Media Release

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.

Football clubs around Australia will give a toss for Anzac Day when the National Rugby League and Australian Football League open their matches over the April 25 weekend using a special commemorative coin honouring the original Anzacs.

For only the fourth time since the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the obverse of legal tender Australian coins displays a new effigy of Her Majesty.

The Royal Australian Mint began featuring the new portrait by Ian Rank-Broadley on selected collector coins during 1998, and later this year will see the first-time release of the new effigy on general circulation coins.

"Australia - towards a society for all ages" is the theme chosen to celebrate the United Nations’ International Year of Older Persons. The Royal Australian Mint is celebrating this important Year with the 1999 Six Coin Set – International Year of Older Persons in proof and uncirculated finishes.

As always January 1 is change-over day at the Royal Australian Mint. The dies in the coin presses at the Visitors’ Gallery are replaced. Visitors can strike their own $1 coins mint marked with a ‘C’ to denote striking for Canberra.