Platinum coin - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Platinum coins are a form of currency

Currency

In economics, currency refers to a generally accepted medium of exchange. These are usually the coins and banknotes of a particular government, which comprise the physical aspects of a nation's money supply...

. Platinum

Platinum

Platinum is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Pt and an atomic number of 78. Its name is derived from the Spanish term platina del Pinto, which is literally translated into "little silver of the Pinto River." It is a dense, malleable, ductile, precious, gray-white transition metal...

has an international currency symbol under ISO 4217

ISO 4217

ISO 4217 is a standard published by the International Standards Organization, which delineates currency designators, country codes , and references to minor units in three tables:* Table A.1 – Current currency & funds code list...

of XPT. The issues of legitimate platinum coins were initiated by Spain in Spanish-colonized America in the 18th century and continued by the Russian Empire

Russian Empire

The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...

in the 19th century. As a form of currency, these coins proved to be impractical: platinum resembles many less expensive metals, and, unlike the more malleable and ductile silver and gold, it is very difficult to work. Several commemorative coin sets have been issued starting from 1978 and became popular among coin collectors. The major platinum bullion coin

Bullion coin

A bullion coin is a coin struck from precious metal and kept as a store of value or an investment, rather than used in day-to-day commerce. Investment coins are generally coins that have been minted after 1800, have a purity of not less than 900 thousandths and are or have been a legal tender in...

s include the American Platinum Eagle

American Platinum Eagle

The American Platinum Eagle is the official platinum bullion coin of the United States. The coins were first released by the United States Mint in 1997. It is offered in 1/10, 1/4, 1/2, and 1 troy oz varieties and consists of .9995 fine platinum...

, the Canadian Platinum Maple Leaf

Canadian Platinum Maple Leaf

The Platinum Maple Leaf is a platinum coin issued by the Royal Canadian Mint between 1988 and 2002, and reintroduced in 2009 . The coin was offered in 1/20 oz, 1/15 oz , 1/10 oz, 1/4 oz, 1/2 oz, and 1 oz denominations, all of which are marked as containing .9995 pure platinum...

, the Australian Platinum Koala

Platinum Koala

The Platinum Koala is an Australian platinum bullion coin minted by the Perth Mint and is the most famous series of platinum coins of Australia. The Platinum Koala is notionally legal tender, that is a legal means of payment ....

, the Isle of Man

Isle of Man

The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...

Noble

Noble (Manx coin)

The Manx Noble is a platinum bullion coin minted by the Pobjoy Mint from 1983 to 1989. Nobles are legal tender, but do not have a value associated with any currency . Instead the value of a Noble is equal to its platinum content....

, the Chinese Platinum Panda and several series by the Soviet Union

Soviet Union

The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....

and later by the Russian Federation. The production of most platinum coins stopped around 2005 except for the American Platinum Eagle – one of the world's most popular platinum coins – which was still being produced in 2009.

History

Platinum was first used for minting coins in Spanish-colonized America. Following the discovery of platinum in gold rocks, the Spaniards for a long time were unable to use it because they had no technology for processing this metal. The then-cheap platinum was used for various kinds of frauds, such as substituting it for the more expensive silver. After the discovery that platinum alloys with gold, counterfeiters began to add it to gold coins. The platinum confiscated from counterfeiters was then thrown into the sea, in accordance with the royal decree of 1735. Later, the practice of adding platinum to gold as a ligature was adopted by the authorities in Spain in order to lower the gold content of coins. Also in Spain, in the mid-19th century, counterfeiters began producing British Sovereigns out of a gold-plated alloy of platinum and copper

Copper

Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...

, relying on a similar specific weight of platinum and gold.
In the late 1820s, the British Royal Mint produced several trial coins as part of experiments on the use of platinum in coins. One of these coins has a diameter of farthing and a weak relief owing to the high hardness of platinum. The 1812 Pattern 9 Pence Bank Token (S3773A) was used for the obverse

Obverse and reverse

Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags , seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, obverse means the front face of the object and reverse...

and the farthing of 1825 for the reverse

Obverse and reverse

parts of this coin. No dies

Sort (typesetting)

In typesetting by hand compositing, a sort is a piece of type representing a particular letter or symbol, cast from a matrix mould and assembled with other sorts bearing additional letters into lines of type to make up a forme from which a page is printed.-See also:* History of western typography*...

were manufactured for these experiments but the expired ones of the corresponding coins were used instead. Such coins minted using dies from different coins are called mule

Mule (coin)

In numismatics, a mule is a coin or medal minted with obverse and reverse designs not normally seen on the same piece. These can be intentional or produced by error. This type of error is highly sought after, and examples can fetch steep prices from collectors.The earliest mules are found among...

s. The coin bears the year of 1825, but was likely printed at a later date. Like all test coins, the platinum farthing has a high historic and numismatic value. This coin is also interesting by featuring the portrait of already deceased monarch George III

George III of the United Kingdom

George III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death...

(1738–1820).

The first and only case when platinum coins were used as a regular national currency were Russian coins circulated between 1828 and 1845. These coins proved to be impractical: platinum resembles many less expensive metals, and, unlike the more malleable and ductile silver and gold, it is very difficult to work. However, merchants valued platinum coins because it did not melt in fires like gold or silver. The minting of platinum coins resumed only after 130 years. In 1977–1980 in preparation for the 1980 Summer Olympics

1980 Summer Olympics

The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...

, Soviet Union produced five commemorative coin sets, and since 1988 commemorative platinum coins were issued every year. The practice of regularly issuing platinum coins has continued in modern Russia, and since 1992 the Central Bank of Russia released 16 sets of platinum coins.

Since 1983, other countries began regular minting of platinum coins. The most notable examples are the Platinum cat, and Platinum Noble by the Isle of Man

Isle of Man

, Canadian Platinum Maple Leaf

Canadian Platinum Maple Leaf

, Chinese Platinum Panda and Australian Platinum Koala. Since 1997, the hundred-dollar American Platinum Eagle became the most notable platinum coin among the collectors. Its name originates from the Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

The Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America. It is the national bird and symbol of the United States of America. This sea eagle has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle...

depicted on the coin.

Imperial Russia

Platinum coins of Imperial Russia


Date of the issuing decree
12 September 1830	30 November 1829	24 April 1828
Weight, g
41.41	20.71	10.35

A "new Siberian metal", platinum, became known in Russia in 1819. Whereas it was first observed only as minor inclusions in rocks, richer deposits were discovered in the late 1824 and their mining began in 1825. These discoveries have prompted Demidov

Demidov

The Demidov family, also Demidoff, were an influential Russian merchant, industrialist and later chivalry family, possibly second only to the Tsar himself in wealth during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.-History:...

to start looking for platinum around his Nizhny Tagil

Nizhny Tagil

Nizhny Tagil is a city in Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia, situated east of the virtual border between Europe and Asia. Population: -History:...

plants, where it was quickly found along the river beds. In the late 1826, P. G. Sobolevsky (father of powder metallurgy in Russia) invented a simple way of processing (purifying) platinum that prompted the idea to use platinum in coins. The decree of the 24 April 1828 noted that "among the treasures of the Ural Mountains also occurs platinum, which priorly was located almost exclusively in South America. For easy sale of this precious metal, it is desirable to introduce it in coins." and also described the design of new coins.

Minting began with 3 ruble coins, and 6-ruble and 12-ruble coins were added in 1829 and 1830, respectively. The numbers coined were 1,371,691 for 3 ruble, 14,847 for 6 ruble and 3,474 for 12 ruble coins. The first coin was sent to the prominent German scientist Alexander von Humboldt

Alexander von Humboldt

Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Alexander Freiherr von Humboldt was a German naturalist and explorer, and the younger brother of the Prussian minister, philosopher and linguist Wilhelm von Humboldt...

, who was previously asked to evaluate the use of platinum as a currency and confirm its price relatively to silver. After his death, the emperor Alexander II

Alexander II of Russia

Alexander II , also known as Alexander the Liberator was the Emperor of the Russian Empire from 3 March 1855 until his assassination in 1881...

bought that coin, and in 1859 it was returned to Russia and later became an exhibit of the Hermitage Museum

Hermitage Museum

The State Hermitage is a museum of art and culture in Saint Petersburg, Russia. One of the largest and oldest museums of the world, it was founded in 1764 by Catherine the Great and has been opened to the public since 1852. Its collections, of which only a small part is on permanent display,...

in Saint Petersburg.

The choice of denominations had the following reasoning. Minters used the same forms for the platinum and traditional silver coins. Platinum is twice heavier than silver. and it was approximately 6 times more expensive than silver at the time. The platinum three rubles coin had the same size as the silver 25 kopeks (0.25 ruble), it weighed twice as much and was thus valued 12 times higher. For this reason, the coin is specifically marked as "3 rubles per silver" . Same reasoning applied to the 6 and 12 ruble coins. The coins were minted from native

Native Metal

A native metal is any metal that is found in its metallic form, either pure or as an alloy, in nature. Metals that can be found as native deposits singly and/or in alloys include aluminium, antimony, arsenic, bismuth, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, indium, iron, nickel, selenium, tantalum, tellurium,...

Ural platinum. It was not free from such noble metal

Noble metal

Noble metals are metals that are resistant to corrosion and oxidation in moist air, unlike most base metals. They tend to be precious, often due to their rarity in the Earth's crust...

s as iridium

Iridium

Iridium is the chemical element with atomic number 77, and is represented by the symbol Ir. A very hard, brittle, silvery-white transition metal of the platinum family, iridium is the second-densest element and is the most corrosion-resistant metal, even at temperatures as high as 2000 °C...

and palladium

Palladium

Palladium is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Pd and an atomic number of 46. It is a rare and lustrous silvery-white metal discovered in 1803 by William Hyde Wollaston. He named it after the asteroid Pallas, which was itself named after the epithet of the Greek goddess Athena, acquired...

