February 1, 2012
2012 Australian Open Coins Men's (left) Women's (right)(images courtesy www.ramint.gov.au)
There were two coins minted for the Australian Open Tennis in 2012. One features the men's trophy and one the women's trophy. They are very similar coins and if seen apart it might be difficult to differentiate which coin is which. Hence the reason for the above image of both coins side by side to help determine which coin is which.
The silhouette on the women's coin is of the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup (right). This cup is tall and slender with a wreath and crossed tennis racquets on the top with fine handles.
The silhouette on the men's coin is of the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup (left). A more solid shorter fatter cup with strong handles.
When viewing the coins side by side it's easy to see the differences in both designs by the RAM's Wojciech Pietranik.
Posted by harrisk at 8:27 AM
January 31, 2012
The first currency determination for 2012 was made in parliament on 19th January 2012 and published just yesterday. It outlines additions to the currency act of 1965 for new commemorative legal tender that may be produced by the Royal Australian Mint. It provides details of new designs and the characteristics of the proposed coins. Remember these are just proposed designs and until we see them minted they are just that.
New designs we are likely to see:
1. The most interesting inclusion in this currency determination is a circulating commemorative coloured $2 coin. This would be the first circulating coloured coin and the first commemorative $2 coin if this coin comes to fruition.
2. Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Australian Ballet. Two NCLT 50c coins one cupro-nickel and one in silver proof. The reverse design includes 2 ballet dancers performing by designer Aaron Baggio.
3. Wheat Sheaf $1 with a Canberra Bluebell counterstamp to be struck for the Canberra Festival ENLIGHTEN on the mobile coin press. The Royal Bluebell is the floral emblem of the ACT.
4. Titled "Australian Decimal Effigiies" is this one dollar the first in a series? The proposed $1 reminisces the Arnold Machin portait used from 1966 to 1984 of Queen Elizabeth II on the reverse with the 2012 Ian Rank-Broadley portrait also of QEII on the obverse. Is this a double headed coin! This 25mm coin is to be struck in fine silver in gem unc and proof finish.
5. $5 silver proof coloured coin featuring the constellation Crux in a field of stars superimposed over a representation of a compass.
6. $5 in a bronze antique finish composed of aluminium zinc and bronze with a design of the Perth Town Hall.
Posted by harrisk at 9:00 AM
January 30, 2012
The first currency determination for 2012 for the Royal Australian Mint has been released today with one big surprise for collectors. To say I was shocked was an understatement but it seems a design has been approved by treasury to possibly mint a commemorative $2 coin design -and for circulation?
The theme is Remembrance Day so it seems we won't see this release until later in the year. The reverse design repeating "REMEMBRANCE DAY" in 11 rows with a central circle of "LEST WE FORGET". The design including a coloured representation of a poppy flower in the foreground and 2 other representations of poppy flowers inscribed "2 DOLLARS" and REMEMBRANCE". The obverse the standard Ian Rank-Broadley portrait of the Queen with "AUSTRALIA" and "2012".
Specifications of this coin appear identical to our Aboriginal Elder standard $2 composed of copper, aluminium and nickel and weighing 6.6g with a diameter of 20.62mm. The explanatory statement also reads "Circulating Coin".
Could this be our first coloured circulating commemorative $2 coin design or shall I awaken shortly from a dream? The Canadians have done it before, is this Australia's turn?
Posted by harrisk at 5:48 PM
January 28, 2012
The Australian Open tennis men's and women's finals matches held on the 28th and 29th of January 2012 featured something just a little different this year. The coins used in the toss prior to the start of the match that allows the winning player to choose who serves first were the commemorative Australian Open 2012 Tennis designs produced by the Royal Australian Mint. The men's trophy design for the men's final and the women's trophy design for the women's final.
Each NCLT aluminium bronze one dollar was auctioned by Tennis Australia with the proceeds donated to the Australian Tennis Foundation. These coins, sold on eBay fetched $3,051 for the men's coin and $837 for the women's.
Posted by harrisk at 8:05 PM
January 24, 2012
2012 Fields of Gold Australian Wheat 20c
Released in tandem with the Fields of Gold Australian Wheat $1 this 20c simply depicts an ear of wheat. The single stalk a little different to what we know as the wheat sheaf threepence which has been reissued this year as another one dollar coin. All these issues give recognition to the Australian wheat industry in 2012.
The coin shown above is 20c denomination and was designed by Wojciech Pietranik. The legends read "Fields of Gold Australian Wheat" which is surrounded by rim beads of tiny wheat heads. A very simple design with lots of bare open fields on the coin. Wojciech's initials WP can be seen below the 20 to the left of the stalk.
