June Release – The Australian Women’s Weekly Children’s Birthday Cake Book

A Slice of Aussie Childhood: From the Cake Tin to the Coin Press

For 45 years, the Australian Women’s Weekly Children’s Birthday Cake Book has been at the heart of childhood celebrations across the country. Passed down through generations, this beloved book has sparked joy, kitchen chaos and unforgettable birthday memories.
 

The Royal Australian Mint has partnered with newsXpress to release a coin collection, honouring the book’s most iconic cakes. From the unforgettable Choo-Choo Train that graced the cover and inspired countless birthday wishes, to the jelly-filled Swimming Pool, the lolly-laden Candy Castle and the charming Cuddly Koala — these coins are a delicious tribute to an Aussie icon.
 

Designed by the Mint’s Lydia Ashe, each coin captures the quirkiness of its original cake: popcorn hairstyles, chocolate-finger echidna quills, potato-chip beaks and sprinkles galore. You’ll spot beloved classics like Rubber Ducky, Dolly Varden, and Robert Robot, alongside the infamously ambitious Tip Truck and the wonderfully detailed Humpty Dumpty. The coins are adorned with festive streamers, confetti and a glowing birthday candle representing the denomination. The obverse features the effigy of His Majesty King Charles III, designed by Daniel Thorne.
 

Four ways to slice it:
 

The collection features 12 delightful coin designs based on some of the most cherished cakes from the book. 
The coins are available in four different packaged formats, perfect for gifting, collecting or proudly displaying next to your worn and batter-stained copy of the original book.

There are 10 individual $1 coins in cards available, or you can buy them all as 10-coin collection, with a 1-in-10 chance of finding a special Choo-Choo Train coin instead of the Racing Track.

There is a special limited edition hardcover Children’s Birthday Cake Book with a proof $1 Choo-Choo Train coin. And the complete 12-coin collection including both the limited edition $1 Choo-Choo Train and the $2 coloured Hickory Dickory Watch, presented in a recipe card box.

Whether you remember the taste of marshmallow skirts or the stress of structural icing collapse, these coins invite us all to celebrate the joy, creativity and chaotic charm of Aussie birthday traditions.

For your chance to secure this release, enter the EQL Ballot which will run from 8:30am Wednesday 11 June to 8:30am Thursday 12 June. Do you want to be notified when the upcoming Ballot opens? Click here.

From Thursday 12 June, this release is available from:

• Online at newsXpress
• Participating newsXpress stores
• Mint Shop (Royal Australian Mint, Deakin)
• Mint Contact Centre (1300 652 020)

We recommend only purchasing through the channels listed above. There is no guarantee on quality or authenticity of products purchased from unauthorised sellers. Any listings prior to the official release date are considered illegitimate.