Anzac Day – April 25 – remains a deeply significant commemoration, honouring the military service and sacrifice of the Australian Defence Forces. On April 25 at around 4.15 am on a still spring morning, the first soldiers from the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, or ANZAC, made an amphibious landing on the Turkish Gallipoli peninsula. Although ultimately unsuccessful, the campaign has become a landmark in the development of the Australian national identity. The 2015 ANZAC Day $1 Coin in Card has an unlimited mintage and is a heartfelt commemorative.
By the end of the Great War more than 416,000 Australian men had enlisted from a population of fewer than 5 million, representing approximately 38.7% of the total male population aged between 18 and 44. Sadly, many of these soldiers never returned home with more than 60,000 Australians losing their lives during the war. Many of these men died in battle, their final resting place the battle fields on which they fought. As the latest releases from The ANZAC Spirit 100th Anniversary Coin Series, a 1 kilo silver proof coin and a 1/4oz gold proof coin are released.
The discovery of payable gold in the colony of New South Wales in 1851 lay behind the establishment of the Sydney branch of the Royal Mint, which opened on 14 May 1855. The Sydney Mint produced its first Type I sovereign, featuring a unique ‘colonial’ design, on 23 June. Customising the original Sydney Mint Sovereign to read Perth Mint, this coin represents a modern adaptation of this important part of Australia’s history. Made with meticulous attention to detail, the 2015 coin is struck from traditional 91.67% pure gold (22-carat) in supreme proof quality.
