Venture into Outer Space with New Perth Mint Collector Coins

Blast off through the galaxy with The Perth Mint as it launches the latest exciting series in its Young Collectors coin program – Space!

Unveiled today at Horizon – The Planetarium, the new coin program is designed to educate children aged from seven to 15 years about the wonders of the solar system through the interactive, engaging and fun hobby of coin collecting.

With the coin industry facing an increasingly mature collector-base, Perth Mint Sales and Marketing Director Ron Currie said that exciting new initiatives are needed to boost participation in one of the world’s oldest and most noble hobbies – coin collecting.

"We received an overwhelming response to the inaugural Young Collectors Australian animal coin series issued in 2008, yet we are anticipating that the new space program will be even more popular," he said.

The Young Collectors Space Coins Album includes nine stunning $1 coins which showcase the marvels of space and its exploration, with design themes depicting astronomers, rockets, shuttles, space probes and much more.

The lavishly illustrated album in which the coins are housed also includes an:

• Information book full of wonderful illustrations which complement the informative texts on all things space.

• Activity book which allows you to follow the journey of two young characters as they wind their way through an array of exciting space puzzles, before mapping out your own galaxy with colourful stickers.

• Asteroids DVD documentary presented by National Geographic giving details on how two acclaimed geologists discovered more than 30 comets and hundreds of asteroids.

• Posters in high gloss which depict a space shuttle in orbit and the magnificent interstellar dust cloud called the Horsehead Nebula.

Each Young Collectors Space $1 Coin is issued as legal tender under the Australian Currency Act 1965 and portrays the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on its obverse.

To help get your coin collecting started, and for some more interesting facts about space, visit the Young Collectors website at www.youngcollectors.com.au.

The Perth Mint’s Young Collectors Space $1 Coins Album retails at just AU$79.95 [~$57 US] and is available from The Perth Mint Shop located at 310 Hay Street in East Perth, by telephoning FREECALL 1800 098 817, or from the Mint’s online store at www.perthmint.com.au.

Collectors can also purchase the new collector program at Australian Post outlets, the Scitech Shop at City West in West Perth, and through leading coin distributors.

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Orders may also be placed via the CoinNews affiliate link:
Young Collectors - 2009 Space $1 Coins.

About the Perth Mint

The Perth Mint, wholly-owned by the State Government of Western Australia, is the official issuer of the Australian Federal Government’s Gold and Silver Bullion Coin Program. The Mint opened in 1899 in response to the discovery of rich gold deposits in Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie. It was Australia’s third branch of Britain’s Royal Mint - the others being the Sydney Mint and the Melbourne Mint (both closed).

The Perth Mint remained under Britain’s jurisdiction until 1 July 1970, when ownership transferred to the State Government of Western Australia.

In 2003, The Perth Mint officially opened an 8,400 square metre state-of-the-art manufacturing facility next door to its original limestone building. Dominating the Mint’s heritage precinct, these two important buildings are powerful symbols of more than 100 years of minting excellence in Western Australia.