, and thus the accompanying phrase "... pure Ural platinum" only meant that no metal was intentionally added in production.
The minting was discontinued on 22 June 1845 because of the concerns on possible financial disbalance due to the declining price of platinum and within the next 6 months platinum coins were withdrawn from circulation. An estimated amount of 883,212 rubles was then in the hands of population. Platinum coins then were considered neither as investment nor collection item and were readily exchanged to the "more reliable" gold.

Platinum coin issues (in rubles, not in pcs.)
Year	12 rubles	6 rubles	3 rubles	Total
1828	-	-	60069	60069
1829	-	4968	130347	135315
1830	1428	51660	318078	371166
1831	17556	16704	259500	293760
1832	13224	9012	197301	219537
1833	3060	1812	253620	258492
1834	132	66	272916	273114
1835	1524	642	415512	417678
1836	132	66	131256	131454
1837	636	1518	138909	141063
1838	144	72	145536	145752
1839	24	12	6	42
1840	12	6	3	21
1841	900	1020	50763	52683
1842	1380	726	436734	438840
1843	1464	762	517005	519231
1844	48	24	643512	643584
1845	24	12	15006	15042
Total:	41,688	89,082	4,121,073	4,251,843

The amount of 11–32 tonnes of platinum, raw and in coins, that had accumulated at the St. Petersburg Mint by 1846 was sold to the British firm Johnson, Matte & Co. This made Britain a platinum monopolist even though it did not produce platinum domestically (Russia and Columbia were the only major platinum producers). Other possible reasons for discontinuing the platinum mint were low popularity to an unknown metal among the population, and the high cost of minting, which was 98 kopeks per the 3-ruble coin as compared to less than one kopek per gold ruble.

There were fruitless attempts to resume the platinum mint in 1859, which resulted in a scientific study on usage of platinum in coins by academician Moritz von Jacobi published in 1860. No country had used platinum for money after 1846, and one reason for that could be that platinum was about 2.5 times cheaper than gold in the 19th century. Currently, the platinum coins of the Russian Empire are rare, especially for 1839–1840 when only a few coins were minted. All platinum coins minted in 1840 were bought by the famous numismatist

Numismatics

Numismatics is the study or collection of currency, including coins, tokens, paper money, and related objects. While numismatists are often characterized as students or collectors of coins, the discipline also includes the broader study of money and other payment media used to resolve debts and the...

, Earl Ivan Ivanovich Tolstoy

Ivan Ivanovich Tolstoy

Ivan Ivanovich Tolstoywas an Imperial Russian Politician. He served as Vice President of the Russian Imperial Academy of Arts while Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich was Academy President. He later served as Imperial Minister of Education in the Witte Government.-References:*Out of My Past: The...

directly from the Saint Petersburg Mint

Saint Petersburg Mint

Saint Petersburg Mint is one of the world's largest mints. It was founded by Peter the Great in 1724 on the territory of Peter and Paul Fortress, so it is one of the oldest industrial enterprises in Saint Petersburg....

, and on the numismatic auction of the United Bank of Switzerland (UBS Gold and Silver Auction 50) held in autumn 2001 in Basel

Basel

Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...

, one of the two 12 ruble coins minted in 1839 was sold for US$60,500 at a starting price of $22,000.

Commemorative coins of the USSR and Russia

Eleven commemorative platinum coins of the face value

Face value

The Face value is the value of a coin, stamp or paper money, as printed on the coin, stamp or bill itself by the minting authority. While the face value usually refers to the true value of the coin, stamp or bill in question it can sometimes be largely symbolic, as is often the case with bullion...

150 rubles were produced in the Soviet Union between 1977 and 1991. The first 5-coin set was dedicated to the Moscow Olympics in 1980 and was a part of a large minting which included various copper-nickel coins (8.5 million pcs.), 14 silver coins of 5 and 10 rubles (16.67 and 33.3 g respectively) and six 100-ruble gold coins (17.3 g). These "XXII Summer Olympic Games" platinum coins depicted the emblem of the Olympics and fragments of the ancient Olympic Games and were issued in the period 1977–1980 in the two versions, proof

Proof coinage

Proof coinage means special early samples of a coin issue, historically made for checking the dies and for archival purposes, but nowadays often struck in greater numbers specially for coin collectors . Many countries now issue them....

and uncirculated

Uncirculated coin

The term uncirculated coin can refer to three things:* A coin that is released to the public but not intended for general circulation but is available through a mint or through a local coin dealer...

. The proof minting technique (coins with mirrored background and frosted image) was first introduced in Soviet Union only in 1977, specifically for the Olympic commemorative series, and its quality (especially of the snowy like images) has been praised by experts.

USSR platinum coins from the series "XXII Summer Olympic Games" (5 pcs.)
Olympics-1980: Emblem of the games
Year	Value Face value The Face value is the value of a coin, stamp or paper money, as printed on the coin, stamp or bill itself by the minting authority. While the face value usually refers to the true value of the coin, stamp or bill in question it can sometimes be largely symbolic, as is often the case with bullion...	Grading Coin grading In coin collecting coin grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a coin, one of the key factors in determining its value as a collector's item....	Purity Millesimal fineness Millesimal fineness is a system of denoting the purity of platinum, gold and silver alloys by parts per thousand of pure metal by mass in the alloy. For example, an alloy containing 75% gold is denoted as "750". Many European countries use decimal hallmark stamps Millesimal fineness is a system of...	Weight, g	Diameter, mm	No (proof), pcs.	No (uncirculated), pcs.	Obverse	Reverse
1977	150 rubles	Proof/AC	999/1000	15.57	28.6	24,160	9,910	Obverse	Reverse
Obverse: Coat of Arms of the USSR and the face value Reverse: Emblem of the XXII Olympic Games with a laurel wreath. Bottom – minting year, left – trade mark of the mint, along the rim: "The Games of the XXII Olympiad. MOSCOW. 1980" Design: Ermakov Mint: Leningrad Mint (LMD).
Olympics-80: Discus Thrower
Year	Value Face value The Face value is the value of a coin, stamp or paper money, as printed on the coin, stamp or bill itself by the minting authority. While the face value usually refers to the true value of the coin, stamp or bill in question it can sometimes be largely symbolic, as is often the case with bullion...	Grading Coin grading In coin collecting coin grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a coin, one of the key factors in determining its value as a collector's item....	Purity Millesimal fineness Millesimal fineness is a system of denoting the purity of platinum, gold and silver alloys by parts per thousand of pure metal by mass in the alloy. For example, an alloy containing 75% gold is denoted as "750". Many European countries use decimal hallmark stamps Millesimal fineness is a system of...	Weight, g	Diameter, mm	No (proof), pcs.	No (uncirculated), pcs.	Obverse	Reverse
1978	150 rubles	Proof/AC	999/1000	15.57	28.6	19,853	13,403	Obverse	Reverse
Obverse: Coat of Arms of the USSR and the face value Reverse: Discus thrower, below – the mint trademark and the minting year, right – emblem of the games, along the rim: "The Games of the XXII Olympiad. MOSCOW. 1980" Design: Ermakov Mint: Leningrad Mint (LMD).
Olympics-80: Champions
Year	Value Face value The Face value is the value of a coin, stamp or paper money, as printed on the coin, stamp or bill itself by the minting authority. While the face value usually refers to the true value of the coin, stamp or bill in question it can sometimes be largely symbolic, as is often the case with bullion...	Grading Coin grading In coin collecting coin grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a coin, one of the key factors in determining its value as a collector's item....	Purity Millesimal fineness Millesimal fineness is a system of denoting the purity of platinum, gold and silver alloys by parts per thousand of pure metal by mass in the alloy. For example, an alloy containing 75% gold is denoted as "750". Many European countries use decimal hallmark stamps Millesimal fineness is a system of...	Weight, g	Diameter, mm	No (proof), pcs.	No (uncirculated), pcs.	Obverse	Reverse
1979	150 rubles	Proof/AC	999/1000	15.57	28.6	13,578	18,978	Obverse	Reverse
Obverse: Coat of Arms of the USSR and the face value Reverse: Two wrestlers on the backdrop of ancient columns. Between the columns – the emblem of games, under the left column – the trade mark of the mint, bottom – the minting year, along the rim: "The Games of the XXII Olympiad. MOSCOW. 1980" Design: Ermakov Mint: Leningrad Mint (LMD).
Olympics-80: Quadriga
Year	Value Face value The Face value is the value of a coin, stamp or paper money, as printed on the coin, stamp or bill itself by the minting authority. While the face value usually refers to the true value of the coin, stamp or bill in question it can sometimes be largely symbolic, as is often the case with bullion...	Grading Coin grading In coin collecting coin grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a coin, one of the key factors in determining its value as a collector's item....	Purity Millesimal fineness Millesimal fineness is a system of denoting the purity of platinum, gold and silver alloys by parts per thousand of pure metal by mass in the alloy. For example, an alloy containing 75% gold is denoted as "750". Many European countries use decimal hallmark stamps Millesimal fineness is a system of...	Weight, g	Diameter, mm	Circulation (proof), pc.	No (uncirculated), pcs.	Obverse	Reverse
1979	150 rubles	Proof/AC	999/1000	15.57	28.6	17,078	9,728	Obverse	Reverse
Obverse: Coat of Arms of the USSR and the face value Reverse: Two chariots, left – the emblem of games, bottom – the mint trademark and the minting year, along the rim: "The Games of the XXII Olympiad. MOSCOW. 1980" Design: Ermakov Mint: Leningrad Mint (LMD).
Olympics-80: Runners
Year	Value Face value The Face value is the value of a coin, stamp or paper money, as printed on the coin, stamp or bill itself by the minting authority. While the face value usually refers to the true value of the coin, stamp or bill in question it can sometimes be largely symbolic, as is often the case with bullion...	Grading Coin grading In coin collecting coin grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a coin, one of the key factors in determining its value as a collector's item....	Purity Millesimal fineness Millesimal fineness is a system of denoting the purity of platinum, gold and silver alloys by parts per thousand of pure metal by mass in the alloy. For example, an alloy containing 75% gold is denoted as "750". Many European countries use decimal hallmark stamps Millesimal fineness is a system of...	Weight, g	Diameter, mm	Circulation (proof), pc.	No (uncirculated), pcs.	Obverse	Reverse
1980	150 rubles	Proof/AC	999/1000	15.57	28.6	12,870	7,820	Obverse	Reverse
Obverse: Coat of Arms of the USSR and the face value Reverse: Two ancient runners, right – the emblem of games, bottom – the mint trademark and the minting year, along the rim: "The Games of the XXII Olympiad. MOSCOW. 1980" Design: Ermakov Mint: Leningrad Mint (LMD).

