009, that could take the place of an eagle in the main designs." No word yet on mintages, hopefully it is 5000 and no more. Price I am guessing will be around $1600 per set.
What is a privy mark???? I think and hope the mintage is 20,000 so that everyone can get one. Dont care about price appreciation. Chris
According to one site:A privy mark was originally a small mark or differentiation in the design of a coin for the purpose of identifying the mint, moneyer, or some other aspect of the coin's production or origin, for control purposes. Nowadays it is mainly used as a design and marketing feature.A great example of a well known Privy mark is the little eagle on the Franklin half. Also someone posted this: << The U.S. Mint is also planning to combine an Uncirculated Presidential dollar coin with its companion First Spouse medal in an ongoing series of annual sets. The Mint has no timetable yet for the release of these sets, Eskridge said. The Mint will also offer two annual Uncirculated Dollar Coin sets, each containing six dollar coins. Each set will contain Uncirculated Mint set quality Presidential dollars, with Denver Mint coins in one set and Philadelphia Mint coins in the other, plus an Uncirculated Mint set quality Sacagawea dollar from the appropriate facility and an Uncirculated American Eagle 1-ounce .999 fine silver dollar with W Mint mark from the West Point Mint. >> This sounds like they may be doubling the sales of the silver eagles with these sets perhaps, so the 2006 W UNC silver eagle will be the key coin in the series.
To check out what "PRIVY" marks look like, go to any Canadian coin site or click on the same on Ebay!! Most all of the Canadian Maple Leaf Dollars have some form of a privy mark on them. They also did a series of "Honor Marks" on our own State Quarter series on their Maple Leafs. (I have a set of the first 5 Qtrs--Nice!)
I agree with the 5,000 mark. To date there has been little interest in Platinum Eagles, with per-coin mintages in the 5,000 ranges, rarely, if ever, selling out within the production year. I believe an issue with higher demand and low mintage would be key to developing greater interest. 20,000 sets...even 10,000 sets, would most likely never sell out, and only serve to further dull the interest in Platinum Eagles. That being said, when enough interest in the Plat's is finally sparked, these early years with mintage around 1/4 that of the Golds are going to be some very nice pieces to be holding.
Relative high mintage. Looking at the problem from a different perspective, I too would also like to see the mintage at least 20K. That could only boost my gold reverse proofs since they would be the lowest mintage.
Just looking back at past sales, the last time the mint sold more than 10,000 of a $50 proof platinum was in 2000, or seven years ago. 1997 14,637 1998 13,919 1999 11,098 2000 11,049 2001 8,246 2002 8,810 2003 7,131 2004 4,886 2005 6,700 2006 7,477 That is why I said they might limit it to 5000 based on these low sales numbers. I wouldn't be surprised to see it at 10,000 or even higher as the mint does some nutty things, but in the long run I don't see 10,000 being a big seller here like the gold reverse proof at 10,000 was. 7500 might make some sense as that is what the sales were last year though.
I gotta L.O.L. to that. You and me both.......shhhhhhhhh!!!......maybe she won't notice on the credit card statement.