Hundreds of coin collectors were up early this morning to try and get their hands on the first minted coins for 2024 at the Royal Australian Mint in Canberra.
Those who arrived by 8:30am were entered into a ballot to mint the world’s first coin of the year in the public press.
A redraw saw 12-year-old Izzy Zaharis from Wollongong named the lucky winner, after the first entrant chosen was not present for the draw.
“It was very fun, exciting,” she said.
Coin collecting is a Zaharis family affair, with Izzy travelling to Canberra with her brother and parents, who also lined up on New Year’s Eve to mint one of the last collectible coins featuring Queen Elizabeth II.
Earlier this month, Izzy‘s mother and brother also lined up for six hours to add some 35th anniversary $2 coins to their collection.
“When I was younger I was given a stamp collection from someone, and then I got to mint a coin at [World] Expo 88,” Lisa Zaharis said.
“We all got a Centenary [of Federation] medallion in ’88 at school and that was the start of the collection. I just went from there.”
Another 99 people were also chosen from the ballot to press their own piece of memorabilia, with each given a certificate of authentication with their coin.
The coin is the first collectible coin featuring the effigy of King Charles III. Other coins featuring his majesty entered circulation last month.
This year’s public program coin showcases Australia’s involvement in space and references milestones like the launch of the first satellite and the Apollo 11 moon landing.
The mint worked closely with the Australian Space Agency in designing the coin.
“We have a long legacy of Australian studies and missions and support of international projects and we have so many things on the horizon,” Australian National University astrophysicist Brad Tucker said.
“It’s nice to celebrate that in a different way and partner space with a different sort of group that might not encounter space every day – and that is coin collectors.”
Mr Tucker said Australia was going to mark “many milestones” this year in space, including the launch of an orbital satellite from Queensland.
Royal Australian Mint chief executive Leigh Gordan said the coin told an “important Australian story” and he hoped it would inspire people to look to the stars.
“It’s an exciting coin which I think will hopefully encourage some people to consider and talk about the role that space plays in Australia and the opportunities that it has in the future,” he said.
“And also opportunities for people to invest in STEM and start considering that as a potential career.”
(ABC)
