MINT ISSUE ISSUE 106 SEPTEMBER 2015 2 1 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 Australian Maritime Safety Authority Chairman 4 The Mint CEO Ross MacDiarmid with Prime Minister 6 The Mint’s Communications Manager Michelle Nakamura Stuart Richey AM with the Mint's Communications Manager Tony Abbott at the 800th Anniversary of Magna Carta at the launch of the Australian Lighthouse coins at the Michelle Nakamura. Reception. Queensland Maritime Museum. 2 The Greece and Crete Wreath Laying Memorial in Canberra. 5 Prime Minister Tony Abbott amongst descendants of 7 The Winter Warm-Up sale at the Mint. 3 New shop display for the Royal Australian Mint Fine Sir Henry Parkes to celebrate the 200th anniversary since 8 Downies Australian Coin Auction. Jewellery Collection. the birth of the man known as the ‘Father of Federation.’ 9 Battle of Greece and Crete commemorative coin launch with the Mint CEO Ross MacDiarmid. DEARCOLLECTOR CONTENTS A MESSAGE FROM THE CEO Featured Products 4 The Longest-Reigning Monarch 4 Australia at War – Fourth Releases 6 The past couple of months have seen us hold a number of exciting events around Unlikely Heroes Great and Small 8 the country which you can see in the photos on the previous page. A few of these Netball World Cup Sydney 2015 10 events I’d like to make special mention of including; the Royal Australian Mint’s first Gold and Fine Silver Proof Coins 12 ever coin auction which saw some unique production pieces from the manufacturing Magna Carta 14 process go under the hammer at Downies Australian Coin Auction. All items were sold Lunar Series – Year of the Monkey 16 including circulating coinage to collectible pieces from as early as 1984. These coins Tetra-decagon Series – Year of the Monkey 18 were produced outside of the official mintage of each release as a quality standard to inform the level of production. I am so pleased we were be able to do this in our Kangaroo at Sunset – Silver Proof 19 50th anniversary year, as it has been the ideal time to make these items available to Drama on the High Seas – VOC Batavia 20 those who value them. Australian Lighthouses 21 State Series – Western Australia 22 In June we welcomed the incredible launch of our beautiful Magna Carta coins by the Prime Minister of Australia, at the Australian Parliament House. The Mint also had the Fine Jewellery Collection 23 pleasure in working alongside the Australian Maritime Safety Authority to launch the stunning lighthouse series up in sunny Queensland with the AMSA Chairman. Finally, Eternity 25 we worked with the Canberra Greek and Cretan community to recognise important Genealogy 26 periods of battle in our Australia at War series. Natural World 27 On behalf of the Minties, we hope to see you soon at either a roadshow event or in Catalogue 28 Canberra. However if we don’t see you, we hope you enjoy our latest editions! Meet the Minties 32 From the Vault 33 What’s On 34 2016 Kangaroo at Sunset – BALLOT INFO 35 Ross MacDiarmid Chief Executive Officer Royal Australian Mint NEW ROYAL collectION LONGEST-REIGNING COMMONWEALTH MONARCH 4 5 On 9 September 2015, Australia will stand alongside its 2015 50c Uncirculated Coin $10.00 fellow Commonwealth nations to celebrate an exceptional 310907 milestone, as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II becomes the 2015 $5 Fine Silver Proof Coin $100.00 longest-reigning Commonwealth monarch. These beautifully 510793 designed coins are adorned with golden wattle and 2015 Fine Silver Three Coin Collection Her Majesty’s royal insignia, as a symbol of the enduring bond $549.00 510787 between Australia and the United Kingdom. 2015 Gold Proof Three Coin Collection $9,999.00 We have exclusively partnered with the Royal Mint and the 510792 Royal Canadian Mint to produce a stunning Royal Collection Three Coin Set available in Fine Silver Proof and Gold Proof. Nominal Specifications We have very low allocations so be quick to get yours now! 50c CuNi 15.55 g 31.51 mm Uncirculated 50 000 B. King $5 Ag 99.9% 1 oz 40.00 mm Proof 5000 B. King For the nominal specifications of the 2015 Three Coin Collections, visit eshop.ramint.gov.au. 4 5 NEW ANZac CENTENARY COIN program AusTRALIA AT WAR fourth RELEASES: COINS 10, 11 AND 12 6 7 The Australia at War series continues with the highly anticipated Australia at War $199.00 fourth instalment. The latest editions include Tobruk, Empire Air Subscription Program incl. domestic postage Training Scheme and War in the Pacific. SPECIAL OFFER: The moving imagery featured on the 2015 50c Uncirculated Buy each coin individually as they are released or for a limited time only subscribe to secure Coin – Tobruk is a heartfelt tribute to the Second World War all 18 coins with one easy upfront payment and receive a FREE collection folder. soldiers affectionately remembered as the ‘Rats of Tobruk.’ It's not too late to collect the definitive Anzac Centenary coin program. The 2015 50c Coloured Uncirculated Coin – Empire Air Training Scheme depicts a recruit in training becoming a qualified Airman against the backdrop of the European theatre of war. Nominal Specifications The 2015 50c Coloured Uncirculated Coin – War in the Pacific 50c CuNi 15.55 g 31.51 mm uncirculated 50 000 B. King combines many aspects of the Second World War into a design 50c CuNi 15.55 g 31.51 mm uncirculated 50 000 E. Llewellyn 50c CuNi 15.55 g 31.51 mm uncirculated 50 000 E. Llewellyn that highlights the events that unfolded so close to our shores. Please visit eshop.ramint.gov.au for subscription program terms and conditions. 6 7 NEW UNLIKELY HEROES GREAT AND SMALL DD.43.Q.879 BLUE CHEQUER COCK AND SANDY THE WAR HORSE 8 9 During the Second World War, when Australia was fighting 2015 $1 Coloured Frunc Coin alongside the USA, the Japanese attacked a US Marine patrol DD.43.Q.879 Blue Chequer Cock $15.00 on Manus Island. The soldiers needed help, but their radio 310646 had failed. With pigeon power as their only hope, DD.43.Q.879 2015 $1 Coloured Frunc Coin faced the danger against all odds and reached HQ with an Sandy the War Horse $15.00 important message to save the patrol. For his conspicuous 310643 gallantry and devotion to duty he was awarded the prestigious Dickin Medal. During the First World War, Sandy the War Horse accompanied Major General Sir William Bridges, the first commander of the Australian Imperial Force, to Gallipoli. Some 6100 Australian Nominal Specifications horses made that long journey. Sandy was the only one to $1 AlBr 9.00 g 25.00 mm frosted uncirculated 30 000 Royal Australian Mint come home. $1 AlBr 9.00 g 25.00 mm frosted uncirculated 30 000 Royal Australian Mint 8 9 Congratulations Australian Netball Diamonds NEW NETBALL WORLD CUP SYDNEY 2015 10 11 From 7–16 August 2015, Australia hosted the Netball 2015 20c Uncirculated Coin $12.00 World Cup Sydney 2015. To mark this world class event, 310910 the Royal Australian Mint released a spectacular silver domed 2015 $5 Fine Silver Proof Domed Coin $125.00 coin and a celebratory 20c uncirculated coin. These coins 210460 are a testimony to Australia’s connection to netball and the continued growth and impact of the sport globally. The design of the 2015 $5 Fine Silver Proof Domed Coin creatively utilises its curved shape to depict the iconic netball and goal with the uncirculated coin featuring an artistic representation of the official Netball World Cup trophy and netball. Nominal Specifications 20c CuNi 11.30 g 28.52 mm Uncirculated 30 000 Royal Australian Mint $5 Ag 99.9% 1 oz 39.62 mm Proof 5000 A. Stokic 10 11 NEW AUSTRALIAN CIRCULATING coIN DESIGNS GOLD AND FINE SILVER PROOF COINS Always impressive and desirable, the annual tradition of capturing Australia’s world renowned circulating coins in a proof finish in beautiful gold and stunning fine silver continues. In the Mint’s golden anniversary year, these individual coins are sure to be highly sought after, as the 2015 Silver Proof Coin Set is already sold out! The 2015 Gold Proof Six Coin Set is also available. 12 13 2015 5c Fine Silver Proof Coin $45.00 2015 5c Gold Proof Coin $650.00 210420 210432 2015 10c Fine Silver Proof Coin $50.00 2015 10c Gold Proof Coin $1,250.00 210422 210434 2015 20c Fine Silver Proof Coin $65.00 2015 20c Gold Proof Coin $2,150.00 210424 210436 2015 $2 Fine Silver Proof Coin $55.00 2015 50c Gold Proof Coin $2,950.00 210430 210438 2015 $1 Gold Proof Coin $1,900.00 Please note the 2015 50c Fine Silver Proof Coin and the 2015 $1 Fine Silver Proof Coin 210440 are sold out. 2015 $2 Gold Proof Coin For the complete nominal specifications and to view more details on the individual $1,450.00 or six coin sets, visit our eShop, eshop.ramint.gov.au. 210442 12 13 NEW 800TH ANNIVERSARY MAGNA CARTA 14 15 On 19 June 1215 in Runnymede, Surrey, King John placed the 2015 $5 Fine Silver Antique Great Seal on one of the most influential documents in human Rectangular Coin $120.00 history, the Magna Carta. In honour of this historic anniversary 210387 and treasured artefact, this unique 2015 $5 Fine Silver Antique 2015 20c Uncirculated Coin $8.00 Rectangular Coin features an inscription taken from the 310329 1297 Inspeximus issue held at the Australian Parliament House. The Mint's first rectangular Australian legal tender coin and its tangible qualities makes this a coin you'll want to have in your collection.