Collectible Platinum Coins

Anyone interested in investing in platinum can choose among legal tender coins, bullion bars, and various numismatic coin options.  About four percent of the world’s platinum production is used to make coins and ingots.  Today, a number of government mints strike platinum bullion coin .  

The Isle of Man, a British Crown Possession, issued the first Platinum bullion coin in 1983.  The Noble, as it is called, was minted from 1983 to 1989, and comes in various sizes with a face value shown in “Nobles,” a value equal to the platinum content.  

1 Troy Oz              1 Noble             purity .9995

1/2 Troy Oz          .5 Noble

1/4 Troy Oz        .25 Noble

1/10 Troy Oz        .1 Noble

1/20 Troy Oz      .05 Noble

Although the Noble is no longer being minted, the Isle of Man has issued many other high-quality precious metal coins with unusual designs.  But the Noble was a “first” for platinum, and ultimately so successful that other government mints were encouraged to issue their own platinum coins.  

In 1988, both Australia (the Koala) and Canada (the Maple Leaf) introduced platinum legal tender bullion coins, which have remained leading sellers for nearly ten years.  

Produced by the Perth Mint, the Australian Koalas are legal tender, but sell at prices that reflect the value of their platinum content, not their face values.  Like the Noble, they are issued in 1/20, 1/10, 1/4, 1/2, and one Troy ounce sizes, and have a fineness of .9995.  

When the Royal Canadian Mint introduced the gold Canadian Maple Leaf coin in 1984, it fast became the world’s most successful gold coin. Building off of the success, the mint decided to introduce silver and platinum coins in 1988. In that same year, Canada ranked third in the world in platinum production, following South Africa and the Soviet Union.

The platinum Canadian Maple Leaf coin has since become the world’s best selling platinum coin in 2012.

The American Eagle is another popular platinum coin.  First released in 1997, the American Eagles have the highest face value ($100) ever to appear on a U.S. coin. Their value to investors is not in their face value, however, but in their platinum content.

1 Troy Oz              $100          purity .9995

1/2 Troy Oz           $50

1/4 Troy Oz            $25

1/10 Troy Oz          $10

Next, learn about Platinum in Industry | The Applications of Platinum.