September 2013 Number 98 1 2 3 4 5 6 Dear Collector September is here again, and with it the release The Mint recently set up a temporary shop in of the first of many inspiring coin releases in 2014. Queensland, with a stall at the Royal Queensland Show As you are all probably aware, the Mint has had a great (Ekka) in Brisbane from August 8 – 17. In addition to first half of 2013 through the release of fantastic coins more than 10 000 animals and 23 000 competition that continue to tell Australia’s story. entries, one of the highlights of the show for many was The largest of these releases was the launch of the creating a 2013 Bicentenary of the Holey Dollar and 2013 60th Anniversary of the Coronation of Her Majesty Dump $1 uncirculated ‘B’ counterstamp coin on our Queen Elizabeth II $2 coloured circulating coin. mobile press – a great take-home memento from one The slow reveal of the coin’s design on the website of Queenland’s largest and most loved annual events. www.colourfulchange.com.au took the Australian Back on home soil, the Mint’s Visitors Gallery was public along for the circulating coin production recently transformed with the installation of the journey with a fun view of how coins are made at sculpture ‘Floating Currency’ above the ‘Cascading the Mint. The unlocking of each stage of the process Staircase’ in the Mint foyer. It was launched by was announced on the Facebook page Centenary of Canberra Creative Director Robyn Archer www.facebook.com/yourcolourfulchange and on on Thursday 27 June, who spoke at length about the twitter with the hashtag #colourfulchange. We are importance of institutions such as the Royal Australian currently running a Colourful Change video competition Mint in continuing to tell the Australian story. on the Colourful Change website, and voting closes This month’s Mint Issue includes great coins which soon so make sure you check it out and vote for will be kicking off our numismatic calendar for 2014, your favourite! as well as some new 2013 coins. The most exciting The Governor-General of Australia, Her Excellency the coin has been featured on the front cover of this Issue, Honourable Quentin Bryce AC AVO, officially launched and celebrates the 40th anniversary of Sydney’s Opera the 2013 60th Anniversary of the Coronation of House. The second coin in the Southern Sky series can Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II $2 coloured circulating also be found within these pages, and make sure to coin to the public at the end of June; Her Excellency look out for the Ashes and Lunar Year of the Horse pressed the button to begin the packing process which coins as well. packaged these coins for distribution to banks. Happy collecting! The coin has been spotted in change across Australia already, however we are also holding a coin swap at a location which will be chosen through a Twitter competition using hashtags to vote for the city to hold the event in. Check out our website for more details! Ross MacDiarmid We look forward to meeting all the enthusiastic Chief Executive Officer collectors wanting to get their hands on this coin. Royal Australian Mint 1The Mint's Colourful Change website is a hive of activity - check it out! 2 The Governor-General of Australia, Her Excellency the Honourable Quentin Bryce AC CVO, getting a closer look at Australia’s first purple striped circulating $2 coin. 3 The Mint's Centenary of Canberra coin sculpture, 'Floating Currency'. 4 The Governor-General of Australia, Her Excellency the Honourable Quentin Bryce AC CVO pressing the button to begin the packaging of Australia's first purple striped circulating coin. 5 The Governor-General of Australia, Her Excellency the Honourable Quentin Bryce AC CVO, launching Australia’s first purple striped circulating coin. 6 Centenary of Canberra Creative Director Robyn Archer AO launching the Mint's sculpture 'Floating Currency'. 1 off the presses Melbourne International Instagram and Pinterest added Coin Show to Mint’s social media stable The Mint will be making its way down to You’ve connected with us on Facebook Melbourne for the International Coin Show and Twitter, now you can be even more from 18 – 20 October 2013. Also coming connected with the Mint through Instagram along with us will be a special display, and Pinterest. Check out beautiful which will allow you to see some specially behind-the-scenes images from the Mint’s selected coins up close in holographic Instragram account @royalaustmint, where form. There is the opportunity to strike the colours and beauty that inspire our your own ‘M’ counterstamp on the 2013 everyday work come to life. You can plan Bicentenary of the Holey Dollar and Dump your future coin collection, as well as check $1 coin on our mobile