Our Animals, Our Country

The Royal Australian Mint has partnered with Australia Post to proudly present the Our Animals, Our Country coin collection, in collaboration with Gudanji/Wakaja and Kalkadoon artist Ryhia Dank aka nardurna.

Australia is home to more than 250 Aboriginal languages. The United Nations has declared a special decade to highlight and improve efforts to preserve Aboriginal languages. The Our Animals, Our Country coin collection celebrates Gudanji/Wakaja languages from the Gulf Country and the Barkly Tablelands of the Northern Territory. The coins depict Australian animals and continue the Gudanji/Wakaja peoples’ traditions of storying through pattern, design and relationships with all entities.

Collection

The five-coin set comes with a beautifully designed collection folder and five $1 uncirculated coins. The five coins feature five Australian animals with their Gudanji/Wakaja language name. There is also a 1 in 10 chance of finding a special coloured coin. The animals depicted are: 

• Marraji (MAH-rah-jee), the Red Kangaroo; 
• Jagurrugurru (jah-goo-roo-goo-roo), the Emu;
• Mardumbarrayi (mar-dum-bar-RYE), the Saltwater Crocodile; 
• Darrmanji (DAR-man-jee), the Brolga and 
• Gulamandarrina (goo-lah-mun-dah-REE-nah), the Long-necked Turtle.

The exact phonetic pronunciation of vocabulary cannot be fully captured using the English alphabet. The spellings here are mostly approximations and reflect regional differences and language mixes, as is the experience of people sharing a living language.

The two proof coins in the collection come in silver and aluminium bronze. The coins depict Jurrgubadi (JOOG-gur-bah-dee), the goanna, as he basks in the sun on cool Tablelands mornings. Jurrgubadi is a favourite food source in the Northern Territory’s Barkly Tablelands and Gulf Country. It is protected through kin relationships.

Introducing the Artist

The artwork for this collection was created by Gudanji/Wakaja and Kalkadoon artist Ryhia Dank aka nardurna. Ryhia is an artist and designer from the Gulf Country and Barkly Tablelands in the Northern Territory. Her work is grounded in family, memory and connection to her Country. Ryhia is an Ambassador of the Indigenous Literacy Foundation which supports remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities nationwide.

Check Your Change

Check your change: head to your local participating Australia Post location for your chance to find a special $2 till coin in your change. Available from 4 November 2026.

How to Purchase

From Monday 2 November 2026 08:30am (AEDT) 

EQL Ballot

• Ballot opens Monday 2 November 2026 08:30am AEDT
• Ballot closes Tuesday 3 November 2026 08:30am AEDT

From Wednesday 4 November 2026 08:30am (AEDT)

Mint Contact Centre (1300 652 020)
Mint Shop
Participating Australia Post stores