Australia. Latest Commemorative Dollar Coins Mark Mint’s 60th Anniversary

Prior to the inauguration of the purpose-built Royal Australian Mint, The Reserve Bank and Treasury had been striking coins for its own use at state mints in Perth, Western Australia, Sydney in New South Wales and Melbourne in Victoria, but these were the branches of the Royal Mint of the United Kingdom. The establishment of a new state-of-the-art coin production facility took on greater importance as Australia was preparing to introduce a decimal currency, replacing pounds, shillings and pence with a new Australian dollar divided into one hundred cents.

The mints in Perth and Melbourne were involved in the early production of Australia’s new decimal currency. The Perth Mint struck over 100 million one and two cent pieces in 1965, ready for the changeover in 1966. The Melbourne Mint was responsible for producing most of the early decimal currency test pieces, but it soon became clear that it did not have the capacity to produce the one billion coins that would be needed for the first year of the changeover to decimal currency. It was on the 22nd February 1965 that His Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh representing the Queen officially opened the Royal Australian Mint in Deakin, Canberra and the production of coins denominated only in cents began almost immediately. Since then, every single coin in the pockets and purses of millions of Australians have been produced in a quiet Canberra suburb. Marking six decades of history, the new coins celebrate the Mint’s lasting impact on Australia’s economic and cultural landscape whilst also recognising the collectors and enthusiasts whose passion has been integral to the Mint’s success.

Designed by the Royal Australian Mint’s Adam Ball, this coin honours the Mint’s six-decade legacy. The elements feature the Mint’s robot, Titan, who plays a crucial role in moving and processing coins ready for distribution. The Mint building is depicted from two perspectives — an aerial view capturing its substantial presence and a side view showcasing its architectural features.  A collector holding coins symbolises the passion of numismatists, while gold bars represent the investment products produced at the Mint. Coin dies highlight their role in striking designs onto blanks, while the blanks themselves acknowledge the foundation of coin production. Each of these elements is intricately placed within the sheet. These designs and representations surround an anniversary logo and the years 1965 – 2025. A key design element to the logo is the number ‘60’ where the zero is framed with an additional circle and a connecting line to the coin’s rim — symbolising the moment of a coin’s creation. The six represents the motion of a newly minted coin, while the zero represents the die beneath it, emphasising the Mint’s meticulous attention to detail. Below the primary design is the commemorative text ROYAL AUSTRALIAN MINT placed along the lower rim. The C mintmark denoting Canberra is shown in the middle of the numeral 6. The obverse features the effigy of HM King Charles III designed by Daniel Thorne. The legend surrounding the portrait reads CHARLES III AUSTRALIA 2025 with the denomination 1 DOLLAR placed below the King’s likeness.

Each coin is presented in a coin-card format with designs focusing on five different aspects of the Royal Australian Mint and is available from the e-webshop of the Royal Australian Mint partner distributor Aussie Coins and Notes.

The Architect - Richard Ure (1913 – 1992) pays tribute to the vision behind the building’s creation.

Money Making Machines - showcases the innovative technology of coin production

Community - Our Collectors - celebrates the passion of coin enthusiasts

Outreach - Mobile Mint reflects the Mint’s nationwide connections

Mint Staff - Commonly known as Minties recognises the dedicated team who bring these coins to life.