Centenary of Federation 20 coin collection announced
First State coins released by minister
Every State and self-governing Territory to have series of coins
Royal Australian Mint's Centenary of Federation coins announced
1st February 2001
The first of a series of collector coins designed by Australian school students was unveiled by the Minister for Financial Services and Regulation, Hon Joe Hockey MP in Sydney today.
Joseph Neve, a Year 11 student from Bellingen High School on the NSW north coast, designed the obverse of the 20c coin as part of a series of competitions for school students throughout Australia showing what is special about their own State or self-governing Territory.
The coin is one of a special Collection of 20 coins to be produced by the Royal Australian Mint to commemorate Australia's Centenary of Federation. The collection will bring together all of the collector coins scheduled for release in the Mint's Coin Program for States & self-governing Territories in 2001.
The Program includes a series of 20c commemorative coins designed by students from throughout Australia. Each State and self-governing Territory - Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Northern Territory, Norfolk Island and the ACT will have their own series of coins, as well as NSW. The program also incorporates a series of 50c coins featuring the Coats of Arms of the States, Territories and the Commonwealth, and a $1 coin featuring the Centenary of Federation logo.
The first four coins in the Collection, the 20c and 50c coins for New South Wales, the 50c coin with the Commonwealth Coat of Arms, and the $1 coin with the Centenary of Federation logo were released today. The other coins in the series for ACT, Queensland, Victoria, Norfolk Island, Northern Territory, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania will be released progressively through the year.
"Coinage is crucial in reflecting the mood of a nation and reminding it, each and every day, of who it is and where it has been. So it will be Joseph's designed 20c piece which Australians will use now - and in the future - when putting coins into a parking meter, picking up a newspaper or buying a loaf of bread," Mr Hockey said.
The initial coins in the 20 coin collection can be ordered now from the Royal Australian Mint on phone 1300 652 020, coin dealers, and towards the end of February in selected Australia Post outlets.
The commemorative coins for each state will also be progressively released in Three Coin Sets. All of the coins will be available in both proof and uncirculated versions.