Opening in 1965, the Royal Australian Mint (RAM) in Canberra is responsible for producing the 400 million coins required each year by Australians (Rabbit, 1993: 53). In addition to satisfying currency demands, government expectations toward supplementing running costs has resulted in a rich selection of collectable (non-circulating legal tender) being produced for the collectable market. Prior to the operation of the RAM the first Mints in Australia opened in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth as a response to the discovery of gold in Australia. These mints operated as branches of the Royal Mint in London - outposts of Britain flying the Union Jack in their respective states. Sydney was open from 1856-1926, Melbourne 1872-1968, and Perth 1899-1970. The closing of the branch mints marked the end of an era with The Royal Australian Mint the first mint in Australia not to be a branch of the Royal Mint in London.

This acquisition offers an excellent cross-section of the range of products made by the RAM in Canberra. At one end are the packaged sets of Australia's day-to-day coinage, and at the other, sets of silver and gold versions of coins minted in spectacular finishes from specially prepared dies (steel intaglio stamps). The various types of technical production are well represented including Proof finish coins (from highly polished dies often with contrasting frosted details), Specimen finish (coins from specially prepared dies but not quite Proof), and Piedfort (double thickness coins).

Coins produced by the RAM frequently include commemorative designs to celebrate international and national anniversaries or events of importance. In this way coins (as well as stamps) are today's unofficial markers of events and anniversaries of national and international importance that act as a de facto barometer for what Australian society considers important at any one time. The collection in this acquisition features coins commemorating a number of such events including the Royal Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer (1981); Brisbane Commonwealth Games (1982); International Year of Peace (1986); First Fleet Departure 1787 (1987); Landing at Sydney Cove 1788 (1988); First Fleet Bicentenary 1788-1988 (1988); Opening of New Parliament House (1988); 75th ANZAC Anniversary (1990); 25th Anniversary of Long Tan (1991); 25th Anniversary of Decimal Currency (1991); Barcelona Olympic Games (1992); International Year of Space (1992); unveiling of the Vietnam Memorial in Canberra (1992); International Year of the Family (1994); Olympic Heritage Series (1994); 100 years of enfranchisement of women in South Australia (1994); and the 1895-1995 Centenary of 'Waltzing Matilda' (1995).

In addition to featuring events and anniversaries, non-circulating collector coins cover a wider variety of themes that has included among others, Australia's flora and fauna, sporting heroes, royal events, and issues relevant to indigenous rights.

The bequest from James Brady represents a significant representative sample from the large range of collectable products made by the Royal Australian Mint. In common with many collectors, James Brady regularly subscribed to multiple examples of the same series to serve as both record of a collection, and potential investment.

Paul Donnelly, Curator, June 2008

References:
Making Money: The story of the Royal Australian Mint, published about 2003
Rabbit, Michael. The coin book, Hale and Iremonger, Sydney, 1993

See parts for more information.

Since 1965 the Royal Australian Mint (RAM) in Canberra has been responsible for producing Australia's coinage and mints the more than 400 million coins required each year by Australians (Rabbit, 1993: 53). In addition to this core currency requirement are a variety of special coins produced specifically for collectors and the souvenir/gift market. These special issues are important business for the Mint and a great variety of single coins and coin sets are produced for sale. In the main these can take one of three forms:
1. Ordinary circulating legal tender in presentation packaging. Circulating coins are those used in everyday cash transactions for the payment of goods and services.
2. Legal tender produced in specially prepared finishes such as Proof (made from polished dies often combined with a contrasting frosted background or design).
3. Non-circulating legal tender of unusual denominations in specially prepared forms such as Proof, Piedfort (double ordinary thickness) and/or precious metal (silver, gold or platinum) in presentation packaging.
Both 2 and 3 are in effect non-circulating legal tender because the expense of labour-intensive specialised production and packaging make the price of a coin or set far greater than the denomination value of the coins. In this way a spectacularly shiny and flawless Proof dollar coin in a special case is worth many more times than its 'ONE DOLLAR' marked as its denomination (spending or coin value). As legal tender such a coin could be spent in a shop as a dollar, but it would be a foolish thing to do!

