Perth Mint Releases the First Australian Stamp-Shaped Coin

 Posted 06/26/2008  10:17 am

Perth Mint Releases the First Australian Stamp-Shaped Coin

Always ready to take on new minting challenges, The Perth Mint has pulled off another innovative first. We believe our stamp-shaped silver proof release, which celebrates the Australian Olympic Team's participation at Beijing 2008, is the first Australian coin to replicate an official Australia Post stamp. As well as this ground-breaking release, the latest newsletter has an important reminder for Silver Proof Lunar collectors and features a new range of gold coin pendants depicting Indigenous art.

Australia Post is celebrating the participation of the Australian Olympic Team at Beijing 2008 with this innovative pure silver stamp-shaped coin struck by The Perth Mint.

Proof Quality 99.9% Pure Silver

Authorised by the Australian Olympic Committee, the 2008-dated coin is produced from 1/2oz of 99.9% pure silver in proof quality.

Coloured Reverse Design

The first Australian coin to replicate an official Australia Post stamp, the release depicts the Australian Olympic Committee's official Olympic ‘Flag and Rings' logo in colour, the 50c monetary denomination and The Perth Mint's ‘P' mintmark on the top. A vividly coloured image of a traditional Chinese dragon appears on the bottom, together with the words ‘Beijing 2008' and ‘AUSTRALIA'.

Australian Legal Tender

Issued as legal tender under the Australian Currency Act 1965, the coin portrays the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse.

Includes Actual Australia Post Stamp

The coin comes with Australia Post's actual 50c commemorative stamp.

Presentation Packaging

The coin and stamp are housed in a black presentation case incorporating an upright display plinth. The presentation case has a red and white cover displaying the Olympic 'Flags and Rings' logo and a Chinese dragon superimposed with the words '2008 OLYMPIC GAMES BEIJING'.

Numbered Certificate of Authenticity

The coin is accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.

Limited Mintage

Australia Post will release no more than 8,000 of these pure silver coin and stamp sets as historic mementos of the first Olympic Games to be held in China.

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