The obverse or the heads side of the coin depicts Queen Elizabeth II portrayed by Ian Rank-Broadley. His initials can be seen at the base of the portrait. The 20c is 28.52mm in diameter and weighs 11.3 grams. It is made of cupro-nickel and has continuous edge milling. It has been released in uncirculated and proof quality in special 2 coin sets, this is the only way to obtain these coins.
Posted by harrisk at 2:11 PM
2012 Australian Open Women's Trophy $1 (image courtesy www.ramint.gov.au)
The Australian Open Tennis is one of four grand slam events which includes Wimbledon, the French Open and the US open. It's the only grand slam held in the southern hemisphere. 2012 marks the 100th Australian Tournament played and in celebration of this the Royal Australian Mint has released two legal tender one dollar coins each depicting the winners trophies. The first is of the Men's Trophy and this coin of the Women's Trophy.
The reverse design is by the RAM's Wojciech Pietranik and features a silhouette of the winners trophy, the Daphne Akhurst Cup outlined by swirls and a small tennis ball with a player inside "Australian Open 2012 One Dollar". The obverse is by Ian Rank-Broadley and is the standard QEII effigy used on all Australian legal tender issued in 2012.
This one dollar coin is issued as NCLT or non-circulating legal tender and is not meant for circulation but does bear all the features of a circulating coin. It is 25mm in diameter and weigns 9 grams and is manufactured on an aluminium bronze planchet. It has interrupted edge milling.
Released in a capsule which snaps into a foldable collector card for $15 the mintage can be found in the 2012 One Dollar Issues and Mintages Table.
Posted by harrisk at 10:56 AM
January 23, 2012
2012 Australian Open Men's Trophy $1 (image courtesy www.ramint.gov.au)
Tennis is a major event for many Aussies parked in front of the television during the seering Australian summer heat. The Australian Open tournament is played in Melbourne and is one of four global grand slam events, the only one played in the southern hemisphere. Competitors play for $26 million in prize money.
To celebrate the 2012 competition, the hundredth men's singles championship held since 1905, two Australian legal tender one dollar coins have been released by the Royal Australian Mint. Each features the winners trophies, one women's and one men's. That's right, there are 2 aluminium bronze $1 coins in this series which look very similar.
One of these coins can be seen above, the design bearing a likeness of the men's trophy the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup. Comparing each design it is shorter and wider than the women's coin. Swirls around the trophy and a small tennis ball with a player inside complete the design "Australian Open 2012". This reverse is by the RAM's Wojciech Pietranik with the obverse is by Ian Rank-Broadley depicting Queen Elizabeth II. It measures 25mm with interrupted edge milling and weighs 9 grams and is the standard aluminium bronze composition of dollar coins you find in change. This coin has, however, only been issued only as NCLT.
Issued in a foldable collectable card for $15 the mintage can be found in the 2012 One Dollar Issues and Mintages Table.
Posted by harrisk at 2:30 PM
January 10, 2012
The Australian one dollar coin is released each year with many different commemorative designs. The original standard design is the mob of 5 kangaroos by Stuart Devlin. These aluminium bronze coins weigh 9 grams and are 25mm in diameter. Some of these designs are struck in silver proof which are still the same size but differ in weight, the 99.9% silver being a heavier coin at 11.66 grams. All coins have interrupted edge reeding. All these legal tender Australian coins released have the obverse effigy of Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley.Find links to individual entries in the description column and issues and mintages will be updated throughout the year as new coins are released and latest information becomes available.
| Year | Description | Type | Mint Mark | Composition | Notes | Mintage |
| 2012 | Mob of Roos | Circulation ? | None | AlBr | Circulation | ? |
| Wheat Sheaf | Circulation | C mm | AlBr | RAM Gallery Press | * | |
| Wheat Sheaf | Circulation | C mm | AlBr | 4 coin unc set | * | |
| Wheat Sheaf | Circulation | S privy | AlBr | 4 coin unc set | * | |
| Wheat Sheaf | Circulation | B privy | AlBr | 4 coin unc set | * | |
| Wheat Sheaf | Circulation | M privy | AlBr | 4 coin unc set | * | |
| International Year of Co-operatives |
Circulation | None | AlBr | Coin in Card | * | |
| Australian Year of the Farmer | Circulation | None | AlBr | Coin in Card | * | |
| Australian Open Men's Trophy | Circulation | None | AlBr | Coin in Card | * | |
| Australian Open Women's Trophy | Circulation | None | AlBr | Coin in Card | * | |
| Gorilla | Frosted Unc | None | AlBr | Coloured 150th Ann. Melbourne Zoo | * | |
| Elephant | Frosted Unc | None | AlBr | Coloured 150th Ann. Melbourne Zoo | * | |
| Year of the Dragon | Circulation | None | AlBr | Lunar Series, Coin in Card | * | |
| Year of the Dragon | Proof | None | .999 Silver | Lunar Coin Series, Cased | *<10,000 | |
| Fields of Gold Australian Wheat | Circulation | None | AlBr | 2 Coin Unc Set | *<40,000 | |
| Fields of Gold Australian Wheat | Proof | None | AlBr | 2 Coin Proof Set | *<25,000 | |
| Ethel C pedley | Circulation | None | AlBr | Dot and the Kangaroo Baby Mint Set | * | |
| Mob of Roos | Circulation | None | AlBr | Mint Set | *<100,000 | |
| Mob of Roos | Proof | None | AlBr | Proof Set | *<50,000 | |
| Mob of Roos | Proof | None | AlBr | Dot and the Kangaroo Baby Proof Set | * | |
| Mob of Roos | Proof | None | AlBr | Wedding Set | * |
Posted by harrisk at 7:42 AM
January 9, 2012
Australian paper banknotes can be very valuable but how do you know what your old note is worth? Banknotes used to be made of paper before the currently used polymer or plastic notes came into circulation. Before 1966 Australia printed pre-decimal notes in ten shillings, one pound, 5,10, 20, 50 and 100 pound denominations. In 1966 Australia changed to decimal currency and introduced the one dollar and two dollar notes followed by 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 dollar notes.