Despite the large circulation of the Olympic platinum coins (about 20,000 pcs., compare with 750 pcs. for the 1993 series "Russian Ballet"), they are difficult to find at the Russian numismatic markets. This is mostly because of the export to America, Europe, and Israel. Since 1977, the commemorative platinum coins were issued every year, but different from Olympic designs appeared only on 13 September 1988, with the series "1000 years of ancient coinage, literature, architecture and the Baptism of Russia." The series consisted of two silver coins (3 rubles, "Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kiev

Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kiev

Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kiev is an outstanding architectural monument of Kievan Rus'. Today, it is one of the city's best known landmarks and the first Ukrainian patrimony to be inscribed on the World Heritage List along with the Kiev Cave Monastery complex...

" and "Srebrenic of Vladimir"), two gold coins (50 rubles "Saint Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod

Saint Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod

The Cathedral of St. Sophia in the Kremlin in Veliky Novgorod is the cathedral church of the Archbishop of Novgorod and the mother church of the Novgorodian Eparchy.-History:...

" and 100 rubles "Zlatnik of Vladimir"), the 25-ruble palladium coin

Palladium coin

Palladium coins are a form of coinage made out of the rare silver-white transition metal palladium. Palladium is internationally recognised as a form of currency under ISO 4217. Sierra Leone issued the first palladium coins in 1966. Tonga commenced issuing palladium coins a year later in 1967,...

"Monument to Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich", and the 150-ruble platinum coin "The Tale of Igor's Campaign

The Tale of Igor's Campaign

The Tale of Igor's Campaign is an anonymous epic poem written in the Old East Slavic language.The title is occasionally translated as The Song of Igor's Campaign, The Lay of Igor's Campaign, and The Lay of...

". For the first time palladium was used for minting coins. This series was highly praised internationally and awarded the first prize for the quality of minting at the 1988 numismatic exhibition in Basel

Basel

USSR platinum coins 1988–1991 (6 pcs.)
Series: 1000 years of coinage, literature, architecture, and the Baptism of Russia. The Tale of Igor's Campaign The Tale of Igor's Campaign The Tale of Igor's Campaign is an anonymous epic poem written in the Old East Slavic language.The title is occasionally translated as The Song of Igor's Campaign, The Lay of Igor's Campaign, and The Lay of...
Year	Value Face value The Face value is the value of a coin, stamp or paper money, as printed on the coin, stamp or bill itself by the minting authority. While the face value usually refers to the true value of the coin, stamp or bill in question it can sometimes be largely symbolic, as is often the case with bullion...	Grading Coin grading In coin collecting coin grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a coin, one of the key factors in determining its value as a collector's item....	Purity Millesimal fineness Millesimal fineness is a system of denoting the purity of platinum, gold and silver alloys by parts per thousand of pure metal by mass in the alloy. For example, an alloy containing 75% gold is denoted as "750". Many European countries use decimal hallmark stamps Millesimal fineness is a system of...	Weight, g	Diameter, mm	No, pcs.	Obverse	Reverse
1988	150 rubles	Proof	999/1000	15.57	28.6	16,000	Obverse	Reverse
Obverse: Coat of Arms of the USSR and the face value Reverse: An scribe Scribe A scribe is a person who writes books or documents by hand as a profession and helps the city keep track of its records. The profession, previously found in all literate cultures in some form, lost most of its importance and status with the advent of printing... at work with cavalry troops in the background. Bottom: "The Tale of Igor's Campaign · 1185", along the rim: "1000 years of ancient literature" Design: A.V. Baklanov Mint: Leningrad Mint (LMD).
Series: 500 years of united Russian state. Standing on the Ugra
Year	Value Face value The Face value is the value of a coin, stamp or paper money, as printed on the coin, stamp or bill itself by the minting authority. While the face value usually refers to the true value of the coin, stamp or bill in question it can sometimes be largely symbolic, as is often the case with bullion...	Grading Coin grading In coin collecting coin grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a coin, one of the key factors in determining its value as a collector's item....	Purity Millesimal fineness Millesimal fineness is a system of denoting the purity of platinum, gold and silver alloys by parts per thousand of pure metal by mass in the alloy. For example, an alloy containing 75% gold is denoted as "750". Many European countries use decimal hallmark stamps Millesimal fineness is a system of...	Weight, g	Diameter, mm	No, pcs.	Obverse	Reverse
1989	150 rubles	Proof	999/1000	15.57	28.6	16,000	Obverse	Reverse
Obverse: Coat of Arms of the USSR and the face value Reverse: Two cavalry forces facing each other with the river between them, around the image: "500 years of united Russian state", bottom: "Standing on the Ugra · 1480" Design: A.V. Baklanov Mint: Leningrad Mint (LMD).
Series: 500 years of united Russian state. Battle of Poltava Battle of Poltava The Battle of Poltava on 27 June 1709 was the decisive victory of Peter I of Russia over the Swedish forces under Field Marshal Carl Gustav Rehnskiöld in one of the battles of the Great Northern War. It is widely believed to have been the beginning of Sweden's decline as a Great Power; the...
Year	Value Face value The Face value is the value of a coin, stamp or paper money, as printed on the coin, stamp or bill itself by the minting authority. While the face value usually refers to the true value of the coin, stamp or bill in question it can sometimes be largely symbolic, as is often the case with bullion...	Grading Coin grading In coin collecting coin grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a coin, one of the key factors in determining its value as a collector's item....	Purity Millesimal fineness Millesimal fineness is a system of denoting the purity of platinum, gold and silver alloys by parts per thousand of pure metal by mass in the alloy. For example, an alloy containing 75% gold is denoted as "750". Many European countries use decimal hallmark stamps Millesimal fineness is a system of...	Weight, g	Diameter, mm	No, pcs.	Obverse	Reverse
1990	150 rubles	Proof	999/1000	15.57	28.6	16,000	Obverse	Reverse
Obverse: Coat of Arms of the USSR and the face value Reverse: Russian cavalry charging at the Swedish troops, around the image: "500 years of united Russia", bottom: "Battle of Poltava Battle of Poltava The Battle of Poltava on 27 June 1709 was the decisive victory of Peter I of Russia over the Swedish forces under Field Marshal Carl Gustav Rehnskiöld in one of the battles of the Great Northern War. It is widely believed to have been the beginning of Sweden's decline as a Great Power; the... 1709" Design: A.V. Baklanov Mint: Leningrad Mint (LMD).
Series: 250 years of discovery of Russian America. St. Gabriel
Year	Value Face value The Face value is the value of a coin, stamp or paper money, as printed on the coin, stamp or bill itself by the minting authority. While the face value usually refers to the true value of the coin, stamp or bill in question it can sometimes be largely symbolic, as is often the case with bullion...	Grading Coin grading In coin collecting coin grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a coin, one of the key factors in determining its value as a collector's item....	Purity Millesimal fineness Millesimal fineness is a system of denoting the purity of platinum, gold and silver alloys by parts per thousand of pure metal by mass in the alloy. For example, an alloy containing 75% gold is denoted as "750". Many European countries use decimal hallmark stamps Millesimal fineness is a system of...	Weight, g	Diameter, mm	No, pcs.	Obverse	Reverse
1990	150 rubles	Proof	999/1000	15.57	28.6	6,500	Obverse	Reverse
Obverse: Coat of Arms of the USSR and the face value Reverse: Sailing boat in wavy sea, around: "250 years of the discovery of Russian America", bottom: "BOT St. GAVRIIL/M. GVOZDEV – 1732", divided decorative element. Design: A.V. Baklanov Mint: Leningrad Mint (LMD).
Series: 500 years of united Russia. War of 1812 French invasion of Russia The French invasion of Russia of 1812 was a turning point in the Napoleonic Wars. It reduced the French and allied invasion forces to a tiny fraction of their initial strength and triggered a major shift in European politics as it dramatically weakened French hegemony in Europe...
Year	Value Face value The Face value is the value of a coin, stamp or paper money, as printed on the coin, stamp or bill itself by the minting authority. While the face value usually refers to the true value of the coin, stamp or bill in question it can sometimes be largely symbolic, as is often the case with bullion...	Grading Coin grading In coin collecting coin grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a coin, one of the key factors in determining its value as a collector's item....	Purity Millesimal fineness Millesimal fineness is a system of denoting the purity of platinum, gold and silver alloys by parts per thousand of pure metal by mass in the alloy. For example, an alloy containing 75% gold is denoted as "750". Many European countries use decimal hallmark stamps Millesimal fineness is a system of...	Weight, g	Diameter, mm	No, pcs.	Obverse	Reverse
1991	150 rubles	Proof	999/1000	15.57	28.6	16,000	Obverse	Reverse
Obverse: Coat of Arms of the USSR and the face value Reverse: An obelisk with an angel holding a cross, left – portrait of Napoleon, right – portrait of Alexander I Alexander I of Russia Alexander I of Russia , served as Emperor of Russia from 23 March 1801 to 1 December 1825 and the first Russian King of Poland from 1815 to 1825. He was also the first Russian Grand Duke of Finland and Lithuania.... (with names under the both portraits), around the image: "500 YEARS OF UNITED RUSSIA", below: "PATRIOTIC WAR OF 1812. French invasion of Russia The French invasion of Russia of 1812 was a turning point in the Napoleonic Wars. It reduced the French and allied invasion forces to a tiny fraction of their initial strength and triggered a major shift in European politics as it dramatically weakened French hegemony in Europe... " Design: A.V. Baklanov Mint: Leningrad Mint (LMD).
Series: 250-anniversary of the discovery of Russian America. John Benjamin
Year	Value Face value The Face value is the value of a coin, stamp or paper money, as printed on the coin, stamp or bill itself by the minting authority. While the face value usually refers to the true value of the coin, stamp or bill in question it can sometimes be largely symbolic, as is often the case with bullion...	Grading Coin grading In coin collecting coin grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a coin, one of the key factors in determining its value as a collector's item....	Purity Millesimal fineness Millesimal fineness is a system of denoting the purity of platinum, gold and silver alloys by parts per thousand of pure metal by mass in the alloy. For example, an alloy containing 75% gold is denoted as "750". Many European countries use decimal hallmark stamps Millesimal fineness is a system of...	Weight, g	Diameter, mm	No, pcs.	Obverse	Reverse
1991	150 rubles	Proof	999/1000	15.57	28.6	6,500	Obverse	Reverse
Obverse: Coat of Arms of the USSR and the face value Reverse: The image of Ivan Veniaminov Innocent of Alaska Saint Innocent of Alaska , also known as Saint Innocent of Moscow was a Russian Orthodox priest, bishop, archbishop and Metropolitan of Moscow and all Russia. He is known for his missionary work, scholarship and leadership in Alaska and the Russian Far East during the 19th century... , in monk's dress, holding a cross, with a sailing boat in the background. Around it: "250 years of the discovery of Russian America", below: "Ivan Veniaminov – missionary and educator" Design: A.V. Baklanov Mint: Leningrad Mint (LMD).

