A rare $5 coin will be released in Australia next week to celebrate the nation’s 20 world heritage sites.
The “2023 $5 coloured frosted uncirculated coin” was unveiled by the Royal Australian Mint on Thursday, and while it will be available to the public on Thursday, September 7, the collector’s coin won’t actually go into circulation.
In fact, with a price of $30, each of the 30,000 coins made by the Mint will cost anyone wanting to get their hands on one more than their monetary value.
The collector’s coin was announced to coincide with the general assembly and scientific symposium of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), which is currently being held in Australia for the first time.
The coin features images of all 20 of Australia’s sites on the World Heritage List, including Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, the Sydney Opera House, Gondwana Rainforests, and Great Barrier Reef.
Those images surround a coloured central picture of a handprint, fan palm frond and shell fossil, which the Mint says represents “the natural and built icons and Australia’s Indigenous heritage”.
The other side of the coin features a commemorative obverse of Queen Elizabeth II.
“As Australians we’re fortunate to live in a country with so much natural beauty,” Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury Andrew Leigh said.
“By celebrating Australia’s World Heritage sites through this collectible coin, the Royal Australian Mint is doing its bit to help the spread the word about our magnificent natural and built heritage.”
