Senator the Hon Nick Sherry, Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law, today launched the first coin in the Inspirational Australians’ coin series which features the Australian people’s saint, Blessed Mary MacKillop.

The Inspirational Australian coin series recognises and celebrates individual achievements and commemorates unique Australians who have made an extraordinary contribution to our society.

"As the Australian people’s saint, and someone who could be called Australia’s saint in waiting, Mary MacKillop is a fitting choice for the first coin in the Inspirational Australian series."

"The Royal Australian Mint’s world class coin designer Vladimir Gottwald has designed a coin which depicts Mary MacKillop guiding future generations.

Mary was an exceptional Australian woman who stands as an example of great courage, trust and compassion and as our first saint, she will forever inspire our nation," said Minister Sherry.

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The Royal Australian Mint launches the commemorative 2008 Northern Territory $5 silver proof coin, which is the fifth coin released since the start of the State Series in 2006.

The Royal Australian Mint marks the 30th anniversary of self-government for the Northern Territory with the release of a commemorative five dollar coin.

The Commonwealth conferred self-government on the Northern Territory on 1 July 1978 by enacting the Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act 1978. This day is celebrated every year as Territory Day.

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The Royal Australian Mint has released a special one dollar coin featuring a detector dog on duty to mark the centenary of Australian Quarantine.

The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) is responsible for protecting Australia’s borders from exotic pets and diseases. AQIS also provides import and export inspection to support access to overseas markets.

The special uncirculated coin acknowledges the work and commitment of AQIS in protecting Australia’s unique environment and our multi-million dollar agricultural and tourism industries. The success of these quarantine practices has resulted in Australia remaining free from many of the world’s worst agriculture pests and diseases.

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Family owned, Australian business, Australis Engineering P/L has won the tender to update the Royal Australian Mint’s materials handling and warehousing system. The new system along with the refurbishment of the Mint’s facilities in Canberra and other modernisation projects is central to the Mint’s objective of becoming one of the best manufacturing facilities in the world.

Australis Engineering’s proposed solution to the Mint’s requirements incorporates high levels of process automation, modernised infrastructure and equipment, and re-engineered processes to:

• increase the physical security of coinage blanks and coins;
• reduce OH&S risks through the physical separation of people and equipment;
• reduce or eliminate manual handling within the Mint;
• automate the real time accounting and auditing of blanks and coins as they progress through the receipt, production, storage and delivery processes; and
• minimise time wasted with work in progress and the transportation of materials around the Mint’s premises.

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The availability of Royal Australian Mint’s silver $1 coin of the 1921 Kookaburra Penny is coming to a close on April 25, 2008. The proof collector coin is minted in 99.9% silver and its inner design is a replica of the 1921 Kookaburra Penny.

The Kookaburra Penny is noted for its square shape and the collector coin takes on that image. The obverse or heads of the coin bears the image of King George V while the reverse or tails side has the image of the ever popular Kookaburra.

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The Royal Australian Mint joined the celebratory kick off the 2008 NRL Telstra Premiership season by releasing new collector coins celebrating the centenary of Rugby League.

The Centenary of Rugby League coin series launched last November with the introduction of the $1 Uncirculated coin and is now followed by the $5 Silver Proof and $10 Gold Proof collector coins.

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The Royal Australian Mint kicked off the introduction of a new circulating one dollar coin and a series of new collector coins with a gigantic and symbolic coin commemorating the Centenary of Scouts Australia.

The model coin was the largest ever produced by the Mint at an impressive 400 times the size of the normal one dollar circulating coin.

Its unveiling appropriately took place in front of a group of children and young adults who represented various scouting groups across Australia.

Senator the Hon Nick Sherry, Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law, made several comments at the ceremony.

“Scouts Australia was founded 100 years ago. We all know just how big a part of our culture the Scouts have become since then, with over 60,000 scouts spread across the country.

“Launching this coin is a perfect way for everyone in Australia to remember the achievements and contributions of the scout movement founded by Lord Baden Powell over the past century. The Government is very happy to recognise this incredible contribution and has declared 2008 the Year of the Scout.”

“Today, this giant coin is symbolic of the equally giant contribution that Scouts have made to Australia …"

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The Royal Australian Mint has announced the start of the 2008 Polar Series coins, which mark the 4th International Polar Year - a large scientific programme focused on the Arctic and the Antarctic.

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Last month the Royal Australian Mint had an evening gala where they introduced their 2008 theme and series of coins.

The gala was likely a blast, the theme - the International Year of Planet Earth (IYPE) - a bit of a mouthful, and the coins, well… they were undoubtedly the talk of the party.

The uniquely interesting Kangaroo at Sunset coin had to be, no question, the party prize-winner. It’s simple, clean and just stands out.

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