The price for platinum coins of the USSR (proof

Proof coinage

quality) typically exceeds $1,500 per coin.

Russia issued 16 platinum coins, starting from 1992, with the face value (weight) of 25 (1/10 oz), 50 (1/4 oz) and 150 rubles (1/2 oz). The minting was suspended in 1996, with the last coin of 150 rubles dedicated to the Battle of the Neva

Battle of the Neva

The Battle of the Neva was fought between the Novgorod Republic and Swedish armies on the Neva River, near the settlement of Ust-Izhora, on July 15, 1240...

of 1240.

List of the platinum coins of the Russian Federation (16 pcs.)
Series: The Age of Enlightenment. 18 Century. Battle of Chesma Battle of Chesma The naval Battle of Chesma took place on 5 -7 July 1770 near and in Çeşme Bay, in the area between the western tip of Anatolia and the island of Chios, which was the site of a number of past naval battles between the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Venice...
Date	Catalogue No	Value Face value The Face value is the value of a coin, stamp or paper money, as printed on the coin, stamp or bill itself by the minting authority. While the face value usually refers to the true value of the coin, stamp or bill in question it can sometimes be largely symbolic, as is often the case with bullion...	Grading Coin grading In coin collecting coin grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a coin, one of the key factors in determining its value as a collector's item....	Purity Millesimal fineness Millesimal fineness is a system of denoting the purity of platinum, gold and silver alloys by parts per thousand of pure metal by mass in the alloy. For example, an alloy containing 75% gold is denoted as "750". Many European countries use decimal hallmark stamps Millesimal fineness is a system of...	Total weight, g	Platinum contents, at least, g	Diameter, mm	Thickness, mm	No, pcs.
24.11.1992	5318-0001	150 rubles	Proof	999/1000	15.67 (± 0.11)	15.55	28.60 (−0.25)	1.5 (± 0.2)	3000
Obverse: two-headed eagle (designed by I. Bilibin), bottom – BANK OF RUSSIA. At the bottom – the designation of metal, alloy, the precious metal content and the mint trademark. Reverse: three sailing ships and a boat at the Battle of Chesma Battle of Chesma The naval Battle of Chesma took place on 5 -7 July 1770 near and in Çeşme Bay, in the area between the western tip of Anatolia and the island of Chios, which was the site of a number of past naval battles between the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Venice... , around: "Age of Enlightenment. 18 century.", bottom: "Battle of Chesma" Design: A.V. Baklanov Mint: Leningrad Mint (LMD). 240 indents on the rim.
Series: The Olympic Century Russia. First participation of Russia in the Olympics
Date	Catalogue No	Value Face value The Face value is the value of a coin, stamp or paper money, as printed on the coin, stamp or bill itself by the minting authority. While the face value usually refers to the true value of the coin, stamp or bill in question it can sometimes be largely symbolic, as is often the case with bullion...	Grading Coin grading In coin collecting coin grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a coin, one of the key factors in determining its value as a collector's item....	Purity Millesimal fineness Millesimal fineness is a system of denoting the purity of platinum, gold and silver alloys by parts per thousand of pure metal by mass in the alloy. For example, an alloy containing 75% gold is denoted as "750". Many European countries use decimal hallmark stamps Millesimal fineness is a system of...	Total weight, g	Platinum contents, at least, g	Diameter, mm	Thickness, mm	No, pcs.
20.01.1993	5316-0001	50 rubles	Proof	999/1000	7.88 (± 0.09)	7.78	20.0 (−0.15)	1.60 (± 0.15)	7500
Obverse: center – the emblem of the Bank of Russia (two-headed eagle designed by I. Bilibin), bottom – symbol, purity and weight of platinum, "BANK OF RUSSIA" Reverse: two horse riders – Russian participants of the II Olympic Games, right – the Eiffel Tower, left – the emblem of the Russian Olympic Committee, around: "OLYMPIC AGE OF RUSSIA, FIRST PARTICIPANCE · PARIS" Design: A.V. Baklanov (obverse), N.A. Nosov (reverse) Mint: Leningrad Mint (LMD). 134 indents on the rim.
Series: Russian Ballet (25 rubles)
Date	Catalogue No	Value Face value The Face value is the value of a coin, stamp or paper money, as printed on the coin, stamp or bill itself by the minting authority. While the face value usually refers to the true value of the coin, stamp or bill in question it can sometimes be largely symbolic, as is often the case with bullion...	Grading Coin grading In coin collecting coin grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a coin, one of the key factors in determining its value as a collector's item....	Purity Millesimal fineness Millesimal fineness is a system of denoting the purity of platinum, gold and silver alloys by parts per thousand of pure metal by mass in the alloy. For example, an alloy containing 75% gold is denoted as "750". Many European countries use decimal hallmark stamps Millesimal fineness is a system of...	Total weight, g	Platinum contents, at least, g	Diameter, mm	Thickness, mm	No, pcs.
19.04.1993	5315-0001	25 rubles	Proof	999/1000	3.198 (± 0.08)	3.11	16.0 (−0.1)	1.00 (± 0.15)	750
Obverse: center – the emblem of the Bank of Russia (two-headed eagle designed by I. Bilibin), bottom – symbol, purity and weight of platinum, "BANK OF RUSSIA" Reverse: a dancing ballerina, around it: "RUSSIAN BALLET" Design: A.V. Baklanov Mint: Leningrad Mint (LMD). 111 indents on the rim.
Series: Russian Ballet (50 rubles)
Date	Catalogue No	Value Face value The Face value is the value of a coin, stamp or paper money, as printed on the coin, stamp or bill itself by the minting authority. While the face value usually refers to the true value of the coin, stamp or bill in question it can sometimes be largely symbolic, as is often the case with bullion...	Grading Coin grading In coin collecting coin grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a coin, one of the key factors in determining its value as a collector's item....	Purity Millesimal fineness Millesimal fineness is a system of denoting the purity of platinum, gold and silver alloys by parts per thousand of pure metal by mass in the alloy. For example, an alloy containing 75% gold is denoted as "750". Many European countries use decimal hallmark stamps Millesimal fineness is a system of...	Total weight, g	Platinum contents, at least, g	Diameter, mm	Thickness, mm	No, pcs.
19.04.1993	5316-0002	50 rubles	Proof	999/1000	7.88 (± 0.09)	7.78	20.0 (−0.15)	1.60 (± 0.15)	750
Obverse: center – the emblem of the Bank of Russia (two-headed eagle designed by I. Bilibin), bottom – symbol, purity and weight of platinum, "BANK OF RUSSIA" Reverse: a dancing ballerina, around it: "RUSSIAN BALLET" Design: A.V. Baklanov Mint: Leningrad Mint (LMD) 134 indents on the rim.
Series: Russian Ballet (150 rubles)
Date	Catalogue No	Value Face value The Face value is the value of a coin, stamp or paper money, as printed on the coin, stamp or bill itself by the minting authority. While the face value usually refers to the true value of the coin, stamp or bill in question it can sometimes be largely symbolic, as is often the case with bullion...	Grading Coin grading In coin collecting coin grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a coin, one of the key factors in determining its value as a collector's item....	Purity Millesimal fineness Millesimal fineness is a system of denoting the purity of platinum, gold and silver alloys by parts per thousand of pure metal by mass in the alloy. For example, an alloy containing 75% gold is denoted as "750". Many European countries use decimal hallmark stamps Millesimal fineness is a system of...	Total weight, g	Platinum contents, at least, g	Diameter, mm	Thickness, mm	No, pcs.
19.04.1993	5318-0002	150 rubles	Proof	999/1000	15.67 (± 0.11)	15.55	22.60 (−0.25)	1.5 (± 0.2)	750
Obverse: center – the emblem of the Bank of Russia (two-headed eagle designed by I. Bilibin), bottom – symbol, purity and weight of platinum, "BANK OF RUSSIA" Reverse: a dancing ballerina, around it: "RUSSIAN BALLET" Design: A.V. Baklanov Mint: Leningrad Mint (LMD) 240 indents on the rim.
Geographical Series: The first Russian voyage around the world. English Embankment in St. Petersburg
Date	Catalogue No	Value Face value The Face value is the value of a coin, stamp or paper money, as printed on the coin, stamp or bill itself by the minting authority. While the face value usually refers to the true value of the coin, stamp or bill in question it can sometimes be largely symbolic, as is often the case with bullion...	Grading Coin grading In coin collecting coin grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a coin, one of the key factors in determining its value as a collector's item....	Purity Millesimal fineness Millesimal fineness is a system of denoting the purity of platinum, gold and silver alloys by parts per thousand of pure metal by mass in the alloy. For example, an alloy containing 75% gold is denoted as "750". Many European countries use decimal hallmark stamps Millesimal fineness is a system of...	Total weight, g	Platinum contents, at least, g	Diameter, mm	Thickness, mm	No, pcs.
28.04.1993	5318-0003	150 rubles	Proof	999/1000	15.67 (± 0.11)	15.55	28.60 (−0.25)	1.5 (± 0.2)	2500
Obverse: center – the emblem of the Bank of Russia (two-headed eagle designed by I. Bilibin), bottom – symbol, purity and weight of platinum, "BANK OF RUSSIA" Reverse: ships Nadezhda and Neva and two boats. Background – houses of Russia's State Chancellor Count N.P. Rumyantsev in St. Petersburg on the English Embankment of the Neva River. Around it: "The first Russian voyage around the world 1803 • 1806" "English Embankment" Design: A.V. Baklanov Mint: Leningrad Mint (LMD). 240 indents on the rim.
Historical Series: Russia's Contribution to World Culture. I. Stravinsky Igor Stravinsky Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky ; 6 April 1971) was a Russian, later naturalized French, and then naturalized American composer, pianist, and conductor....
Date	Catalogue No	Value Face value The Face value is the value of a coin, stamp or paper money, as printed on the coin, stamp or bill itself by the minting authority. While the face value usually refers to the true value of the coin, stamp or bill in question it can sometimes be largely symbolic, as is often the case with bullion...	Grading Coin grading In coin collecting coin grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a coin, one of the key factors in determining its value as a collector's item....	Purity Millesimal fineness Millesimal fineness is a system of denoting the purity of platinum, gold and silver alloys by parts per thousand of pure metal by mass in the alloy. For example, an alloy containing 75% gold is denoted as "750". Many European countries use decimal hallmark stamps Millesimal fineness is a system of...	Total weight, g	Platinum contents, at least, g	Diameter, mm	Thickness, mm	No, pcs.
13.12.1993	5318-0004	150 rubles	Proof	999/1000	15.67 (± 0.11)	15.55	28.60 (−0.25)	1.5 (± 0.2)	3000
Obverse: center – the emblem of the Bank of Russia (two-headed eagle designed by I. Bilibin), bottom – symbol, purity and weight of platinum, "BANK OF RUSSIA" Reverse: the image of Igor Stravinsky Igor Stravinsky Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky ; 6 April 1971) was a Russian, later naturalized French, and then naturalized American composer, pianist, and conductor.... , background – a scene from the ballet "Petrushka", left – a lyre Lyre The lyre is a stringed musical instrument known for its use in Greek classical antiquity and later. The word comes from the Greek "λύρα" and the earliest reference to the word is the Mycenaean Greek ru-ra-ta-e, meaning "lyrists", written in Linear B syllabic script... and a laurel branch, around: "RUSSIA AND WORLD CULTURE", "I. Stravinsky" Design: A.V. Baklanov Mint: Leningrad Mint (LMD) 240 indents on the rim.
Series: Russian Ballet (25 rubles, 1994)
Date	Catalogue No	Value Face value The Face value is the value of a coin, stamp or paper money, as printed on the coin, stamp or bill itself by the minting authority. While the face value usually refers to the true value of the coin, stamp or bill in question it can sometimes be largely symbolic, as is often the case with bullion...	Grading Coin grading In coin collecting coin grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a coin, one of the key factors in determining its value as a collector's item....	Purity Millesimal fineness Millesimal fineness is a system of denoting the purity of platinum, gold and silver alloys by parts per thousand of pure metal by mass in the alloy. For example, an alloy containing 75% gold is denoted as "750". Many European countries use decimal hallmark stamps Millesimal fineness is a system of...	Total weight, g	Platinum contents, at least, g	Diameter, mm	Thickness, mm	No, pcs.
