The 1997-W 4-Coin Proof American Platinum Eagle Set marks the inaugural year of the American Platinum Eagle program. Struck at the West Point Mint, the set contains all four original Proof denominations and comes housed in its original U.S. Mint presentation box with Certificate of Authenticity (COA).
Coin Highlights
- Year: 1997
- Mint: West Point
- Mint Mark: W
- Finish: Proof
- Composition: 99.95% Platinum (.9995 fine)
- Total Platinum Content: 1.85 troy oz
- Total Face Value: $185
- Includes: Original U.S. Mint box and Certificate of Authenticity
- First Year of Issue: 1997 was the debut year of the American Platinum Eagle series
- Original U.S. Mint Issue Price: $1,350 for the complete four-coin Proof set
- Original Set Limit: 8,000 four-coin sets
The U.S. Mint announced an 8,000-set maximum for the 1997 four-coin Proof set, and later reported that the four-coin set sold out within three weeks.
Coins Included
- $100 Platinum Eagle — 1 oz platinum
- $50 Platinum Eagle — 1/2 oz platinum
- $25 Platinum Eagle — 1/4 oz platinum
- $10 Platinum Eagle — 1/10 oz platinum
Together, the four coins contain approximately 1.85 troy ounces of .9995 fine platinum.
Design
Obverse:
Designed by John Mercanti, the obverse features a dramatic close-up portrait of the Statue of Liberty, with inscriptions including LIBERTY, 1997, IN GOD WE TRUST, and E PLURIBUS UNUM.
Reverse:
The inaugural 1997 Proof reverse was designed by Thomas D. Rogers Sr. and depicts a bald eagle soaring above a rising sun. This reverse design was used on the Proof Platinum Eagle specifically for its first year before the Proof series began featuring changing reverse designs.
Individual 1997-W Proof Mintages
- $100 – 1 oz: 20,851
- $50 – 1/2 oz: 15,431
- $25 – 1/4 oz: 18,628
- $10 – 1/10 oz: 36,993
These figures represent the total Proof mintages for each denomination, including coins distributed through sets and other applicable U.S. Mint product options—not the number of four-coin sets produced.
Collector Significance
As the first Proof Platinum Eagle set issued by the United States Mint, the 1997-W four-coin set holds an important place in modern U.S. numismatics. It combines all four original fractional sizes, the first-year-only Proof reverse design, .9995 fine platinum, and the original government packaging in one complete set.
