Proof platinums a big positive for the Mint

In trying to get out of a cycle of negativity I decided to try and focus on the positive aspects of the US Mint. Finding things to gripe about is a trivial task. Now my goal is not to say that those complaints are baseless but rather that there are some redeeming qualities of the Mint. With that said, last Friday my 2004 1/10th oz. proof platinum coin arrived in the mail. Due to extenuating circumstances (which I won’t go into here) I had to track down a number of the platinum coins via eBay and after a year of searching, it was finally mine. Not including the 2007 I have a complete set of 1/10 oz proof platinum coins. When I was waiting for it to come from Michigan I explained the series to my wife. Here is my conclusion.

The artistry on these coins is superb and make them truly the flagship product of the Mint. With the exception of the initial reverse design from 1997, the reverses (and even the nice rendition of the Statue of Liberty by John Mercanti) have been outstanding. What confuses me is the lack of popularity in the series. Why do people spend hundreds of dollars to get a 1 oz. gold coin that only differs from the standard bullion version by a mint mark and a slightly better planchet? These coins are a far better series to collect and they are one positive aspect of the Mint among so many that I will probably write about soon. But if you’re going to start a blog, why not start on a positive note?