Silver Ounce 2021 Australian Wedge-tailed Eagle, Third Design, 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).

This coin is a special re-issue of the third Australian Wedge-tailed Eagle design by John M. Mercanti, which initially appeared in 2018.

The coin is available in a six-coin commemorative set only, with mintage of 1,000. Each of the coins in this set celebrate American engraver John M. Mercanti’s depictions of the bird across the six years of the Australian Wedge-tailed Eagle coin series. As with all coins in the set, it has a high relief and is stuck on a thicker flan which has smaller diameter than the usual silver ounce pieces.