Earlier Wednesday, the Perth Mint of Australia started selling this year’s edition of the Australian Wedge-Tailed Eagle Silver Bullion Coin.
Marking a first for the annual coin, it is produced to a fineness of .9999 fine compared to the 2015- and 2016-dated issues that are .999 fine.
Designed by John M. Mercanti, the Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint from 2006 to 2010, reverses or tails side present the bird of prey standing imperiously on a tree branch. Around the image are inscriptions of AUSTRALIAN WEDGE-TAILED EAGLE, 2017, 1oz 9999 SILVER for the coin’s weight and purity, and a ‘P’ mint mark to denote its production at the Perth Mint.
"Rich in design detail, the shiny finish of the eagle’s plumage stands out in eye-catching contrast to the coin’s delicately frosted background," the Perth Mint describes.
Obverses or the heads side feature Ian Rank-Broadley’s effigy of Queen Elizabeth II with encircling inscriptions of ELIZABETH II, AUSTRALIA, and 1 DOLLAR for the coin’s legal tender face value.
Perth Mint-provided specifications include:
- Face value: 1 dollar
- Precious Metal Content (troy oz): 1.000
- Fineness: 99.99% purity
- Weight (g): 31.1
- Diameter (mm): 40.600
- Thickness (mm): 4.00
- Mintage: unlimited
Bullion coin and precious metals dealers are selling the coin for about $7 to $10 over spot with discounts offered at larger quantities. They are also sold from perthmintbullion.com.
I don’t understand something. I bought my 2017 Wedge Tail on Jan 5th and it has .999 on it. Is this a different version?
Good Question. I’d contact the Perth Mint.
David – The brand new “bullion version” of this coin issued yesterday geared towards investors is the first Australian Wedge-Tailed Eagle $1 coin from Perth Mint with four 9s fine silver (.9999 fine). The version you probably have is their collector versions issued in regular Proof or high relief Proof silver at .999 fine silver. Some confusion happened when one major modern coin company used a computer-generated mock-up image that had the wrong fineness of .999 on their website for the bullion version. This article has a link to the Perth Mint Australia bullion metals (coins & bars) division at… Read more »
Seth,
Thanks for the explanation. You are right about the wrong image being posted. I was just a little confused since this coin has been available for a few weeks already.
David