press. out tangible inspirations that help fuel our creativity, on specially created boards on Pinterest – follow them and re-pin from Coming soon in October: royalaustmint. Key to the House As part of our celebrations for the 25th Legends Member Program anniversary of Australia’s Parliament House, the Mint is presenting a very special If you have not yet signed up for the Royal exhibition that showcases one of the most Australian Mint’s Legends program, you can interesting items in our collection, amongst join by ticking the box on your order form, other special Parliament House coins and contacting our call centre, or emailing us at memorabilia made by the Mint. The title of [email protected]. Note: Cumulative the exhibition gives a very big clue of what spends for Legends Members will revert the ‘key’ item might be! You can catch a back to zero at the end of August for the preview of this display at Parliament House start of another 12 month-period. For all from 15 August, before the full exhibition information on the Legends program visit opens at the Mint on 17 October. www.ramint.gov.au/faq 2 meet the minties In any given year the Royal Australian Mint produces hundreds of thousands of circulating and numismatic coins. Few people know exactly who is responsible for designing, minting, and releasing a particular coin, however. So, with that in mind, we have peeled back the veil in order to introduce you to people who are instrumental in producing some of the finest coins on the planet. They call themselves “Minties”. at the Mint in 1988, and is one of the Sang Tran few people who have seen the business Circulating Coin Hall transition to new technologies – and to new premises. Leading Hand “I’ve seen many changes in my time The Royal Australian Mint’s factory floor here,” said Sang, “from the way we ‘tip’ is like that of any other manufacturing the blanks; to the introduction of AGVs plant – multi-faceted, fast paced and noisy. (automatically guided vehicles); and To meet the needs of the Australian public, introduction of robots into the Mint.” the Mint employs a number of dedicated “We have had to learn new systems and individuals to oversee its operations. new technologies – but it all helps make One of these people is Sang Tran, the the process smoother.” Mint’s Circulating Coin Hall Leading Hand. As Leading Hand, Sang is responsible for Sang moved to Canberra from Vietnam helping coordinate the production of in 1980, and admits to not knowing a Australia’s circulating coins. He is also lot about the Australian capital when he affectionately known as the “keeper” arrived on our shores; he began work of Mint drawcard robot, Titan. 3 Sydney Opera House 40th Anniversary Sydney Opera House is a masterpiece that Following an international design competition, belongs to all Australians. One of the world's most drawing more than 200 entries around the world, recognised and celebrated buildings, it contributes Jørn Utzon – a relatively unknown Danish architect significantly to the cultural life of the city, Sydney. – triumphed with his scheme of vaulted sails. In Opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 20 giving the world one of the 20th century’s greatest October 1973, the UNESCO World Heritage listed buildings, Jørn Utzon changed the creative and building welcomes over 8.2 million visitors on cultural landscape of Australia forever. site every year and is one of the world’s busiest performing arts centres and cultural destinations. 4 40th Anniversary of Sydney Opera House In 2013 the Royal Australian Mint celebrates the 40th Anniversary of Sydney Opera House with the release of a one ounce silver proof coin depicting the much-loved building in its entire splendour as seen from the harbour. In July 2007 Sydney Opera House was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, recognising the structure as a ‘masterpiece of human creative genius'. To complement this precious keepsake, the Mint has also released an aluminium bronze version of the coin 210292 which will make both a great present and a wonderful start to a new collection. 2013 $1 Silver Proof Coin Price: $100.00 210292 Nominal Specifications: $1 | Ag 99.9% | 1 oz | 40.00 mm | proof | 5000 | A. Stokic 2013 $1 Uncirculated Coin Price: $13.50 310395 Nominal Specifications: $1 | AlBr | 9.00 g | 25.00 mm | uncirculated | unlimited | A. Stokic NIO M O UN IM D R T IA A L • P • W L O A I R D L D N H O E M R I E TA IN G O E • PATRIM United Nations Sydney Opera House Educational, Scientific and inscribed on the World Cultural Organization Heritage List in 2007 310395 5 Exciting and extroverted, vivid and animated, people born in the year of the horse are said to be bursting with energy – the life of any party they attend.