2021 Australia Wedge-Tailed Eagles

The Wedge-Tailed Eagle as You’ve Never Seen It Before

This is the eighth year in 2021 Australia Wedge-Tailed Eagles and this is without a doubt the most spectacular release in this popular series yet. They’re spectacular because they’re struck in exquisite Ultra-High Relief that elevates them far above traditional proofs.In fact, this is very first time the Perth Mint has released a Wedge-Tailed Eagle in Ultra-High Relief and also the first time the Mint has minted a high-relief platinum proof, a revelation considering the difficult striking capabilities associated with Platinum. Additionally, 2021 marks the first time ever Australia’s Perth Mint has ever struck proofs of more than one ounce metal content in Ultra-High Relief.

These Eagles Made History

The fact is, Australia’s Wedge-Tailed Eagles made numismatic history in 2014. That’s when John Mercanti, the 12th Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint and a man recognized for creating incredible, important coin designs, collaborated with the Perth Mint, marking the first time ever that a U.S. Mint engraver designed a coin for a foreign mint. The response among collectors worldwide that year, and in each successive year, has been so overwhelming that the series has become a mainstay of the Perth Mint. It’s among the most anticipated releases each year, by collectors all around the globe. Mercanti is the same man who created the hugely popular American Silver Eagle reverse that’s been around for over 35 years, and he just sculpted this new Australian Wedge-Tailed Eagle design, his sixth entry in the series.

Why the Wedge-Tailed Eagle?

The largest bird of prey in Australia, the wedge-tailed eagle commands attention. It’s noteworthy for its unique, long, unmistakable wedge-shaped tail, and also for its penchant for soaring for extended periods, up to 90 minutes, sometimes as high as 6,000 feet above the ground. These impressive birds also capture the imagination because they’re huge. The largest recorded wingspan of a wedgie is 9 feet, 4 inches long. Additionally, like the American Bald Eagle, the Australian Wedge-Tailed Eagle is used as a symbol on badges for municipal police forces, governmental services, agencies like the Australian parks service, and also various branches of military. In fact, the Royal Australian Air Force named its airborne early warning and control aircraft the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail.

Five Mercanti Designs Before this New One

Since its inception in 2014, through this year’s 2021 release, six unique Mercanti designs have been issued depicting the iconic bird in a unique, non-traditional light. The first two designs, the Eagle about to stick a landing with wings outspread in 2014-2015, and the Eagle perched and surveying his territory in 2016-2017, were two-year designs. Starting in 2018, each design became one-year only starting with the first-ever depiction of a family of eagles, with a mother eagle in the foreground, looking down at her eaglet with concern and responsibility. The 2019 design depicted the Eagle soaring in the sky sizing up its prey, and the 2020 design portrayed the eagle closing in on its prey, talons extended in anticipation.

This 2021 Mercanti design gives us another chapter in the Wedge-Tailed Eagle story, portraying the Eagle engrossed in the hunt with its next meal, a struggling snake, grasped in its talons. The obverse of this proof is an effigy of the oldest reigning Monarch in the world, Queen Elizabeth II, designed by former engraver for the United Kingdom’s Royal Mint and current Head of Design at the Commonwealth Mint, Jody Clark.

Why the Ultra-High Relief (UHR) & High Relief (HR) Design Is a Big Deal

It’s a big deal because this is the first time the Perth Mint has ever struck more than one ounce metal content in UHR, the first-time the mint has struck a platinum coin in HR, and the first-time collectors have an opportunity to get gold and silver Wedge-Tailed Eagle Proof in UHR and platinum proofs in HR. But beyond the “firsts”, it’s a big deal because these Wedge-tailed Eagles are absolutely stunning, with precise preservation of every detail of the design, along with maximum contrast between the backgrounds and the raised elements. The bottom line? When you hold this Wedge-Tailed Eagle Proof in your hand, you’ll be astonished at the beauty, and incredible detail that brings this new Mercanti design to life.