07.06.1994	5315-0002	25 rubles	Proof	999/1000	3.198 (± 0.08)	3.11	16.0 (−0.1)	1.00 (± 0.15)	900
Obverse: two-headed eagle (designed by I. Bilibin), bottom – symbol, purity and weight of platinum, "BANK OF RUSSIA" Reverse: a dancing ballerina, around it: "RUSSIAN BALLET" Design: A.V. Baklanov Mint: Leningrad Mint (LMD) 111 indents on the rim.
Series: Russian Ballet (50 rubles, 1994)
Date	Catalogue No	Value Face value The Face value is the value of a coin, stamp or paper money, as printed on the coin, stamp or bill itself by the minting authority. While the face value usually refers to the true value of the coin, stamp or bill in question it can sometimes be largely symbolic, as is often the case with bullion...	Grading Coin grading In coin collecting coin grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a coin, one of the key factors in determining its value as a collector's item....	Purity Millesimal fineness Millesimal fineness is a system of denoting the purity of platinum, gold and silver alloys by parts per thousand of pure metal by mass in the alloy. For example, an alloy containing 75% gold is denoted as "750". Many European countries use decimal hallmark stamps Millesimal fineness is a system of...	Total weight, g	Platinum contents, at least, g	Diameter, mm	Thickness, mm	No, pcs.
07.06.1994	5316-0003	50 rubles	Proof	999/1000	7.88 (± 0.09)	7.78	20.0 (−0.15)	1.60 (± 0.15)	900
Obverse: two-headed eagle (designed by I. Bilibin), bottom – symbol, purity and weight of platinum, "BANK OF RUSSIA" Reverse: a dancing ballerina, around it: "RUSSIAN BALLET" Design: A.V. Baklanov Mint: Leningrad Mint (LMD) 134 indents on the rim.
Series: Russian Ballet (150 rubles, 1994)
Date	Catalogue No	Value Face value The Face value is the value of a coin, stamp or paper money, as printed on the coin, stamp or bill itself by the minting authority. While the face value usually refers to the true value of the coin, stamp or bill in question it can sometimes be largely symbolic, as is often the case with bullion...	Grading Coin grading In coin collecting coin grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a coin, one of the key factors in determining its value as a collector's item....	Purity Millesimal fineness Millesimal fineness is a system of denoting the purity of platinum, gold and silver alloys by parts per thousand of pure metal by mass in the alloy. For example, an alloy containing 75% gold is denoted as "750". Many European countries use decimal hallmark stamps Millesimal fineness is a system of...	Total weight, g	Platinum contents, at least, g	Diameter, mm	Thickness, mm	No, pcs.
07.06.1994	5318-0005	150 rubles	Proof	999/1000	15.67 (± 0.11)	15.55	28.6 (−0.25)	1.5 (± 0.2)	900
Obverse: two-headed eagle (designed by I. Bilibin), bottom – symbol, purity and weight of platinum, "BANK OF RUSSIA" Reverse: a dancing ballerina, around it: "RUSSIAN BALLET" Design: A.V. Baklanov Mint: Leningrad Mint (LMD). 240 indents on the rim.
Geographical Series: First Russian Antarctic Expedition
Date	Catalogue No	Value Face value The Face value is the value of a coin, stamp or paper money, as printed on the coin, stamp or bill itself by the minting authority. While the face value usually refers to the true value of the coin, stamp or bill in question it can sometimes be largely symbolic, as is often the case with bullion...	Grading Coin grading In coin collecting coin grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a coin, one of the key factors in determining its value as a collector's item....	Purity Millesimal fineness Millesimal fineness is a system of denoting the purity of platinum, gold and silver alloys by parts per thousand of pure metal by mass in the alloy. For example, an alloy containing 75% gold is denoted as "750". Many European countries use decimal hallmark stamps Millesimal fineness is a system of...	Total weight, g	Platinum contents, at least, g	Diameter, mm	Thickness, mm	No, pcs.
06.09.1994	5318-0006	150 rubles	Proof	999/1000	15.67 (± 0.11)	15.55	28.6 (−0.25)	1.5 (± 0.2)	4000
Obverse: two-headed eagle (designed by I. Bilibin), bottom – symbol, purity and weight of platinum, "BANK OF RUSSIA" Reverse: ships Vostok and Mirny, under them – a boat with rowers, penguins on an ice floe, around: "FIRST RUSSIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION 1819–1821", "in Antarctic waters" Design: A.V. Baklanov Mint: Leningrad Mint (LMD) 240 indents on the rim.
Historical Series: Russia's Contribution to World Culture. Mikhail Vrubel Mikhail Vrubel Mikhail Aleksandrovich Vrubel is usually regarded amongst the Russian painters of the Symbolist movement. In reality, he deliberately stood aloof from contemporary art trends, so that the origin of his unusual manner should be sought in Late Byzantine and Early Renaissance painting.-Early...
Date	Catalogue No	Value Face value The Face value is the value of a coin, stamp or paper money, as printed on the coin, stamp or bill itself by the minting authority. While the face value usually refers to the true value of the coin, stamp or bill in question it can sometimes be largely symbolic, as is often the case with bullion...	Grading Coin grading In coin collecting coin grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a coin, one of the key factors in determining its value as a collector's item....	Purity Millesimal fineness Millesimal fineness is a system of denoting the purity of platinum, gold and silver alloys by parts per thousand of pure metal by mass in the alloy. For example, an alloy containing 75% gold is denoted as "750". Many European countries use decimal hallmark stamps Millesimal fineness is a system of...	Total weight, g	Platinum contents, at least, g	Diameter, mm	Thickness, mm	No, pcs.
17.11.1994	5318-0007	150 rubles	Proof	999/1000	15.67 (± 0.11)	15.55	28.6 (−0.25)	1.5 (± 0.2)	3000
Obverse: two-headed eagle (designed by I. Bilibin), bottom – symbol, purity and weight of platinum, "BANK OF RUSSIA" Reverse: self-portrait of Mikhail Vrubel Mikhail Vrubel Mikhail Aleksandrovich Vrubel is usually regarded amongst the Russian painters of the Symbolist movement. In reality, he deliberately stood aloof from contemporary art trends, so that the origin of his unusual manner should be sought in Late Byzantine and Early Renaissance painting.-Early... , below – a palette and brushes, to the right – a fragment of his painting Demon Seated in a Garden, around: "RUSSIA AND WORLD CULTURE", "M. Vrubel" Design: A.V. Baklanov Mint: Leningrad Mint (LMD). 240 indents on the rim.
Series: Russian Ballet. Sleeping Beauty (25 rubles)
Date	Catalogue No	Value Face value The Face value is the value of a coin, stamp or paper money, as printed on the coin, stamp or bill itself by the minting authority. While the face value usually refers to the true value of the coin, stamp or bill in question it can sometimes be largely symbolic, as is often the case with bullion...	Grading Coin grading In coin collecting coin grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a coin, one of the key factors in determining its value as a collector's item....	Purity Millesimal fineness Millesimal fineness is a system of denoting the purity of platinum, gold and silver alloys by parts per thousand of pure metal by mass in the alloy. For example, an alloy containing 75% gold is denoted as "750". Many European countries use decimal hallmark stamps Millesimal fineness is a system of...	Total weight, g	Platinum contents, at least, g	Diameter, mm	Thickness, mm	No, pcs.
16.06.1995	5315-0003	25 rubles	Proof	999/1000	3.198 (± 0.08)	3.11	16.0 (−0.1)	1.00 (± 0.15)	900
Obverse: center – the emblem of the Bank of Russia (two-headed eagle designed by I. Bilibin), bottom – symbol, purity and weight of platinum, "BANK OF RUSSIA" Reverse: in the center – a dancer, left to right in a circle – the inscription: "Sleeping Beauty". Design: A.V. Baklanov Mint: Saint Petersburg Mint (LMD) 111 indents on the rim.
Series: Russian Ballet. Sleeping Beauty (50 rubles)
Date	Catalogue No	Value Face value The Face value is the value of a coin, stamp or paper money, as printed on the coin, stamp or bill itself by the minting authority. While the face value usually refers to the true value of the coin, stamp or bill in question it can sometimes be largely symbolic, as is often the case with bullion...	Grading Coin grading In coin collecting coin grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a coin, one of the key factors in determining its value as a collector's item....	Purity Millesimal fineness Millesimal fineness is a system of denoting the purity of platinum, gold and silver alloys by parts per thousand of pure metal by mass in the alloy. For example, an alloy containing 75% gold is denoted as "750". Many European countries use decimal hallmark stamps Millesimal fineness is a system of...	Total weight, g	Platinum contents, at least, g	Diameter, mm	Thickness, mm	No, pcs.
16.06.1995	5316-0004	50 rubles	Proof	999/1000	7.88 (± 0.09)	7.78	20.0 (−0.15)	1.60 (± 0.15)	900
Obverse: center – the emblem of the Bank of Russia (two-headed eagle designed by I. Bilibin), bottom – symbol, purity and weight of platinum, "BANK OF RUSSIA" Reverse: a dancer, around him: "Sleeping Beauty" Design: A.V. Baklanov Mint: Saint Petersburg Mint (LMD) 134 indents on the rim.
Series: Russian Ballet. Sleeping Beauty (150 rubles)
Date	Catalogue No	Value Face value The Face value is the value of a coin, stamp or paper money, as printed on the coin, stamp or bill itself by the minting authority. While the face value usually refers to the true value of the coin, stamp or bill in question it can sometimes be largely symbolic, as is often the case with bullion...	Grading Coin grading In coin collecting coin grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a coin, one of the key factors in determining its value as a collector's item....	Purity Millesimal fineness Millesimal fineness is a system of denoting the purity of platinum, gold and silver alloys by parts per thousand of pure metal by mass in the alloy. For example, an alloy containing 75% gold is denoted as "750". Many European countries use decimal hallmark stamps Millesimal fineness is a system of...	Total weight, g	Platinum contents, at least, g	Diameter, mm	Thickness, mm	No, pcs.
16.06.1995	5318-0008	150 rubles	Proof	999/1000	15.67 (± 0.11)	15.55	22.60 (−0.25)	1.5 (± 0.2)	900
Obverse: center – the emblem of the Bank of Russia (two-headed eagle designed by I. Bilibin), bottom – symbol, purity and weight of platinum, "BANK OF RUSSIA" Reverse: a dancer, around him: "Sleeping Beauty" Design: A.V. Baklanov Mint: Saint Petersburg Mint (LMD) 134 indents on the rim.
Historical Series: 1000 years of Russia. Alexander Nevsky
Date	Catalogue No	Value Face value The Face value is the value of a coin, stamp or paper money, as printed on the coin, stamp or bill itself by the minting authority. While the face value usually refers to the true value of the coin, stamp or bill in question it can sometimes be largely symbolic, as is often the case with bullion...	Grading Coin grading In coin collecting coin grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a coin, one of the key factors in determining its value as a collector's item....	Purity Millesimal fineness Millesimal fineness is a system of denoting the purity of platinum, gold and silver alloys by parts per thousand of pure metal by mass in the alloy. For example, an alloy containing 75% gold is denoted as "750". Many European countries use decimal hallmark stamps Millesimal fineness is a system of...	Total weight, g	Platinum contents, at least, g	Diameter, mm	Thickness, mm	No, pcs.
28.12.1995	5318-0009	150 rubles	Proof	999/1000	15.55 (± 0.09)	15.5	28.6 (−0.25)	1.5 (± 0.2)	3000
Obverse: center – the emblem of the Bank of Russia (two-headed eagle designed by I. Bilibin), bottom – symbol, purity and weight of platinum, "BANK OF RUSSIA" Reverse: a fight between four Russian soldiers and a Swedish knight, around: "1000 YEARS OF RUSSIA · Alexander Nevsky", "BATTLE AT THE RIVER NEVA 1240" Design: A.V. Baklanov Mint: Saint Petersburg Mint (LMD). 240 indents on the rim.

