Former US Mint Chief Engraver,
John Mercanti, has created another eagle coin design for a non-US nation. This time out, he developed the reverse design for the one-ounce silver bullion piece of Samoa.
Mercanti's design presents a Bald Eagle in flight that appears to draw inspiration from the eagle first seen on the US Gold $20 coins designed by Augustus St. Gaudens (1907-1933). The design also includes the inscriptions "Liberty" and "In God We Trust" both of which are mandated to appear on
US coins (and not typically seen on Samoan coinage). The apparent intention of the design is to reach beyond collectors focused on Samoan coins, and to attract collectors of
US coinage.
The design is reasonably attractive, but the relative "flatness" of its strike is a bit of a distraction for me. I will likely still get one for my collection, however.
I wonder if the 2023 $2 coin represents the first in an annual series as with the Australian Wedge-Tailed Eagle coins?
