The Royal Australian Mint seeks to introduce a unique, eye-catching, and engaging theme as a figurehead for its gallery press and mintmark collection. 

At a much-anticipated event by coin collectors around the country, the Royal Australian Mint has revealed the new theme for its gallery press which this year is honouring the 200th anniversary of the publication of Matthew Flinders’ journal ‘A Voyage to Terra Australis.’

The historic theme of Australian exploration was unveiled to the eager queue that have waited for days and nights outside the Mint’s building for the opportunity to be one of the first 100 in the world to strike a coin in 2014.

“This special new year event is one that is marked on many of our coin collectors’ calendars as it is a rare opportunity to be, what is possibly, the first person in the world to make a coin in 2014,” said Royal Australian Mint CEO Mr Ross MacDiarmid.

The coin design that the dedicated collectors struck today features an intricate $1 uncirculated coin with an artistic impression of Australia and a stylised tall ship in full sail within a compass rose, marking the 200th anniversary of Matthew Flinders’ journal ‘A Voyage to Terra Australis.’

Matthew Flinders was a remarkable sailor, captain and explorer, his journal recounts a time when Australia was a vast unknown land for European settlers. The journal includes tales of Flinders’ expeditions aboard HMAS Investigator and other vessels, including the first circumnavigation of the Australian continent.

The coin will feature in the Mint’s gallery press for the entire year and all bear a ‘C’ for Canberra mark, making these coins a memento to keep forever, and one that will also be sought after by many collectors.

The Royal Australian Mint seeks to introduce a unique, eye-catching, and engaging theme as a figurehead for its gallery press and mintmark collection. In 2014, we have selected the 1814 publication of Matthew Flinders’ historic journal, A Voyage to Terra Australis, as the inspiration for its latest releases. Through his journal, Flinders recounted his many journeys aboard the HMS Investigator and other vessels – including the first ever successful circumnavigation of the continent of Australia.