Platinum coin series

Several other countries have issued platinum coins, but only as bullion coins, and the most famous series are listed in the table. These coins are considered serial because the design of the reverse and obverse is the same or similar for all the coins of a given year. In addition to similarities in design, these coins are combined in the series because they are issued annually for a period of time. For example, Platinum Panda was produced from 1987 to 2005, and coins of the series "American Platinum Eagle" from 1997 to 2008.

Famous platinum series
Country	Name	Release year
	American Platinum Eagle American Platinum Eagle The American Platinum Eagle is the official platinum bullion coin of the United States. The coins were first released by the United States Mint in 1997. It is offered in 1/10, 1/4, 1/2, and 1 troy oz varieties and consists of .9995 fine platinum...	1997–2010
	Canadian Platinum Maple Leaf Canadian Platinum Maple Leaf The Platinum Maple Leaf is a platinum coin issued by the Royal Canadian Mint between 1988 and 2002, and reintroduced in 2009 . The coin was offered in 1/20 oz, 1/15 oz , 1/10 oz, 1/4 oz, 1/2 oz, and 1 oz denominations, all of which are marked as containing .9995 pure platinum...	1988–1999, 2002
	Platinum Noble	1983–1989
	Platinum Cat	?
	Platinum Koala Platinum Koala The Platinum Koala is an Australian platinum bullion coin minted by the Perth Mint and is the most famous series of platinum coins of Australia. The Platinum Koala is notionally legal tender, that is a legal means of payment ....	1988–2010
	Platinum Panda	1988–2005

American Platinum Eagle

refers to the official platinum bullion coins of the United States. These coins are made of 0.9995 pure platinum with the face values of 10, 25, 50 and 100 dollars and were first released by the United States Mint

United States Mint

The United States Mint primarily produces circulating coinage for the United States to conduct its trade and commerce. The Mint was created by Congress with the Coinage Act of 1792, and placed within the Department of State...

in 1997. The design of coins of different values is almost the same, except for some numerical values. The 2009 minting of Platinum Eagles was uncertain due to the rising metal prices; however, the issue of 8,000 one-ounce coins was announced in October. The price was set at $1,792, and the entire edition was sold out within a week.

