The Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila Audax) is Australia’s largest bird of prey and one of the biggest eagles in the world. Found throughout mainland Australia, Tasmania and southern New Guinea, the Wedge-Tailed Eagle has a wingspan of up to 2.7 metres, and displays a long, wedge-shaped tail and feathered legs.
Leading up to their breeding season, pairs of wedge-tailed eagles take part in breathtaking aerobatic displays above their territory. Pairs share responsibility for building a nest and the female bird usually lays two eggs. Initially the male does all the hunting but when the chicks are about 30 days old, the female joins her mate to search for food.
The Australian Wedge-tailed Eagle 2018 1oz Silver Proof High Relief Coin is struck by The Perth Mint from 99.99% pure silver, and issued as legal tender under the Australian Currency Act 1965. No more than 10,000 of these coins will be released worldwide.
Design:
Designed by John Mercanti, the coin’s superb high relief reverse depicts a mother wedge-tailed eagle looking down at her young chick. The father is portrayed hovering above them with its magnificent wings fully extended.
The design also includes the inscription AUSTRALIAN WEDGE-TAILED EAGLE, the 2018 year-date, the coin’s weight and fineness, and The Perth Mint’s ‘P’ mintmark. The coin’s obverse depicts the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the monetary denomination.
The coin’s high relief reverse and obverse are minted on concave surfaces to ensure the optimum flow of metal is achieved by the strike of the die.
Designer(s):
Since 1998, Ian Rank-Broadley’s fourth effigy of HRH Queen Elizabeth has served with distinction as the obverse for coins of the UK and the Commonwealth (View Designers Profile).
This is the third wedge-tailed eagle design for The Perth Mint by renowned sculptor and engraver John M. Mercanti, the 12th Chief Engraver of the United States Mint. Mercanti also created the reverse design of the American Silver Eagle bullion coin and has produced more coin and medal designs than any other employee in the history of the U.S. Mint.
Coin Specifications:
| Country: | Australia |
| Year Of Issue: | 2018 |
| Denomination: | 1 Dollar (AUD) |
| Mint Mark: | P |
| Mintage: | 10,000 |
| Alloy: | .9999 Silver |
| Weight: | 1 Troy oz (minimum 31.107 g) |
| Diameter: | 32.60 mm |
| Thickness: | 6.00 mm |
| Edge: | Reeded |
| OBV Designer | Ian Rank-Broadley |
| REV Designer | John Mercanti |
| Quality: | Proof |
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