Media Release

The rapid sell-out of last year’s Masterpieces in Silver – Coins of the 20th Century: Milestones illustrated the popularity of reviving classic pre-decimal designs. It took just one month for eager collectors to completely exhaust supplies of the 15 000 sets featuring reproductions of: the 1910, 1927, 1934-35, 1938, 1951 and 1954 florins; a 1937 crown; and 1966 and 1995 20 cent pieces.

One of two commemorative coins that mark the 50th anniversary of the start of the Snowy Mountains Scheme will be struck at the Royal Australian Mint on Monday.

It is more than 80 years since the ANZACs fought for our heritage - sadly there are only three original ANZACs still living.

We will never forget them.

The Royal Australian Mint will help us remember with the release of a special commemorative $1 Fine Silver Proof Coin - titled THE LAST ANZACS.

In 1999 the Royal Australian Mint is staying loyal to its customers and will continue to produce 1999 $1 mintmark coins for all the usual cities – Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide.

A special coin series, not for general circulation, has been released by the Royal Australian Mint. The Millennium Coin Series comprises three $10 bimetallic coins titled The Past, The Present and The Future, which will be released progressively in 1999, 2000 and 2001. Each coin will reflect its theme from a uniquely Australian perspective.

The Royal Australian Mint has released collector coins dated with the year ‘2000’; one of these is a commemorative fifty-cent coin bearing the Australian flag and the words ‘Millennium Year’, likely to be released into general circulation later in 2000. The transition of millennia has influenced the themes surrounding the 2000 products.

October 1999 will witness 50 years since the first bomb-blast signifying the beginning of the construction of Australia’s engineering wonder: the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme.

The Royal Australian Mint has produced a set of two commemorative coins titled Coins of the Snowy Mountains Scheme to acknowledge the 50th anniversary.

On May 31 the Royal Australian Mint opened its doors to become the venue for the official launch of the ‘Coins of the Snowy Mountains Scheme’ – which is celebrating the 50th anniversary since the beginning of construction.