Spectacular 2022 Gold and Silver Wedge-Tailed Eagles with an Ultra-High Relief Proof Design!

The wait is over! Here are the new 2022 Wedge-Tailed Eagles from Australia’s Perth Mint, with an exceptionally-detailed, stunning ultra-high relief (UHR) proof design, struck in high-purity gold 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 the 230 years the U.S. Mint has been in existence. But, keep in mind, due to limited mintages, these very popular Wedge-Tailed Eagle Proofs are in short supply.

These Eagles Represent a First for the Perth Mint

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 Australia Wedge-Tailed Eagle 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, his seventh entry in the series. Plus, this 2022 release represents the first time that Wedge-Tailed Eagles with these specifications feature an ultra-high relief design. They’re gorgeous!

Why the Wedge-Tailed Eagle?

The Wedge-Tailed Eagle is the largest bird of prey in Australia, 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. They mate for life, and they build massive nests that they re-use year after year. 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, agencies like the Australian parks service, and also various branches of the military. It’s the state emblem for two Australian states, the Northern Territory and New South Wales. 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 logical step in the portrayal of Australia’s iconic 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.

This 2022 Mercanti design gives us another chapter in the Wedge-Tailed Eagle story, with a close-up image displaying a majestic side profile of a Wedge Tailed-Eagle calling, 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 former engraver for the United Kingdom’s Royal Mint and current Head of Design at the Commonwealth Mint, Jody Clark.

First Time Ever! Ultra-High Relief for These Sizes

These Proofs are especially impressive thanks to their spectacular ultra-high relief design which is a first for these individual specifications. The dies were designed to create a deep, concave field upon the surface of each coin for maximum contrast with the raised elements. It requires the use of increased pressure in striking and sometimes multiple strikes to attain the desired effect. These proofs are stunning!

Struck in High-Purity Gold and Silver

These 2022 Wedge-Tailed Eagle Proofs are struck in one full ounce of 99.99% pure gold, $100 Australia legal tender, in five full ounces of 99.99% fine silver, $8 Australia legal tender, and in one full ounce of 99.99% fine silver, $1 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. 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 only 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, including just 500 of the one-ounce Gold Proofs, just 1,000 of the five-ounce Silver Proofs, and just 5,000 of the one-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 end up empty-handed.

2022 Australia One-Ounce Gold Wedge-Tailed Eagle UHR PF70 UC FDI

John Mercanti One-Year-Only Reverse Design
One Ounce of 99.99% Pure Gold
Ultra-high Relief Reverse
$100 Australia Legal Tender
Perfect Proof-70 Ultra Cameo (PF70 UC) Grade
Certified First Day of Issue (FDI) by NGC
Hand-Signed Label by Reverse Designer John Mercanti
Only 500 Minted Worldwide
Limited Availability in the U.S. Market

2022 Australia Five-Ounce Silver Wedge-Tailed Eagle UHR PF70 UC FDI

John Mercanti One-Year-Only Reverse Design
Five Ounces of 99.99% Fine Silver
Ultra-high Relief Reverse
$8 Australia Legal Tender
Perfect Proof-70 Ultra Cameo (PF70 UC) Grade
Certified First Day of Issue (FDI) by NGC
Hand-Signed Label by Reverse Designer John Mercanti
Only 1,000 Minted Worldwide
Limited Availability in the U.S. Market

2022 Australia One-Ounce Silver Wedge-Tailed Eagle UHR PF70 UC FDI

John Mercanti One-Year-Only Reverse Design
One Ounce of 99.99% Fine Silver
Ultra-high Relief Reverse
$1 Australia Legal Tender
Perfect Proof-70 Ultra Cameo (PF70 UC) Grade
Certified First Day of Issue (FDI) by NGC
Hand-Signed Label by Reverse Designer John Mercanti
Only 5,000 Minted Worldwide
Limited Availability in the U.S. Market