To value a paper note first you must identify the famous Australians portrayed and the signatures the note bears. The signatures belong to the Secretary to the Treasury and the Governor and these appear on the note. These features will help you determine the notes year of issue. Secondly the serial number is important in determining where your note falls in the run or manufacturing sequence of the notes. First and last prefix notes are often more collectable and command a premium to general prefix notes. The prefix is the first 2 or 3 letters in the notes serial number. If the serial number has a star it is very valuable indeed -these are replacement notes and command a large premium.
Example:
NAA First prefix
NAB to NCR General Prefix
NCS Last Prefix
Condition of your Australian note is of utmost importance and greatly affects it's value. A folded note or one kept in your wallet for years will never be worth as much as a flat crisp uncirculated banknote. Even a teller flick on a bundle of notes can devalue the note rendering it aUnc. And most certainly a paper note with the corners eaten off by cockroaches will have a lesser value.
To work out if your paper note has any value over the face value of the note then pick up a copy of an Australian coin catalogue, ask someone with some banknote knowledge or take it to your local coin and banknote dealer.
Posted by harrisk at 11:04 AM
January 8, 2012
The 960 réis Overstrikes by David André Levy
Above you can see the cover of "Os Recunhos de 960 réis" or "The 960 réis Overstrikes" by David André Levy. David is a 34 year old Brazilian with a passion for collecting the uniquely Brazilian coin, the 960R overstrike. These coins were struck in Brazil at the behest of the Portuguese royal family in exile from 1809 through to about 1830. They were unique in that almost the entire coinage was struck over existing Spanish colonial 8 reale (Spanish dollar) sized coins. Millions of the 960R coins were struck in the 20 years of manufacture and the variation of host coin types has lead to very rare combinations of host coin and 960R year and mint.
David's book aims to be both a catalog of the 960R and a historical record of Brazil during the time it was made. It is now available in the second edition, with the first being published in 2002 and the second edition (seen above) available in 2009. Both are very limited editions (just 500 or so copies) and required reading for anyone who is interested in the 960R series. The second edition of the book is still available for sale on Ebay by the author himself.
"The 960 reis Overstrikes" comprises 13 chapters with each focussing on a different host coin country of origin. As you'd expect the biggest chapter examines the host coins of Mexico with other Spanish colonial countries such as Peru and Bolivia prominent. Other countries that commonly supplied the host coins for the 960R are Guatemala and Chile. One particularly interesting chapter is entitled "Rare Coins" and looks at very scarce host coins such has Bank Dollars from Great Britain, English crowns of William III, and coins struck of over United States silver dollars.
The content of the book is well laid out, and interestingly, is bi-lingual, with the left column of each page in Portuguese and the right in English. Easily understood tables describe the mintages of rarer issues and each chapter is concluded with a price guide for various 960R dates and mints along with host coins. Chapters are generously illustrated with black and white photographs of coins and there are hundreds of images through the 204 pages. A small quibble (that David acknowledges in the book) is that the images are quite small and the detail that the text describes is often not obvious in the image; it would have been nice to have a few full page colour images throughout the book.
"The 960 réis Overstrikes" by David André Levy is a welcome addition to the library of the specialist 960R collector. It's equally interesting to anyone who collects Spanish colonial coinage. Even the numismatist who is interested in world coinage of the 19th Century would do well to own this book because it contains such a wealth of both numismatic and historical information. Highly recommended.
Posted by mnemtsas at 12:42 PM
