Silver Ounce 2018 Australian Wedge-tailed Eagle, Coin from Australia - detailed information

The Australian one ounce silver piece (abbreviated as 1 oz and designated with Ag for "silver") is a bullion coin format. Uniquely, in Australia there are two mints independently 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.

The Australian Wedge-tailed Eagle series has been issued by the Perth Mint since 2014, in various precious metal formats, including one ounce of silver.

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. The series features a new depiction of the eagle every year, created by renowned US engraver, John M. Mercanti, who was the twelfth Chief Engraver of the United States Mint until his retirement in late 2010.

The overall weight of the coin is slightly more than an ounce, so that the pure silver content is exactly 1.000 ASW (troy ounce Absolute Silver Weight).

The Mint says about the coin:
"In his third design for The Perth Mint’s Australian Wedge-tailed Eagle coin series, renowned engraver John M. Mercanti explores the relationships between a chick and its parents for a beautifully composed new portrayal. The coin is struck by The Perth Mint from 1oz of 99.99% pure silver in proof quality. The coin’s reverse depicts a mother wedge-tailed eagle looking down lovingly on a chick. A male bird is portrayed hovering above them with its magnificent wings fully extended."