Silver Ounce 2019 Australian Wedge-tailed Eagle, High Relief, 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:
"This wonderfully detailed design showcases the impressive wingspan of the wedge-tailed eagle, Australia’s largest bird of prey and one of the biggest eagles in the world. Struck in brilliant high relief, the masterfully crafted design is the fourth in The Perth Mint’s Wedge-tailed Eagle series by celebrated US Mint engraver John M. Mercanti. The coin’s reverse depicts a magnificent wedge-tailed eagle in flight with wings fully extended and stylised rays of sunlight in the background."