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About the 1/10 oz Wedge-Tailed Eagle Gold Coin
Mercanti-Designed Fractional Gold from the Perth Mint
The 1/10 oz Wedge-Tailed Eagle gold coin brings the artistry of John M. Mercanti, the 12th Chief Engraver of the United States Mint, to a fractional gold format from the Perth Mint. Struck in .9999 fine gold and issued as Australian legal tender, this coin belongs to a series launched in 2014 that represented the first time a former US Mint Chief Engraver designed a coin for a foreign government mint.
Mercanti produced more coin and medal designs than any other employee in US Mint history, over 100 by 2006. His most famous work is the heraldic eagle reverse of the American Silver Eagle. For the Perth Mint, he created an annually changing reverse featuring Australia's largest bird of prey, the wedge-tailed eagle (Aquila audax), shown in different postures each year: swooping, perching, soaring, wings spread. The 2026 edition introduced a historic first, pairing the Australian wedge-tailed eagle with an American bald eagle on the same coin.
The gold Wedge-Tailed Eagle is primarily a collector-bullion product. The silver bullion version has a capped mintage of 50,000 per year, and the limited-mintage gold versions (high-relief proofs with as few as 1,000 coins) are among the Perth Mint's most sought-after annual collector issues. The 1/10 oz bullion gold coin offers an entry point for buyers who want the Mercanti connection and Perth Mint provenance without the premium attached to proof versions.
For investors who treat fractional gold purely as a metal holding, the 1/10 oz Kangaroo is the Perth Mint's lower-premium alternative. The Wedge-Tailed Eagle commands a premium above the Kangaroo that reflects its collector appeal, limited production, and the Mercanti brand.
1/10 oz Wedge-Tailed Eagle Gold Coin Specifications
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Metal | Gold |
| Purity | 99.99% (.9999 fine) |
| Fine gold content | 1/10 troy oz (3.11g) |
| Face value | AUD denomination |
| Edge | Reeded |
| Issuing mint | Perth Mint (Gold Corporation) |
| Country of issue | Australia |
| Legal tender | Yes (Australia, Currency Act 1965) |
| Reverse designer | John M. Mercanti |
| Design | Changes annually (new eagle composition each year) |
Design Details
- Reverse: Annually changing depiction of the Australian wedge-tailed eagle by John Mercanti. Inscriptions include weight, purity, and year. The Perth Mint "P" mintmark is present.
- Obverse (current): King Charles III effigy by Dan Thorne (2025 onwards).
- Security: Micro-laser engraved authentication letter on the reverse, visible under magnification.
The wedge-tailed eagle has a wingspan of up to 2.3 metres (7.5 feet) and is found across mainland Australia and into southern New Guinea. It is one of the largest eagles in the world.
The annually changing reverse means that each year's coin has a distinct visual identity, and collectors can build a set spanning the series' history from 2014 onwards. The high-relief proof versions, with mintages as low as 1,000 coins, are among the Perth Mint's most coveted annual collector issues. The bullion 1/10 oz gold version offers the same Mercanti design in a more accessible format.
Wedge-Tailed Eagle 1/10 oz Gold Tax Treatment
Australia
GST-free as investment-grade gold (99.5%+ purity). Australian legal tender under the Currency Act 1965. Capital gains tax applies on disposal, with a 50% CGT discount for individuals holding for more than 12 months.
United States
The .9999 purity meets IRS requirements for precious metals IRAs. The Wedge-Tailed Eagle is particularly popular in the US market due to Mercanti's involvement, and NGC and PCGS frequently grade these coins with special Mercanti signature labels. Capital gains taxed at the collectibles rate (up to 28%). State sales tax varies.
United Kingdom
VAT-exempt as investment gold. Not CGT-exempt in the UK (not UK legal tender). Gains taxed at individual rates, with GBP 3,000 annual allowance. Available from UK dealers, typically under the margin scheme for pre-owned coins on the secondary market.
European Union
Gold coins qualifying as investment gold are VAT-exempt. In Germany, gains are tax-free if held for more than one year.
Canada
GST/HST exempt. Standard capital gains treatment at the 50% inclusion rate.
1/10 oz Wedge-Tailed Eagle vs Other Fractional Gold Coins
The 1/10 oz Wedge-Tailed Eagle exists in a collector-bullion crossover space that most fractional gold coins do not occupy. Its closest comparator is the 1/10 oz Somalia Elephant, which similarly combines annually changing designs with fractional gold bullion. Both carry premiums above mainstream coins. The Elephant is struck by the Bavarian State Mint with contested legal tender status; the Wedge-Tailed Eagle has undisputed Australian legal tender backing. For buyers who value the design-change concept but want clean legal provenance, the Wedge-Tailed Eagle is the stronger choice.
Against the 1/10 oz Kangaroo, also from the Perth Mint, the trade-off is straightforward. The Kangaroo has wider dealer availability, better liquidity on the secondary market, and lower premiums. Both are .9999 gold with the same government backing. The Kangaroo is the practical choice for buyers focused on metal accumulation; the Wedge-Tailed Eagle appeals to those who value the Mercanti design and limited mintage characteristics.
The 1/10 oz Britannia offers CGT exemption for UK buyers, which the Wedge-Tailed Eagle cannot match. The 1/10 oz Maple Leaf provides Bullion DNA authentication and generally lower premiums. Both are more liquid than the Wedge-Tailed Eagle in their respective home markets.
The Mercanti connection gives the Wedge-Tailed Eagle a unique position in the US market. American collectors familiar with his American Silver Eagle reverse recognise his design language, and NGC/PCGS-graded examples with Mercanti signature labels command strong premiums. This cross-national designer appeal has no parallel among other fractional coins from non-US mints.
1/10 oz Wedge-Tailed Eagle Gold Coin: frequently asked questions
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The cheapest 1/10 oz Perth Mint Wedge-Tailed Eagle gold coin we track is $483.30 from Golden Eagle Coins, at around 16.1% over the $4,181.20 gold spot price. Fractional gold coins typically carry a higher premium per ounce than larger sizes, reflecting the fixed production cost spread over less metal.
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A 1/10 troy oz gold coin contains 1/10 oz of gold. One troy ounce equals 31.1035 grams, so a tenth of that is 3.1104 grams. The Wedge-Tailed Eagle is struck in 999.9 fine gold, meaning virtually all of that weight is pure gold with negligible alloy content.
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The 1/10 oz Wedge-Tailed Eagle is struck in 999.9 fine gold, so it contains 3.1104 grams of pure gold. At 999.9 fineness, the coin meets investment-grade bullion standards with negligible alloy content.
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The Wedge-Tailed Eagle is an annual gold and silver bullion series launched by the Perth Mint in 2014. The reverse was designed by John M. Mercanti, former Chief Engraver of the United States Mint, and depicts Australia's largest bird of prey. The coins are Australian legal tender, struck in 999.9 fine gold, and available in multiple sizes from 1/10 oz upward. The reverse design changes each year.