The South African Mint has released the full 2026 Martial Eagle collection, which includes coins struck in gold and silver.

The 2026 Martial Eagle range is the second in the Odyssey of the Sky seven-coin series, which invites collectors to hold a piece of the continent's aerial majesty in their hands.

Struck in 24 ct gold and 999 fine silver, the 2026 Martial Eagle range spans seven denominations, each struck to a strictly limited edition.

The collection includes the one-quarter-ounce gold coin, limited to 1 000; the 1 oz gold coin, limited to 500; the 5 oz gold coin, which is limited to 50; a 1 oz silver coin that is limited to 5 000; the 2 oz silver coin that is limited to 5 000; the 5 oz silver coin limited to 500 coins; and the 1 kg silver coin that is limited to 100 units.

The gold coins' reverse features a detailed close-up portrait of the martial eagle, while the reverse of the four fine-silver coins depicts the eagle with its wings spread, clenched on a branch.

The two distinct designs are unified by shared inscriptions of “The Odyssey” and “Martial Eagle”, together with each coin's denomination and hallmark.

A signature African pattern, which is a recurring motif across the Odyssey of the Sky series, frames each coin with a geometric border that symbolises the enduring bond between humanity and the natural world.

Completing the range are two exclusive Krugerrand sets that pair an Odyssey of the Sky coin with a Krugerrand bearing a martial eagle privy mark, one in gold and one in silver – available only as part of this release.

“The Odyssey of the Sky coin series is a celebration of Africa's extraordinary birdlife and the artistry that brings these stories to life through world-class minting. With the Martial Eagle, we continue that journey, offering collectors another beautifully crafted chapter in a series that is fast becoming one of our most distinctive modern collections,” says South African Mint MD Richard Collocot.

The release is a tribute to the martial eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus), which is Africa's largest eagle. With a wingspan that can stretch more than 2 m and eyesight eight times sharper than a human's, this bird is not merely a predator, it is a symbol of focus, authority and untamed grace, the Mint says.

“At the heart of the collection lies a simple yet profound idea: that the martial eagle's natural design, its symmetry, strength and stillness, mirrors the discipline of the minting process itself. Every curve of the wings, every feather's edge, every line of the talons has been rendered with the same exacting care that nature took over millennia.”

In African folklore, the martial eagle is often seen as a guardian, a creature that watches over the land with unblinking vigilance. For collectors, the coin becomes more than an asset; it becomes a talisman of clarity, strength and perspective. In a world that moves ever faster, the Martial Eagle reminds us to rise above, to see farther and to act with intention.

As the second of seven annual releases, the Martial Eagle collection builds on the momentum of the 2025 Bateleur Eagle, the inaugural coin in the series, and sets a high bar for what is to come.

With strictly limited mintages and a design language that resonates with both seasoned numismatists and first-time collectors, the 2026 range is already drawing attention from across the world.