Leading the pack in commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Burke and Wills expedition, the Royal Australian Mint unveiled new coin designs alongside an exclusive Burke and Wills display at the State Library of Victoria in Melbourne.

Modern day explorer Jesse Martin together with Assistant Treasurer Senator Nick Sherry revealed the new coin designs today in Melbourne.

Jesse Martin, the current record holder for the youngest person to sail solo around the world non-stop and unassisted, was able to, after looking through the Burke and Wills collection, empathise with taking on such a major expedition, the hardships that came with it and the sense of achievement at the end. Read the rest of this entry »

One of Australia’s biggest television personalities and well-known wildlife experts has been named as an inspirational Australian and now appears on a new $1 coin.

Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Australian Mint Graham Smith was joined by Terri Irwin and a few of her friends including "Sanchez" the Alligator to officially launch the new coin design at Australia Zoo.

"Steve would have been so proud to see his work elevated to yet another level. His efforts in conservation recognised on a national coin! We are all very proud of him," said Mrs Irwin.

The Royal Australian Mint’s Inspirational Australians collector coin series recognises and celebrates individual achievements and commemorates unique Australians who have made an extraordinary contribution to our society. Read the rest of this entry »

The Royal Australian Mint is now offering the 2009 $1 Inspirational Australian Steve Irwin Uncirculated Coin. This coin is the second in a series of Inspirational Australians that last year featured Mary MacKillip, who was beatified by Pope John Paul I in 1995.

Steve Irwin was a well-known celebrity who met an untimely fate in 2006. Host of the popular Crocodile Hunter series, Irwin was enthusiastically supportive of Australia’s wildlife.

His parents started the Australia Zoo and Irwin grew up around exotic creatures. He is attributed with wresting with his first crocodile at the age of nine. Not content with merely putting on a show, Irwin was adamant about educating the public about wildlife as well. Read the rest of this entry »

The Royal Australian Mint is holding a September Spring Cleaning Collector Auction, marking the first time it has held such an event.

Set for September 12, 2009, the auction will occur at the Mint’s location on Denison Street in the Deakin suburb of the Australian Capital Territory. Registration for the event will start at 2:30 PM and continues until 3:10 PM.

The auction itself is set to begin promptly at 3:15 PM.Only registered bidders will be allowed to participate.

The items slated to be sold make up quite an eclectic collection; from multiple coins to framed posters to information panels. Read the rest of this entry »

Forty years ago today mankind made history with the famous first step on the Moon. In 1969 the Royal Australian Mint made its own history with the issue of the new dodecagonal 50 cent coin.

At a commemorative Apollo 11 anniversary event in Canberra today the Mint officially launches its brand new 50 cent collector coin to celebrate the historic moon landing in 1969.

"Taking the first step on a celestial body is arguably one of the human race’s greatest achievements of all time," said Graham Smith, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Australian Mint.

"Some of the first pictures from the Moon’s surface were sent around the world from Honeysuckle Creek near Canberra and the Royal Australian Mint is proud to officially launch its newest coin to celebrate this occasion," said Mr Smith. Read the rest of this entry »

With a triumphant win in the State of Origin on Wednesday night and having Queensland Day on this Saturday, Queenslanders definitely have a few reasons to celebrate.

To help those from up north celebrate being a Queenslander the Royal Australian Mint has released a stunning new coin which especially honours the 150th anniversary of self-government for Queensland.

On 6 June 1859 Queen Victoria signed Letters Patent separating Queensland from the colony of New South Wales. This date is now celebrated as Queensland Day. Read the rest of this entry »

Australia’s first $1 coin turns 25 today and has become one of Australia’s most recognised coin designs.

In 1984 the ‘five kangaroos’ $1 coin design replaced the $1 note, adding another coin to Australia’s official decimal currency.

In preparation for the currency changeover, from note to coin, a variety of coin designs and shapes were considered including a seven-sided coin and a scalloped edge coin.

"Stuart Devlin, the Queen’s appointed goldsmith and jeweller, was invited to submit designs for the new $1 coin. His proposals featured Australian native fauna including a wombat, a penguin and the famous five kangaroos which are still used today," said Graham Smith, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Australian Mint. Read the rest of this entry »

The Royal Australian Mint will launch the first coin in their new series titled Australia Remembers at the Royal College of Nursing, Australia’s International Nurses Day celebrations in Canberra tonight.  

The series pays tribute to past and present Australians who played important roles during times of war, conflict and peacekeeping. The first coin in this series honours past and present Australian Services nurses.

"Since the time of the Boer War, service nurses have contributed by caring for the sick and wounded in every conflict to which Australia has committed troops," said Graham Smith, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Australian Mint.

"Whilst this coin has been made specifically for the Australia Remember series, I like to think it reminds everyone about the work that nurses do all around the world and realise how often they go unrecognised," said Mr Smith.

Read the rest of this entry »

The Royal Australian Mint has released a new coin series titled Australia Remembers ahead of ANZAC Day which pays tribute to past and present Australians who played important roles during times of war, conflict and peacekeeping.

"It is fitting to release this new series today as the nation takes the time to reflect on and celebrate the enormous sacrifices made by our diggers and those people who have served and died for Australia," said Graham Smith, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Australian Mint.

The first coin released in the Australia Remembers series honours past and present Australian Service nurses. Read the rest of this entry »

In the first release from the new Australia Remembers series, the Royal Australian Mint has introduced the Australian Services Nurses 20c Uncirculated Coin.

The commemorative coin design, by W. Pietranik, portrays a wounded "Aussie Digger" (Australian soldier) comforted and nursed back to health.

Military nursing in Australia was established in 1899. In January 1900 fourteen nurses set off from Sydney for the Boer War. Australian Services Nurses have since served in both world wars, Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, Rwanda, Bougainville, East Timor, and most recently in the Gulf and Afghanistan conflicts. Read the rest of this entry »