It’s getting so that, whenever you hear a new coin is from Australia’s Perth Mint, you can count on it raising the bar on coin design! Here are the new 2022 Wedge-Tailed Eagles, boasting an exceptionally-detailed, stunning, Enhanced Reverse Proof (ERP) finish, struck in high-purity gold, platinum and silver. 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 U.S. Mint history. But, keep in mind, due to limited mintages, these very popular Wedge-Tailed Eagle Proofs are in short supply.

A History-Making Collaboration

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 Australia Wedge-Tailed Eagle series is among the most anticipated releases each year, for collectors all around the globe. Mercanti is the same man who created the hugely popular American Silver Eagle reverse that lasted for over 35 years, and he just sculpted this new Australian Wedge-Tailed Eagle design for 2022, his seventh entry in the series.

Why the Wedge-Tailed Eagle?

The largest bird of prey in Australia, the Wedge-Tailed Eagle is noteworthy for its unique, long, unmistakable wedge-shaped tail, its penchant for effortlessly soaring for extended periods (up to 90 minutes), its ability to travel at speeds of up to 50 mph, and its size. Wedge-Tailed Eagles can be huge, with the largest recorded wingspan recorded at 9 feet, 4 inches long. Additionally, like the American Bald Eagle in the U.S., the Wedge-Tailed Eagle is an Australian symbol. It’s on badges for municipal police forces, governmental services, and also various branches of the military. The Royal Australian Air Force even named its airborne early warning and control aircraft the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail.

Nine Years, the Seventh New Mercanti Wedge-Tailed Eagle Design

A one-year-only design, this 2022 Wedge-Tailed Eagle is Mercanti’s seventh reverse design in the series, featuring the next chapter in the portrayal of Australia’s iconic 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 design depicted the Eagle engrossed in the hunt with his next meal, a snake, in his talons.

Now for 2022, Mercanti gives more of the Wedge-Tailed Eagle story, with a highly-detailed, close-up, side profile of a majestic Wedge Tailed-Eagle with his beak open. The obverse of this proof is an effigy of the oldest reigning monarch in the world, Queen Elizabeth II, designed by Jody Clark, former designer for the United Kingdom’s Royal Mint and current Head of Design at the Commonwealth Mint.

These Eagles Represent a First for the Perth Mint!

The Perth Mint introduced an Enhanced Reverse Proof finish for the first time in 2021, on the one-ounce Gold, one-ounce Silver, and five-ounce Silver Wedge Tailed Eagles. Now in 2022, these Wedge Tailed Eagles again feature an Enhanced Reverse Proof finish, but for the first time ever on the specifications featured here—five-ounce Gold, one-ounce Platinum, ten-ounce Silver, and two-ounce Silver. Select feathers on this new design feature varying polished and frosted finishes, creating stunning contrast in the design.

Typically, proof finish coins are produced in relatively low quantities and are considered more beautiful than their standard counterparts. That is certainly true in this case. These Proofs are gorgeous! And limited.

In addition to the Enhanced Reverse Proof finish the five-ounce gold and the ten-ounce and two-ounce silvers are struck in High-Relief.

Struck in High-Purity Gold, Platinum and Silver

These 2022 Wedge-Tailed Eagle Proofs are struck in five full ounces of 99.99% pure gold, $500 Australia legal tender, in one full ounce of 99.95% fine Platinum, $100 Australia legal tender, in ten full ounces of 99.99% fine silver, $10 Australia legal tender, and in two full ounces of 99.99% fine silver, $2 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 Company (NGC), one of the top coin grading services in the world. The Ultra Cameo (UC) designation signifies these coins possess an intense frosted finish on both sides of the coin, with highly polished fields accenting the raised elements.

Each Proof has also received a First Day of Issue (FDI) pedigree. The FDI pedigree 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.

These Proofs are not just the best of the best, they’re the first of the best.

Exclusive John Mercanti Hand-Signed Signature Labels

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

Exclusive Low Worldwide Mintages

These Wedge-Tailed Eagle Proofs have highly limited worldwide mintages—just 50 of the five-ounce Gold Proofs, just 200 of the one-ounce Platinum Proofs, just 500 of the ten-ounce Silver Proofs, and just 2,000 of the two-ounce Silver Proofs. Fewer are available in perfect PF70 UC condition, pedigreed as First Day of Issue, with hand-signed labels. We are the sole source for these magnificent Proofs outside of Australia.

What that means is simply this: you’ll want to act fast, so you don’t wind up empty-handed.

2022 Australia Five-Ounce Gold Wedge-Tailed Eagle ERP PF70 UC FDI

• John Mercanti One-Year-Only Reverse Design
• Five Ounces of 99.99% Pure Gold
• Enhanced Reverse Proof Finish—First Time Ever in this Specification
• Struck in High-Relief
• $500 Australia Legal Tender
• Perfect Proof-70 Ultra Cameo (PF70 UC) Grade by NGC
• NGC-Certified First Day of Issue (FDI)
• Hand-Signed Label by Reverse Designer John Mercanti
• Only 50 Minted
• Limited Availability

2022 Australia One-Ounce Platinum Wedge-Tailed Eagle ERP PF70 UC FDI

• John Mercanti One-Year-Only Reverse Design
• One Ounce of 99.95% Fine Platinum
• Enhanced Reverse Proof Finish—First Time Ever in this Specification
• $100 Australia Legal Tender
• Perfect Proof-70 Ultra Cameo (PF70 UC) Grade by NGC
• NGC-Certified First Day of Issue (FDI)
• Hand-Signed Label by Reverse Designer John Mercanti
• Only 200 Minted
• Limited Availability

2022 Australia Two-Ounce Silver Wedge-Tailed Eagle ERP PF70 UC FDI

• John Mercanti One-Year-Only Reverse Design
• Two Ounces of 99.99% Fine Silver
• Enhanced Reverse Proof Finish—First Time Ever in this Specification
• Struck in High-Relief
• $2 Australia Legal Tender
• Perfect Proof-70 Ultra Cameo (PF70 UC) Grade by NGC
• NGC-Certified First Day of Issue (FDI)
• Hand-Signed Label by Reverse Designer John Mercanti
• Only 2,000 Minted
• Limited Availability