This coin celebrates the Wedge Tail Eagle and is part of a Bird Series of
commemorative
coins issued by the Royal Australian Mint. Released in 1994, this was the final coin in the series, which celebrates
the native birds of Australia. The first coin of the set paid tribute to the Kookaburra, and was released in 1994. The coins
were issued on a yearly basis and the other birds featured are the White Cockatoo, the Jabiru, the Emperor Penguin and the
Palm Cockatoo.
The issue was produced both as a standard
proof
strike and as a
piedfort
proof
and both types were struck into a sterling silver planchet
. The reverse of this coin features the powerful head of an eagle with
its sharp beak and staring eye and was designed by Horst Hahne. The only
legend
on this side of the coin is the denomination TEN DOLLARS. The obverse
features the Maklouf portrait of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and the
legend
ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1994. The individual packaging in which each coin is encased is beautifully illustrated with a
detailed and colourful picture of the bird featured inside. As you would expect the
piedfort
proof coin came in a thicker box and the artistically stylised text reads 1994 Ten Dollar Silver Piedfort Coin. Underneath
in a simpler font reads BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. The packaging housing the standard proof coin is much the same only thinner and
with the head title reading 1994 10 Dollar silver Proof coin. Both types of the original packaging includes a 'Certificate
of Authenticity' as well as a short description of the bird and its behaviour. An excerpt from the description reads 'The
fourth largest eagle in the world, the Wedge Tail gracefully represents Australia's harsh and powerful beauty.' The standard
coin comes in a rectangular case whilst the
piedfort
comes with a circular presentation case. There was a limited
mintage
of the proof coin of 50,000.
The Wedge-tailed eagle is the largest bird of prey in Australia and is also sometimes known as an Eagle-hawk. The eagle
is brown and feathered right the way down its legs and its names sake wedge tail is one of its most prominent features that
makes the bird easily recognisable. The wings are long and broad with the wingspan typically reaching between 6-8ft but much
larger has been recorded.
(Wikipedia, 2013)
The long legs are also easily visible during certain times during flight particularly when it has just taken off. They
are found right across Australia but seem to favour lightly timbered, open habitats. The image of the Wedge-tailed eagle
is used as an emblem for a variety of reasons including the Parks and Wildlife Service Northern Territory, The New South
Wales Police Force and The Royal Australian Air Force.
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