2022 Kilo Wedge-Tailed Eagle

Massive Kilo Eagles and the Last Year Queen Elizabeth’s Effigy Will Appear on a Wedge-Tailed Eagle.

On Thursday, September 8th, 2022 Queen Elizabeth II, the UK’s longest-reigning monarch, died peacefully surrounded by family at Balmoral Castle at the age of 96. The Crown passes immediately to her son and heir Charles, who will officially be known as King Charles III.

With this, the coins and notes will need to be replaced, because they currently have the face of Queen Elizabeth II on them. New currency will be created and distributed all over the UK, with the old currency gradually phased out.There will be changes in the currencies of many other countries, such as Canada, Australia and New Zealand, including the Wedge Tailed Eagle.

First Ever Enhanced Reverse Proof Kilo Wedge-Tailed Eagles

The wait is over! Here are the new 2022 Wedge-Tailed Eagles from Australia’s Perth Mint, with an exceptionally detailed, stunning new Mercanti design, minted in an enhanced reverse proof for the first time ever, in kilos of high-purity, 99.99% pure gold and silver. They do not disappoint! These new Wedge-Tailed Eagles represent the next step in the progression of Wedge-Tailed Eagle designs from the hand and mind of the 12th Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint, John Mercanti, the man who has produced more coin and medal designs than any employee in the 229 years of the U.S. Mint.

These Eagles Are Part of a Big First in Numismatic History

Australia’s Wedge-Tailed Eagles made history in 2014 when John Mercanti 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 was overwhelming, and the series has grown in popularity every year. The Australian Wedge-Tailed Eagles are among the most anticipated releases each year, for collectors all around the globe.

Why the Wedge-Tailed Eagle?

The Wedge-Tailed Eagle is the largest bird of prey in Australia. The key word in that sentence is “big” because these birds are known for their huge wingspans—the largest is recorded at 9 feet, 4 inches long—as well as their unique, unmistakable wedge-shaped tail, and their ability to soar effortlessly for extended periods (up to 90 minutes) at speeds up to 50 mph!

Additionally, like the American Bald Eagle, the Wedge-Tailed Eagle is a well-known symbol of Australia. It can be found on badges for municipal police forces, governmental services, agencies like the Australian parks service, and various military branches. It’s the state emblem for two Australian states, the Northern Territory and New South Wales. Plus, the Royal Australian Air Force named its airborne early warning and control aircraft the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail.

Nine Years, the Seventh New Mercanti Design

A one-year-only design, this 2022 Wedge-Tailed Eagle is Mercanti’s seventh reverse design in the series, featuring the next logical step in the portrayal of Australia’s Wedge-Tailed Eagle. 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, the 2020 design portrayed the eagle closing in on its prey, talons extended in anticipation, and the 2021 depicts the hunting Eagle grasping its next meal, a struggling snake, in its talons.

This new 2022 reverse design features a detailed, close-up profile of the Wedge-Tailed Eagle as never seen him before, displaying a stunning side profile of the bird, with his beak open as he calls. The 2022 year-date, weight, purity, and Perth Mint’s traditional ‘P’ mint mark are included in the design as well. The obverse of this proof is an effigy of the oldest reigning Monarch in the world, 96-year-old 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.

An Extraordinary Enhanced Reverse Proof Design for the First Time Ever

These Proofs are especially impressive thanks to their spectacular enhanced reverse proof finish featuring the same frosted background as a typical reverse proof, but with multiple polished and frosted finishes applied to different elements of the design, creating stunning contrasts. This proof is a joy to behold! This is the first time ever the Perth Mint has struck coins with these specifications with an enhanced reverse design!

Struck in One Kilo Gold or One Kilo Silver

These 2022 Wedge-Tailed Eagle Proofs are struck in one full kilo of high-purity 99.99% pure gold, $3,000 Australia legal tender, and in one full kilo of high-purity 99.99% fine silver, $30 Australia legal tender.

Certified Flawless PF70 UC and First Day of Issue by NGC

Proofs and coins are graded on a 70-point scale, with a grade of 70 representing absolute perfection, even under magnification. There is no higher grade. These 2022 Wedge-Tailed Eagle Proofs have been certified as perfect Proof-70 Ultra Cameo (PF70 UC) by Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC), one of the top coin-grading services in the world. Each proof has also received a First Day of Issue (FDI) designation. The FDI designation means these coins were turned over for grading on the first day of release from the mint. First Day of Issue proofs are sought-after because they are fresh and sharp, minted early, and because there are so few of them compared to the overall population.

Exclusive John Mercanti Hand-Signed Signature Labels

Each of these perfect, flawless proofs comes sonically sealed with an Australian Flag label with a hand-signed signature from the reverse designer, John Mercanti. Each arrives displayed in a Perth Mint presentation case, accompanied by a Perth Mint numbered certificate of authenticity.

Low Mintages Worldwide

These Wedge-Tailed Eagle Proofs have extremely limited worldwide mintages, including just 10 of the One Kilo Gold Proofs and just 250 of the One Kilo Silver Proofs. Fewer of each version is available in perfect PF70 UC condition, designated as First Day of Issue, with a hand-signed label. What that means is simply this: you’ll want to act fast, so you don’t end up empty-handed.

2022 Australia Kilo Gold Wedge-Tailed Eagle Enhanced Reverse Proof PF70 UC FDI

One Kilo 99.99% Pure Gold
One-Year-Only Reverse Design by John Mercanti
$3,000 Australia Legal Tender
First Ever Enhanced Reverse Proof Finish
Perfect Proof-70 Ultra Cameo (PF70 UC) Grade
Certified First Day of Issue (FDI) by NGC
Hand-Signed Label by Designer John Mercanti
Limited Availability and Extremely Low Population
World Exclusive, Only Available Here Outside Australia

2022 Australia Kilo Silver Wedge-Tailed Eagle Enhanced Reverse Proof PF70 UC FDI

One Kilo 99.99% Pure Silver
One-Year-Only Reverse Design by John Mercanti
$30 Australia Legal Tender
First Ever Enhanced Reverse Proof Finish
Perfect Proof-70 Ultra Cameo (PF70 UC) Grade
Certified First Day of Issue (FDI) by NGC
Hand-Signed Label by Designer John Mercanti
Limited Availability and Extremely Low Population
World Exclusive, Only Available Here Outside Australia