NGC Discovers Palladium Eagles with Prooflike Surfaces
Posted on 10/4/2017
Numismatic Guaranty Corporation® (NGC®) has discovered that some of the US Mint’s new Palladium American Eagle coins have Prooflike surfaces. Coins submitted to NGC with this appearance will receive the PL designation after the numeric grade on the NGC certification label.
Prooflike indicates that the surfaces exhibit a higher degree of reflectivity than is typically seen on a circulation-issue coin. The fields are mirrored and the devices may be frosted on both sides, reminiscent of a Proof coin.
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| 2017-W American Palladium Eagle, NGC MS 70 PL Click images to enlarge. |
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| 2017-W American Palladium Eagle, NGC MS 70 Click images to enlarge. |
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The US Mint delivered the first Palladium American Eagles to its Authorized Purchasers earlier this week. The coins — the first palladium coins issued by the US Mint — have a face value of $25 and are comprised of 1 troy ounce of .9995 fine palladium. Palladium is a rare silver-white metal that is used in producing jewelry and catalytic converters, and trades at over $900 an ounce (as of early October 2017), about two-thirds the price of gold.
The obverse of these coins features a high relief version of the Mercury Dime obverse, while the reverse has a high relief version of an American Institute of Architects gold medal reverse by Adolph A. Weinman, the noted sculptor who also designed the Mercury Dime.
"I think this is the most exquisite and successful design for a US coin of the modern era," said Mark Salzberg, NGC Chairman. "It combines a classic obverse with a powerful reverse in beautiful high relief. The new Palladium American Eagle is truly magnificent."
NGC has created a special label to celebrate these coins. Learn more >
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