Some circulating (legal tender) coins are issued with commemorative designs to celebrate international and national anniversaries or events of importance. The collection in this acquisition features coins commemorating a number of such events including the Royal Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer (1981); Brisbane Commonwealth Games (1982); International Year of Peace (1986); First Fleet Departure 1787 (1987); Landing at Sydney Cove 1788 (1988); First Fleet Bicentenary 1788-1988 (1988); Opening of New Parliament House (1988); 75th ANZAC Anniversary (1990); 25th Anniversary of Long Tan (1991); 25th Anniversary of decimal currency (1991); Barcelona Olympic Games (1992); International Year of Space (1992); unveiling of the Vietnam Memorial in Canberra (1992); International Year of the Family (1994); Olympic Heritage Series (1994); 100 years of enfranchisement of women in South Australia (1994); and the 1895-1995 Centenary of 'Waltzing Matilda' (1995).

Coins used for commemorative issues are restricted to specific-value coins with the policy of the Royal Australian Mint to use only the one dollar coin, the 50 cent coin and, in rare circumstances, the 20 cent coin. In addition to featuring events and anniversaries, non-circulating collector coins cover a wider variety of themes that has included among others, Australia's flora and fauna, sporting heroes, royal events, and issues relevant to indigenous rights.

Australian circulating coins normally feature on their reverse the images of the echidna (five cents), the lyrebird (10 cents), the platypus (20 cents), the coat of arms (50 cents), the kangaroo (one dollar) and an Aboriginal tribal elder (two dollars). Because there is only one working Mint, the Mint has a number of travelling presses that produce (usually) one dollar coins in Sydney and Melbourne. In these instances a minute mint mark distinguishes the coin from the usually plain Canberra version. However, the exceptions to this rule are the 'interactive' presses in the Canberra mint whereby visitors can make their own dollar with a C mint mark. The obverse (front) of Australian legal tender coins (circulating and non-circulating) must feature the approved portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.

Paul Donnelly, Curator, June 2008

References
Michael Rabbit, 'The coin book' Hale and Iremonger, Sydney, 1993
The Royal Australian Mint website: http://www.ramint.gov.au/

The Royal Australian Mint was officially opened on Monday 22 February 1965. Prior to this time the first mints in Australia were in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. The discovery of gold in Australia prompted the opening of these mints as branches of the Royal Mint in London - outposts of Britain flying the Union Jack in their respective states. Sydney was open from 1856-1926, Melbourne 1872-1968, and Perth 1899-1970. An important year for all the branch mints was 1931 when gold sovereign coins (worth one pound or 20 shillings) ceased to be struck in Australia. It was for the manufacturing of sovereigns that the branch mints had been formed, and it was the gold sovereign (and half sovereigns) that were the main form into which freshly-mined Australian gold was minted into currency. Perth and Melbourne continued in production the longest making silver, bronze, and in the 1960s, decimal coinage. In fact, such was the demand during the changeover to decimal coinage on 14 February 1966 that Melbourne overlapped in production with Canberra for a couple of years, and continued making one cents until the end of June 1968 when it closed (Mullett 1992 preface). Perth produced two cents until 1970 and from 1987 operated as a state-owned operation of Goldcorp. The closing of the branches was the end of an era with The Royal Australian Mint marking its place in history as the first mint in Australia not to be a branch of the Royal Mint, London.

Paul Donnelly, Curator, June 2008

References:
Making Money: The story of the Royal Australian Mint, published by the RAM about 2003
Rabbit, Michael. The coin book, Hale and Iremonger, Sydney, 1993
Mullett, W J. Melbourne Mint branch of the Royal Mint: the establishment, self-published 1992

Numismatic material including proof coins (97), proof coin sets (62), piedfort coins (3), specimen coins (3), uncirculated coins (91), uncirculated coin sets (43), uncirculated bullion (3), proof medallions (19), proof coin and banknote sets (2), proof medallion sets (16), lapel badges (7), replica coin, proof pendant, uncirculated mint sets (2), token coin sets (6), uncirculated banknotes (10), uncirculated medallion sets (7), Holey dollar and dump sets (7), gold / silver / aluminium bronze / cupro nickel / paper / plastic / synthetic fabric / wood, various designers, Royal Australian Mint, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory / Perth Mint, Perth, Western Australia / Sydney, New South Wales, Australia / New Zealand / France, 1980-1996

Made: 1980 - 1996

2008/221/1

1980 - 1996