While we’re used to high-end variants of the Perth Mints many bullion coin designs every year, it isn’t often that there are many surprises in the release schedule. After the bullion version usually comes proof, coloured, gilded, high-relief, or even the ocassional antique version. For a new version of the 2016 Wedge-tailed Eagle (WTE) design we have something truly new for the mint.

We often think of bimetallic as being used for the low-end copper-nickel circulating coins, but there are othertypes that the description fits perfectly. The Royal Mint will often issue proof commemoratives that use yellow gold and rose gold to replicate the bimetallic British £2 coin, but mixed silver and gold coins are altogether rarer. For this new WTE coin, the mint has gone with ½oz of silver surrounding ½oz of gold, creating a classic high-contrast look.

The superb John Mercanti designed eagle artwork is limited to the small gold centre, with all of the inscriptions kept away from it by basing them in the silver surround. It works well. There will only be 750 of these well presented coins available, and at $1599.00 AUD they’re not bargain basement, but it’s a desirable coin if early buzz is any indicator.

Also out are the usual pair of five-ounce high-relief variants of the same original design. These are generally though of as being the best looking versions of this design and we agree wholeheartedly. The gold will sell for $12,995 and have a mintage limited to 150 units. The silver is a much more reasonable $495.00, no doubt linked to a pretty high mintage of 5,000 for a coin of this format. Both are beautiful pieces and available to order today.