2023 Australian Wedge-Tailed Eagles

Extraordinary 2023 Australian Wedge-Tailed Eagles!

• Stunning Ultra-High Relief Kilo Sizes 
• First Ever Gold Gilded Designs on the Two-Ounce Silver and 1.5-Ounce Bimetal Editions

Australia’s Perth Mint has long been renowned among collectors around the world for producing innovative precious metal coinage of the highest quality. And that’s especially true when it comes to the Wedge-Tailed Eagle Series, which is the result of a historic collaboration between the Perth Mint and the 12th Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint, John Mercanti—the first time ever that a U.S. Mint engraver designed a coin for a foreign mint. Since the Wedge-Tailed Eagle’s introduction in 2014, the response among collectors has been overwhelming, and the Australian series continues to be among the most anticipated releases each year.

Here, then, is the tenth release in the series, featuring the eighth new Mercanti Wedge-Tailed Eagle design. But this time, the bar has been set even higher with FIRST EVER Kilo Gold and Kilo Silver Wedge-Tailed Eagle Reverse Proofs with spectacular Ultra-High Relief (UHR) designs, and FIRST EVER 1.5-Ounce Bimetal (50% gold/50% silver) and Two-Ounce Silver editions, both with gorgeous gold gilding. 

Spectacular New Mercanti Wedge-Tailed Eagle Design

With this one-year-only design, Mercanti’s brilliance has resulted in a detailed depiction of a majestic Wedge-Tailed Eagle preparing for takeoff from a tree branch on the reverse. The massive bird’s wings are open, which in real life can mean a wingspan of up to seven-and-a-half feet. The 2023 year-date, weight, purity, and Perth Mint’s traditional “P” mint mark are included in the design as well. The obverse depicts the profile of the late Queen Elizabeth II in a special memorial design that features the year-dates of her reign, 1952-2022, and the coin’s denomination. 

First Ever Perth Mint Innovations

With a relief first introduced by the Perth Mint in 2021, these 2023 Kilo Gold and Kilo Silver Wedge-Tailed Eagles have been carefully struck in superb UHR reverse proof condition, which is a first for these specifications. The die was designed to create a deep, concave field upon the surface of the coin to provide maximum contrast between the design elements and the background. The strike requires the use of increased pressure, and often multiple strikes, to attain the desired effect.

The Final Presence of Her Majesty the Queen

This marks the final occasion when the Wedge-tailed Eagle coin features the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II.

A pioneer of 24-karat gilding in modern numismatics, the Perth Mint executes arguably some of the best-looking gilded coins. The mint’s gilding is a tedious process, which requires putting a silicone mask precisely over the design and face of the coin before using an electrical current to adhere the gold solution. The results create a stunning contrast on the 1.5-ounce bimetal and two-ounce silver Wedge-Tailed Eagles. On the bimetal coin the gilding is on the eagle design, and on the two-ounce silver coin, the gilding can be found on both the eagle design and the reeded edge of the coin. 

Struck in High-Purity Gold and Silver

These 2023 Wedge-Tailed Eagle Proofs are struck in one kilo of high-purity 99.99% gold ($3,000 Australia legal tender), one kilo of high-purity 99.99% silver ($30 Australia legal tender), 1.5-ounces of high-purity bimetal (50% gold/50% silver) ($75 Australia legal tender) and two ounces of high-purity 99.99% fine silver ($2 Australia legal tender).

Certified Flawless PF70 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, and that’s what you have here. These 2023 Wedge-Tailed Eagle Proofs and Reverse Proofs have been certified as perfect Proof-70 (PF70) by Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC), one of the top coin-grading services in the world. 

Each Proof also carries a First Day of Issue (FDI) designation—which means these coins were struck on the first day of release from the mint. First Day of Issue coins 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 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, the man who has produced more coin and medal designs than any employee in U.S. Mint history. Each coin will arrive displayed in a Perth Mint presentation case, with a Perth Mint-numbered certificate of authenticity. 

Exclusive and Low Worldwide Mintages 

Our Scarce & Unique Division has secured exclusive worldwide distribution of all of these 2023 Wedge-Tailed Eagle coins outside Australia. Even so, these Wedge-Tailed Eagle Proofs have a highly limited worldwide mintages—just 10 of the Kilo Gold Proofs, just 250 of the Kilo Silver Proofs, just 250 of the 1.5-Ounce Bimetal Proofs and just 2,000 of the Two-Ounce Silver Proofs. Plus, the Proofs available here are in perfect PF70 condition, designated as First Day of Issue, with a hand-signed label. 

Just take a look to see why these impressive Wedge-Tailed Eagle Proofs will hold a valued spot in your collection!

2023 Australia Kilo Gold Wedge-Tailed Eagle UHR Reverse Proof PF70 FDI Mercanti

• Kilo of 99.99% Pure Gold
• FIRST EVER Ultra-High Relief Wedge-Tailed Eagle in a Kilo Gold Size
• John Mercanti One-Year-Only Reverse Design
• Reverse Proof Finish
• $3,000 Australia Legal Tender
• Perfect Reverse Proof-70 (PF70) Grade by NGC
• NGC-Certified First Day of Issue (FDI) 
• Hand-Signed Label by Reverse Designer John Mercanti
• Scarce & Unique Division Worldwide Distribution Exclusive (Outside of Australia)
• Only 10 Authorized
• Limited Availability 

2023 Australian Kilo Silver Wedge-Tailed Eagle UHR Reverse Proof PF70 FDI Mercanti

• Kilo of 99.99% Pure Silver
• FIRST EVER Ultra-High Relief Wedge-Tailed Eagle in a Kilo Silver Size
• John Mercanti One-Year-Only Reverse Design
• Reverse Proof Finish
• $30 Australia Legal Tender
• Perfect Reverse Proof-70 (PF70) Grade by NGC
• NGC-Certified First Day of Issue (FDI) 
• Hand-Signed Label by Reverse Designer John Mercanti
• Scarce & Unique Division Worldwide Distribution Exclusive (Outside of Australia)
• Only 250 Authorized
• Limited Availability 

2023 Australia 1.5-Ounce Bimetal Wedge-Tailed Eagle Gilded Proof PF70 FDI Mercanti

• 1.5 Ounces of 99.99% Pure Gold and 99.99% Pure Silver—.75 Ounces of Gold and .75 Ounces of Silver
• FIRST EVER Gold Gilded Wedge-Tailed Eagle with a 1.5-Ounce Bimetal Specification
• John Mercanti One-Year-Only Reverse Design
• Proof Finish
• $75 Australia Legal Tender
• Perfect Proof-70 (PF70) Grade by NGC
• NGC-Certified First Day of Issue (FDI) 
• Hand-Signed Label by Reverse Designer John Mercanti
• Scarce & Unique Division Worldwide Distribution Exclusive • (Outside of Australia)
• Only 250 Authorized
• Limited Availability

2023 Australian Two-Ounce Silver Wedge-Tailed Eagle Gilded Proof PF70 FDI Mercanti

• Two Ounces of 99.99% Pure Silver
• FIRST EVER Gold Gilded Wedge-Tailed Eagle with a Two-Ounce Silver Specification
• High-relief strike
• John Mercanti One-Year-Only Reverse Design
• Proof Finish
• $2 Australia Legal Tender
• Perfect Proof-70 (PF70) Grade by NGC
• NGC-Certified First Day of Issue (FDI) 
• Hand-Signed Label by Reverse Designer John Mercanti
• Scarce & Unique Division Worldwide Distribution Exclusive (Outside of Australia)
• Only 2,000 Authorized
• Limited Availability