350 Coins. One Troy Ounce. John Mercanti's Wedge-Tailed Eagle in Ultra-High Relief Gold

The wedge-tailed eagle is Australia's largest bird of prey. A wingspan of up to 2.8 metres. Thermal currents carrying it above 2,000 metres. That distinctive wedge-shaped tail visible from a long way off. It's a bird that commands attention in the sky, and this Perth Mint release gives it the same weight on the ground.

The Australian Wedge-Tailed Eagle 2026 1oz Gold Enhanced Reverse Proof Ultra High Relief Coin is priced at $9,495.00and the mintage is capped at just 350 coins worldwide. That number is worth sitting with for a moment.

We have it at www.mintcoinshop.com.au.

The coin is 99.99% pure gold, 1 Troy oz, struck to a diameter of 27.60mm with a thickness of 5.00mm. The ultra-high relief format is struck on a concave surface. That concavity is what allows the depth in the design to read so clearly. It's not a standard proof finish — it's a step up in effort and complexity.

The reverse was sculpted by John M. Mercanti, a US engraver who spent 33 years at the United States Mint and served as its 12th Chief Engraver. He designed the reverse of the American Silver Eagle, among others. His work on this coin pairs a Wedge-tailed eagle in the foreground against a Bald eagle behind it, both gazing right. The silhouette approach is deliberate — the contrast and depth do the heavy lifting. The AUSTRALIAN WEDGE-TAILED EAGLE inscription, Perth Mint's 'P' mintmark, and the coin's weight, fineness, and year-date round out the reverse. The obverse carries the Dan Thorne effigy of His Majesty King Charles III.

The coin ships in a presentation case with outer shipper packaging.

For collectors, a few things stand out here. Mercanti's involvement is not common on Australian releases. A mintage of 350 at this specification is genuinely tight. And the ultra-high relief concave struck format is the kind of technical detail that separates a serious numismatic piece from a standard commemorative.

At $9,495.00 this sits firmly in the investment-grade collector space. It's available now at Mint Coin Shop while stock lasts.