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About the coins

In 2000, U.S. Mint Engraver Al Maletsky sculpted his second successive reverse design of the third “Vistas of Liberty” Platinum Proof coin. This marked the first time the same artist’s design had been used two years in a row on the changing reverses. This makes the 1999 and 2000 Platinum Proofs uniquely compatible companions. Maletsky would repeat his two in a row turn in 2002-2003.

Upon first inspection, Maletsky’s Year 2000 reverse design does not appear as compelling as his “Wetlands” coin from the year before. However, a closer examination reveals a finely crafted scene with perfectly calculated aspect ratios depicting a wide, rolling landscape in seemingly perfect dimension. The design, entitled “Eagle Above America’s Heartland,” features the omnipresent Bald Eagle flying full reveal in the upper foreground above the crop fields of a solitary farm house with a large barn and granary silo. The entire scene stretches across gently rolling hills into a sun laced horizon.

The legend “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” repeats its presentation from the year before, arced at the top rim in a single line of text. However, for the first time in the series, the fineness designation “.9995 Platinum” and the coin’s guaranteed platinum weight appear just below the coin’s legal tender denomination at the bottom center hovering over the crop field. The “W” mint mark designating the West Point Mint as the producer is cleanly located near the left outer rim about nine o’clock just above the horizon line.

Original Total Mintage Summary:

Including all four denominations, there was a total of 51,148 Platinum Eagle Proofs produced and sold in 2000. By 2000, a clear trend of diminishing total mintages was beginning to emerge. This is a trend that would, with one exception, continue to the end of the first decade. As in the previous year, the $50 Proof coin is the rarest with only 11,049 coins produced. By total mintage, the 2000 Platinum Eagle Proofs are the sixth rarest in the series.

NGC Certified Population Summary:

Additionally, through June 26, 2009, a total of only 293 four coin Platinum Eagle Proof sets from 2000 had been certified by NGC in Proof 70 condition.

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