For the fourth year, the Spanish mint, Fabrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre (FNMT), is launching a new 3.1 gram (1/10oz) gold bullion coin, in an annual series featuring wildlife from the region. The range debuted in 2022 with the Iberian Lynx, followed by 2023s Bull, and 2024s Carthusian Horse. For 2024, the design is of an Imperial Eagle in flight, and it continues the series design language in having a reverse proof animal over a frosted background field.

It’s a nice depiction for a 16.25 mm diameter bullion coin, although the common obverse means it has to share real estate with the issue inscriptions. That obverse is a Spanish classic, featuring the Columnario of the Real de a Ocho, more commonly known internationally (particularly by talking parrots, apparently) as the ‘Piece of Eight’. This specific design dates back to 1732, and was known in English as the ‘Pillar Dollar’.

There’s only the tenth-ounce gold format available in this bullion series, and it has a mintage of 20,000 pieces. The coins are sold encapsulated, and in a small drawstring bag emblazoned with the mints crest in gold. A nice addition to the range, and a relatively affordable one, given gold’s stratospheric rise in the spot price of late. Available now.