American Platinum Eagle
year	Weight, oz	Weight, g	Diameter, mm	Thickness, mm	Grading Coin grading In coin collecting coin grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a coin, one of the key factors in determining its value as a collector's item....	Circulation
1997	1	31.120	32.70	2.39	BU	56000
1997	1	31.120	32.70	2.39	Proof	16000
1997	1/2	15.560	27.0	1.75	BU	20500
1997	1/2	15.560	27.0	1.75	Proof	14640
1997	1/4	7.780	22.0	1.32	BU	27100
1997	1/4	7.780	22.0	1.32	Proof	18730
1997	1/10	3.112	16.5	0.95	BU	70250
1997	1/10	3.112	16.5	0.95	Proof	37270
1998	1	31.120	32.70	2.39	BU	133002
1998	1	31.120	32.70	2.39	Proof	26050
1998	1/2	15.560	27.0	1.75	BU	32419
1998	1/2	15.560	27.0	1.75	Proof	13920
1998	1/4	7.780	22.0	1.32	BU	38887
1998	1/4	7.780	22.0	1.32	Proof	14203
1998	1/10	3.112	16.5	0.95	BU	39525
1998	1/10	3.112	16.5	0.95	Proof	19920
1999	1	31.120	32.70	2.39	BU	56707
1999	1	31.120	32.70	2.39	Proof	12355
1999	1/2	15.560	27.0	1.75	BU	32309
1999	1/2	15.560	27.0	1.75	Proof	11100
1999	1/4	7.780	22.0	1.32	BU	39734
1999	1/4	7.780	22.0	1.32	Proof	13524
1999	1/10	3.112	16.5	0.95	BU	55955
1999	1/10	3.112	16.5	0.95	Proof	19125
2000	1	31.120	32.70	2.39	BU	10003
2000	1	31.120	32.70	2.39	Proof	12400
2000	1/2	15.560	27.0	1.75	BU	18892
2000	1/2	15.560	27.0	1.75	Proof	11000
2000	1/4	7.780	22.0	1.32	BU	20054
2000	1/4	7.780	22.0	1.32	Proof	11900
2000	1/10	3.112	16.5	0.95	BU	34027
2000	1/10	3.112	16.5	0.95	Proof	15600
2001	1	31.120	32.70	2.39	BU	14070
2001	1	31.120	32.70	2.39	Proof	14000
2001	1/2	15.560	27.0	1.75	BU	12815
2001	1/2	15.560	27.0	1.75	Proof	13000
2001	1/4	7.780	22.0	1.32	BU	21815
2001	1/4	7.780	22.0	1.32	Proof	15000
2001	1/10	3.112	16.5	0.95	BU	52017
2001	1/10	3.112	16.5	0.95	Proof	25000
2002	1	31.120	32.70	2.39	BU	11502
2002	1	31.120	32.70	2.39	Proof	9835
2002	1/2	15.560	27.0	1.75	BU	24005
2002	1/2	15.560	27.0	1.75	Proof	8775
2002	1/4	7.780	22.0	1.32	BU	27405
2002	1/4	7.780	22.0	1.32	Proof	9285
2002	1/10	3.112	16.5	0.95	BU	23005
2002	1/10	3.112	16.5	0.95	Proof	12365
2003	1	31.120	32.70	2.39	BU	8007
2003	1	31.120	32.70	2.39	Proof	14000
2003	1/2	15.560	27.0	1.75	BU	17409
2003	1/2	15.560	27.0	1.75	Proof	13000
2003	1/4	7.780	22.0	1.32	BU	25207
2003	1/4	7.780	22.0	1.32	Proof	15000
2003	1/10	3.112	16.5	0.95	BU	22007
2003	1/10	3.112	16.5	0.95	Proof	20000
2004	1	31.120	32.70	2.39	BU	7009
2004	1	31.120	32.70	2.39	Proof	14000
2004	1/2	15.560	27.0	1.75	BU	13236
2004	1/2	15.560	27.0	1.75	Proof	13000
2004	1/4	7.780	22.0	1.32	BU	18010
2004	1/4	7.780	22.0	1.32	Proof	15000
2004	1/10	3.112	16.5	0.95	BU	15010
2004	1/10	3.112	16.5	0.95	Proof	20000
2005	1	31.120	32.70	2.39	BU	6310
2005	1	31.120	32.70	2.39	Proof	14000
2005	1/2	15.560	27.0	1.75	BU	9013
2005	1/2	15.560	27.0	1.75	Proof	13000
2005	1/4	7.780	22.0	1.32	BU	12013
2005	1/4	7.780	22.0	1.32	Proof	15000
2005	1/10	3.112	16.5	0.95	BU	14013
2005	1/10	3.112	16.5	0.95	Proof	20000
2006	1	31.120	32.70	2.39	BU	6000
2006	1	31.120	32.70	2.39	Proof	?
2006	1/2	15.560	27.0	1.75	BU	9602
2006	1/2	15.560	27.0	1.75	Proof	?
2006	1/4	7.780	22.0	1.32	BU	12001
2006	1/4	7.780	22.0	1.32	Proof	?
2006	1/10	3.112	16.5	0.95	BU	11001
2006	1/10	3.112	16.5	0.95	Proof	?
2007	1	31.120	32.70	2.39	BU	7202
2007	1	31.120	32.70	2.39	Proof	?
2007	1/2	15.560	27.0	1.75	BU	7001
2007	1/2	15.560	27.0	1.75	Proof	?
2007	1/4	7.780	22.0	1.32	BU	8402
2007	1/4	7.780	22.0	1.32	Proof	?
2007	1/10	3.112	16.5	0.95	BU	13003
2007	1/10	3.112	16.5	0.95	Proof	?
2008	1	31.120	32.70	2.39	BU	?
2008	1	31.120	32.70	2.39	Proof	?
2008	1/2	15.560	27.0	1.75	BU	?
2008	1/2	15.560	27.0	1.75	Proof	?
2008	1/4	7.780	22.0	1.32	BU	?
2008	1/4	7.780	22.0	1.32	Proof	?
2008	1/10	3.112	16.5	0.95	BU	?
2008	1/10	3.112	16.5	0.95	Proof	?
2009	1	31.120	32.70	2.39	Proof	8000
2010	1	31.120	32.70	2.39	Proof	10000

In 2009, the U.S. Mint has announced a six-year plan to issue a new series of platinum coins, which will be devoted to the basic principles of democracy set forth in the preamble of the U.S. Constitution. The yearly topics will be "To Form a More Perfect Union" (2009), "To Establish Justice" (2010), "To Insure Domestic Tranquility" (2011), "To Provide for the Common Defence" (2012), "To Promote the General Welfare" (2013) and "To Secure the Blessings of Liberty to Ourselves and our Posterity" (2014). The 2009 and 2010 issues were quickly sold out.

Platinum Maple Leaf

Canada has produced platinum coins from 1988 to 1999, with the 10th anniversary edition in 1989, and a series having a hologram on the reverse in 2002. Their weight ranges from 1/20 to 1 ounce (1.5 to 131.160 g).
The first issue of the Maple Leaf coins with the face value of 50, 20, 10 and 5 Canadian dollars was announced on 11 July 1988, and the minting began on 21 September of the same year. The official selling started on 17 November 1988 in six cities, and the total volume of 64,200 ounces had been sold during the first six weeks.

On 29 July 1993, the Royal Canadian Mint

Royal Canadian Mint

The Royal Canadian Mint produces all of Canada's circulation coins, and manufactures circulation coins on behalf of other nations. The Mint also designs and manufactures: precious and base metal collector coins; gold, silver, palladium, and platinum bullion coins; medals, as well as medallions and...

started production of 1/20 oz, $1 coins, and on 9 September 1994 launched a 1/15 oz variety. The production of the 1/15 oz coins was however discontinued in January 1996. The coins contain an image of maple leaves (the national symbol of Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

) and a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. The 1 ounce coins are sold in batches of 10 pcs. packed in plastic tubes.

