Both investors and collectors alike have waited more than seven years for the American Mint to release its first ever US palladium coin, and it is expected to finally arrive before the end of 2017. Its design is expected to incorporate the Winged Liberty style of engraver Adolph A Weinman.

What To Expect From The 2017 American Palladium Eagle

The United States Mint has spent a considerable amount of time performing research and development on this coin. Few palladium coins currently exist on the market due to manufacturing challenges but advances in technology have made minting them much more feasible. The U.S. Congress mandated a diameter of three inches, which is challenging as most mintages around the world limit themselves to a diameter of 2.75 inches, which is easier to manage.

Congress also wanted inscriptions to be placed on the edges of the coin. Furthermore, this palladium coin is large format, something that the U.S. Mint had never attempted previously. Whenever paper thin coins are edge lettered this results in crumples, a challenge that was overcome through the usage of a large Grabener press imported from Germany which was installed in the Mint of Philadelphia. Rumors of a U.S. palladium bullion coin have circulated for quite some time, making this a product that is highly anticipated.

A number of designs have been proposed, with the Winged Liberty Mercury Dime being the primary source of inspiration. This particular coin was minted from 1916 to 1945 and displays the profile of Lady Liberty with her hair fashioned in a Phrygian cap. Inscriptions which are expected to appear on the upcoming palladium eagle include “In God We Trust,” “2017,” and “Liberty.”

How The Reverse Side Will Appear

The coin’s reverse side will recreate the style which was used in the gold medal that was released on behalf of the American Institute of Architects in 1907. This medal displays an eagle which is perched on top of a rock while using its talons and beak to grab the branch of a laurel. One distinction between the 1907 medal and the upcoming palladium coin is that the rim will be raised and the inscriptions “E Pluribus Unum” and “United States of America” will be added, along with the coin’s weight, purity and face value.

The inaugural American palladium eagle will feature one of the highest purities seen in a U.S. coin at .9999 percent. It is expected that the first twelve production months will be dedicated to the bullion versions, but the U.S. Mint also plans to introduce Proof variants with a new finish at a later date and is experimenting with High Relief designs which have been labor intensive. Test planchets are being struck and it is said that multiple supplier iterations will be required before workable planchets can be constructed. This along with its elegant design will make it a hit among enthusiasts and is a product that you will definitely want to get your hands on.