2016-02-18 Thu

Australia’s Perth Mint has been issuing a series of coins celebrating the Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquilla audax). This has been a tradition since early 2014.

This time though, Perth Mint decided to take help of the Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint, John M. Mercanti who designed the widely popular and successful current silver American Eagle bullion pieces.

Mercanti joined the U.S. Mint in 1974 as a sculptor-engraver then was appointed the Mint’s 12fth Chief Engraver in mid-2006 following the retirement of Elizabeth Jones in 1991. Mercanti retired from that position in 2010.

Down Under the Wedge-tailed Eagle is sometimes known as the Eaglehawk or “Wedgie.” It is not only the largest raptor in Australia and New Guinea but is one of the largest in the world with a wing span of 7 ft., 4 in. and a beak to tail-tip length of 3 ft., 6 in. The Tasmanian birds are the largest of all.

Up to the end of 2015 Perth has struck fourteen different versions of this common reverse design: seven .9999 fine gold, six .999 fine silver and one .9995 fine platinum. Of those, five are high-relief gold, one proof gold, four high relief silver, and two proof silver. One is BU gold and one proof platinum.