Maple leaf platinum coins
Regular editions, sold at prices close to the price of the metal
Value	Weight, oz Troy ounce The troy ounce is a unit of imperial measure. In the present day it is most commonly used to gauge the weight of precious metals. One troy ounce is nowadays defined as exactly 0.0311034768 kg = 31.1034768 g. There are approximately 32.1507466 troy oz in 1 kg...	Weight, g	Year	Note
$1	1/20	1.555	1993–1999
$2	1/15	2.07	1994
$5	1/10	3.131	1988–1999
$10	1/4	7.197	1988–1999
$20	1/2	15.575	1988–1999
$50	1	31.15	1988–1999
Special collectible editions, priced much higher than the price of the metal
Value	Weight, oz Troy ounce The troy ounce is a unit of imperial measure. In the present day it is most commonly used to gauge the weight of precious metals. One troy ounce is nowadays defined as exactly 0.0311034768 kg = 31.1034768 g. There are approximately 32.1507466 troy oz in 1 kg...	Weight, g	Year	Note
$5	1/10	3.131	1989	10th anniversary issue
$10	1/4	7.797	1989	10th anniversary issue
$20	1/2	15.575	1989	10th anniversary issue
$50	1	31.15	1989	10th anniversary issue
$1	1/20	1.555	2002	hologram
$2	1/15	2.07	2002	hologram
$5	1/10	3.131	2002	hologram
$10	1/4	7.197	2002	hologram
$20	1/2	15.575	2002	hologram
$50	1	31.15	2002	hologram

Platinum Koala

is the most famous series of platinum coins of Australia. On 18 June 1987, the Australian Government approved the minting of platinum and silver coins, and accepted them as the legal tender

Legal tender

Legal tender is a medium of payment allowed by law or recognized by a legal system to be valid for meeting a financial obligation. Paper currency is a common form of legal tender in many countries....

. This decision was made based on success of gold coins issued a year earlier. The minting of the "Platinum Koala" began in September 1988 in Perth

Perth, Western Australia

Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....

. For marketing purposes, 2 ounce, 10 ounce and 1 kilogram coins of silver, gold and platinum were introduced in 1991; the 1 kg coins were the world's heaviest bullion coins at the time.

The obverse, designed by Raphael Maklouf for most issues, depicts Queen Elizabeth II, and the reverse contains an image of a koala

Koala

The koala is an arboreal herbivorous marsupial native to Australia, and the only extant representative of the family Phascolarctidae....

. The initials JB of the reverse face designer James Brown are present on most coins. The annual series contain coins weighing from 1/20 ounce to 1 kilogram.

Weight	1/20 oz	1/10 oz	1/4 oz	1/2 oz	1 oz	2 oz	10 oz	1 kg
Face value, $ Australian dollar The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...	5	10	25	50	100	200	1,000	3,000
Thickness, mm	1.32	1.40	1.90	2.03	2.7	3.8	7.9	13.9
Diameter, mm	14.1	16.1	20.1	25.1	32.1	40.60	60.30	75.30

The Platinum Koala never reached the popularity of the American Platinum Eagle, mostly because it has not been advertised in the US. Like most investment platinum coins, Platinum Koalas are sealed in a protective plastic case. The coins are sold at prices that reflect the current price of platinum, and not at the face value printed on the coin. Since November 1986, Perth Mint

Perth Mint

The Perth Mint is Australia's oldest currently operating mint ....

has used more than 18 tonnes of platinum for minting. About 85% of them were sold abroad making the Gold Corporation

Gold Corporation

Gold Corporation is a company owned by the Western Australian Government, established by the Gold Corporation Act 1987, with a mandate to operate the Perth Mint, to market Australian gold and other related activities....

(owner of the Mint) one of Australia's top 30 export earners.

Platinum Panda

Platinum Panda is a series of platinum coins of China produced from 1987 to 2005. The series is named after the image of giant panda

Giant Panda

The giant panda, or panda is a bear native to central-western and south western China. It is easily recognized by its large, distinctive black patches around the eyes, over the ears, and across its round body. Though it belongs to the order Carnivora, the panda's diet is 99% bamboo...

printed on the reverse of all coins. The People's Bank of China

People's Bank of China

The People's Bank of China is the central bank of the People's Republic of China with the power to control monetary policy and regulate financial institutions in mainland China...

has minted 8,300 one-ounce Platinum Panda coins between 1987 and 1990 with the face value of 100 yuan

Chinese yuan

The yuan is the base unit of a number of modern Chinese currencies. The yuan is the primary unit of account of the Renminbi.A yuán is also known colloquially as a kuài . One yuán is divided into 10 jiǎo or colloquially máo...

s. Additionally, 5,450 ounces of platinum were used for coins of smaller denominations in the 1990s–first decade of the 21st century. The minted was discontinued in 2005, mostly due to the increasing price of platinum – while in 1990 price was about US $490/oz, it crossed the $2,000 level in the summer of 2008. All Platinum Pandas, except for coins of 2004–2005, are very rare and their availability can not be judged from the minted volumes. This is partly because some coins had been remelted.

Platinum Panda (ratings and circulation)
Year	Value Face value The Face value is the value of a coin, stamp or paper money, as printed on the coin, stamp or bill itself by the minting authority. While the face value usually refers to the true value of the coin, stamp or bill in question it can sometimes be largely symbolic, as is often the case with bullion... , Yuan Chinese yuan The yuan is the base unit of a number of modern Chinese currencies. The yuan is the primary unit of account of the Renminbi.A yuán is also known colloquially as a kuài . One yuán is divided into 10 jiǎo or colloquially máo...	Diameter, mm	Weight, g	No, pcs.
1987	100	32	31.1	2000
1988	100	32	31.1	2000
1989	100	32	31.1	3000
1990	100	32	31.1	1300
1990	50	27	15.55	2500
1990	25	22	7.8	3500
1990	10	18	3.1	4500
1993	10	18	3.1	2500
1993	5	14	1.55	2500
1994	10	18	3.1	5000
1995	10	18	3.1	5000
1995	5	14	1.55	10000
1996	10	18	3.1	2500
1996	5	14	1.55	5000
1997	10	18	3.1	2500
1997	5	14	1.55	5000
2002	100	18	3.1	20000
2003	50	14	1.55	50000
2004	50	14	1.55	50000
2005	100	18	3.1	30000

Single issues

Many commemorative coins were dedicated to a significant event or anniversary and issued once only. For example, Estonia released a platinum coin in 2008 to honor its 90th anniversary, and Tonga

Tonga

Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...

in 1967 issued 400 platinum coins on occasion of the coronation of Taufa'ahau Tupou IV

Taufa'ahau Tupou IV

Tāufaāhau Tupou IV, King of Tonga, GCMG, GCVO, KBE, KStJ son of Queen Sālote Tupou III and her consort Prince Viliami Tungī Mailefihi, was the king of Tonga from the death of his mother in 1965 until his own death in 2006...

. The countries which minted such coins include Congo, Panama, South Africa, Portugal and France.

The Estonian issue began on 24 February 2008 – the Independence Day of Estonia – and included silver, gold and platinum coins. The platinum coin was the first for Estonia. Its reverse featured Barn Swallow

Barn Swallow

The Barn Swallow is the most widespread species of swallow in the world. It is a distinctive passerine bird with blue upperparts, a long, deeply forked tail and curved, pointed wings. It is found in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas...

– the national symbol of Estonia – and the obverse contained the national coat of arms. The coin had a face value

Face value

of 100 Estonian kroon

Estonian kroon

In 1992, coins were introduced in denominations of 5, 10, 20 & 50 senti, as well as 1 kroon. The 1 kroon was struck in cupronickel, the others in aluminum-bronze. However, in 1997, nickel-plated steel 20 senti were introduced, followed by aluminum-bronze 1 kroon in 1998. 5 senti coins were not...

s, a platinum purity of 999/1000, a weight of 7.775 gram and a diameter of 18.0 mm. The coin was designed by Tiit Jϋrna and produced by the Mint of Finland with a quantity of 3,000 pieces. The opening sale took place in the Hall of Independence at the National Bank, where the independence of Estonia was proclaimed 90 years ago; 349 coins and 176 sets were sold within three and a half hours. The entire issue is sold out.

Investing in coins and their storage

Platinum coins are a popular investment, and each year the number of such coins sold by Sberbank

Sberbank

Sberbank Rossii is the largest bank in Russia and Eastern Europe. The company's headquarters are in Moscow and its history goes back to Cancrin's financial reform of 1841...

of Russia increases by 30–50%. Most experts agree on that such investments should have a long-term character, as the rise of the platinum price is relatively slow – about 80% over the last 5 years, except for a rapid rise followed by decline in 2008. Also, whereas most banks can sell platinum coins, only a few buy them, as this requires evaluation by an experienced professional. For example, only 5% of offices of Sberbank (the major bank of Russia) in the capital city of Moscow redeem precious metal coins. The selling price is also much affected by visible scratches, spots, patina

Patina

Patina is a tarnish that forms on the surface of bronze and similar metals ; a sheen on wooden furniture produced by age, wear, and polishing; or any such acquired change of a surface through age and exposure...

and other defects introduced by inaccurate handling. For this reason, most bullion coins are sealed in transparent plastic right after removal from the press. They are then stored in a dry room with relative humidity

Relative humidity

Relative humidity is a term used to describe the amount of water vapor in a mixture of air and water vapor. It is defined as the partial pressure of water vapor in the air-water mixture, given as a percentage of the saturated vapor pressure under those conditions...

below 80%, at temperatures between 15 to 40 °C. If a coin is removed from its plastic seal, it is recommended not to store it in PVC

Polyvinyl chloride

Polyvinyl chloride, commonly abbreviated PVC, is a thermoplastic polymer. It is a vinyl polymer constructed of repeating vinyl groups having one hydrogen replaced by chloride. Polyvinyl chloride is the third most widely produced plastic, after polyethylene and polypropylene. PVC is widely used in...

albums, as PVC molecules gradually break down, releasing organochlorine compounds which produce patina on the coins. These compounds may also form acids by reacting with moisture. Unlike silver, platinum does not corrode. However, as all unprotected coins, platinum coins are prone to contamination which can be caused even by washing with (chlorine-containing) tap water.

External links

American Platinum Eagle images

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