Struck in Pure Gold, Silver and Platinum

Available exclusively here, you can get Australia Wedge-Tailed Eagles struck in five ounces 99.99% Gold, ten ounces 99.99% Silver, two ounces 99.99% Silver and one ounce 99.95% Platinum.

These Are Better than the Best, with Hand-Signed Labels

Each of these proofs is perfect, flawless, even under high magnification, certified by Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) as Proof-70 (PF70) Ultra Cameo (UC). There is no higher grade. But it gets even better because these proofs have a special pedigree. Since they were received for grading within 24 hours of the mintage’s release, they received NGC’s special First Day of Issue (FDI) designation to go along with their top grade. This coveted FDI designation sets these coins apart from all others. They’re not just the best of the best—they’re the FIRST of the best! Each coin comes sonically sealed with an Australian Flag label with a hand-signed signature from the reverse designer, John Mercanti, in a Perth Mint presentation case, with a Perth Mint numbered certificate of authenticity.

2021 Australia Five-Ounce Gold Wedge-Tailed Eagle Proof

First Ever Ultra-High Relief Design Struck in Five Ounces of Gold by the Perth Mint
First Ever Ultra-High Relief Wedge-Tailed Eagle by the Perth Mint
Reverse Design by John Mercanti, 12^th Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint
Obverse Design by Jody Clark, former U.K. Royal Mint Designer
Five Ounces of Pure Gold
Struck in 99.99% Purity
$500 Australian Legal Tender
Enhanced Reverse Proof Finish
Graded Flawless PF70 UC (PF70 UC) by NGC
NGC-Certified as First Day of Issue (FDI)
Exclusive Label Hand-Signed by Designer John Mercanti
Mintage 50
Limited Availability

2021 Australia One-Ounce Platinum Wedge-Tailed Eagle Proof

First Ever High Relief Design Struck in One Ounce of Platinum by the Perth Mint
First Ever High Relief Wedge-Tailed Eagle by the Perth Mint in Platinum
Reverse Design by John Mercanti, 12^th Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint
Obverse Design by Jody Clark, former U.K. Royal Mint Designer
One Ounce Platinum
Struck in 99.95% Purity
$100 Australian Legal Tender
Enhanced Reverse Proof Finish
Graded Flawless PF70 UC (PF70 UC) by NGC
NGC-Certified as First Day of Issue (FDI)
Exclusive Label Hand-Signed by Designer John Mercanti
Mintage 350
Limited Availability

2021 Australia Ten-Ounce Silver Wedge-Tailed Eagle Proof

First Ever Ultra-High Relief Design Struck in Ten Ounces of Silver by the Perth Mint
First Ever Ultra-High Relief Wedge-Tailed Eagle by the Perth Mint
Reverse Design by John Mercanti, 12^th Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint
Obverse Design by Jody Clark, former U.K. Royal Mint Designer
Ten Ounces of Fine Silver
Struck in 99.99% Purity
$10 Australian Legal Tender
Enhanced Reverse Proof Finish
Graded Flawless PF70 UC (PF70 UC) by NGC
NGC-Certified as First Day of Issue (FDI)
Exclusive Label Hand-Signed by Designer John Mercanti
Mintage 500
Limited Availability

2021 Australia Two-Ounce Silver Wedge-Tailed Eagle Proof

First Ever Ultra-High Relief Design Struck in Two Ounces of Silver by the Perth Mint
First Ever Ultra-High Relief Wedge-Tailed Eagle by the Perth Mint
Reverse Design by John Mercanti, 12^th Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint
Obverse Design by Jody Clark, former U.K. Royal Mint Designer
Two Ounces of Fine Silver
Struck in 99.99% Purity
$2 Australian Legal Tender
Enhanced Reverse Proof Finish
Graded Flawless PF70 UC (PF70 UC) by NGC
NGC-Certified as First Day of Issue (FDI)
Exclusive Label Hand-Signed by Designer John Mercanti
Mintage 2,500
Limited Availability