The Perth Mint introduced the Wedge-Tailed Eagle in 2014 as a high-relief proof coin, commissioning John Mercanti — the U.S. Mint's 12th Chief Engraver, best known for designing the American Silver Eagle's original reverse — to create the design specifically for this release. Unlike the Kookaburra or Koala, which function as ongoing, low-premium annual bullion coins, the Wedge-Tailed Eagle launched with a mintage capped at just 10,000 and a high-relief strike, positioning it from the start as a limited collector proof issue rather than a straightforward bullion product.
Because this coin was designed as a limited proof release rather than a plain bullion coin, a new buyer should expect collector-level pricing well above spot-plus-standard-premium, closer to how the American Liberty High Relief coin is priced than to a common Kookaburra or Koala. It's a reasonable purchase for someone specifically interested in high-relief coin artistry or John Mercanti's design work, less so for someone simply wanting low-premium silver exposure.
The dates serious Wedge-Tailed Eagle collectors specifically chase — the rest of the run trades close to melt value.
First year of issue, a high-relief proof coin designed by John Mercanti — the U.S. Mint's 12th Chief Engraver — commissioned specifically by the Perth Mint, with a mintage capped at 10,000. Unlike the Kookaburra or Koala, this program has not run as a strict annual bullion release; it functions closer to a limited collector proof issue than an ongoing low-premium bullion coin.
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Start tracking freeNo — it launched as a high-relief proof with a mintage capped at 10,000, positioning it as a limited collector release rather than an ongoing, low-premium annual bullion coin.
John Mercanti, the U.S. Mint's 12th Chief Engraver and designer of the American Silver Eagle's original reverse — a notable cross-mint design credit for a Perth Mint coin.
Capped at 10,000 for the 2014 high-relief proof release, a genuinely small mintage compared to the Kookaburra or Koala's much larger annual bullion runs.