By Royal Australian Mint …..
With Enlighten 2016 preparing for the biggest crowds yet, the Royal Australian Mint and Australian Parliament House are making and celebrating history by stamping a ‘C’ for Canberra onto the obverse side of a coin, an exciting first for the Mint.
Venturing out of Deakin, the Mint’s famed mobile press will be situated at Australian Parliament House over the two weekends of Enlighten 2016, with the coin exclusively available to the public at this event.
Remembering the old and the new, the public will be able to take home their own anniversary souvenir by stamping the ‘C’ for Canberra on the newly released 2016 $1 Uncirculated Coin celebrating the 50th anniversary of decimal currency. The unique pre-decimal design on the obverse is a special feature for Australia’s 2016 circulating coins.
Mint CEO Mr Ross MacDiarmid said that this anniversary provides the perfect opportunity for the Mint to work with Australia Parliament House to do something special to tie together the celebrations for Enlighten 2016 with decimal currency’s milestone.
“To follow our recent announcement that a series of commemorative coins will be released into circulation with a special design on the obverse, we thought Enlighten 2016 seemed like the ideal opportunity to continue these celebrations and bring the Mint to the people with a unique coin at the Australian Parliament House,” said Mr MacDiarmid.
“The Australian Parliament House has a great range of Enlighten activities this year and we are really excited to be part of it, sharing the 50th anniversary of decimal currency celebrations.”
Alongside the mobile press, the two iconic Australian attractions are embracing change with a collaborative display of changeover memorabilia to celebrate the 50th anniversary of decimal currency. The display of changeover paraphernalia will take you back in time to the 1960s to remember the change from shillings, pounds and pence to dollars and cents. Open outside of the two Enlighten weekends, this changeover display will be open to the public until May 2016.
Available only at Australian Parliament House during the late night openings on the two weekends of Enlighten 2016, this special souvenir will cost $10.00 to stamp, with entry to view the display being free. Providing fun for all ages, Mr Minty, the Mint’s popular coin mascot, will be part of the Enlighten experience at Australian Parliament House, available for photo opportunities.
