Gold Ounce 2021 Australian Wedge-tailed Eagle, Coin from Australia - detailed information

The Australian one-ounce gold piece (abbreviated as 1 oz and designated with Au for "gold") is a bullion coin format. Uniquely, in Australia there are two mints authorised to strike legal tender: the Royal Australian Mint (which also makes the country's circulating coinage) and the Perth Mint which only makes collector and bullion coins, as well as other bullion products.

Both mints endeavour to create coins with attractive designs, and to introduce new designs and themes often, in order to raise the numismatic value of the coins over the value of previous metal used.

This coin is part of the Australian Wedge-tailed Eagle series by the Perth Mint, and the sixth design by John M. Mercanti (the series features a new design every year).

The Mint says about it:
"Sculpted by renowned US engraver, John M. Mercanti, this pure gold coin’s high relief design portraying Australia’s wedge-tailed eagle features our new enhanced reverse proof quality finish.

The subject of outstanding coin artistry since 2014, the wedge-tailed eagle is Australia’s largest bird of prey. Observed throughout mainland Australia and the island state of Tasmania, it favours lightly wooded country offering ready access to prey including rabbits, hares, lizards, snakes and other birds. Hunting Eagle Design This 2021 coin’s dramatic image of a swooping wedge-tailed eagle with a snake in its talons is struck in high relief on a frosted table. As eagle-eyed collectors will observe, the bright finishes on the bird and snake are enhanced with a range of subtle variations. The result of painstaking surface treatments, the visually appealing style represents a new coin genre from The Perth Mint."