New Coin Issues

Celebrating 50 Years of the Sydney Opera House

The Royal Australian Mint has released a collection of five commemorative coins to celebrate the 50th anniversary of what is arguably Australia’s most famous building, the Sydney Opera House. The collection includes an uncirculated 50 cent coin, a selectively gold plated 50 cent silver proof coin, a $100 gold proof domed coin, a $1 silver investment coin and a $100 gold investment coin.

Each coin depicts the iconic building as viewed from the west with the 50th anniversary Sydney Opera House logo above. The obverse of the coins feature the memorial design of the late Queen Elizabeth II by designer Jody Clark.

In addition to the design mentioned above, the uncirculated 50 cent and selectively gold plated 50 cent silver proof coins feature celebratory confetti and stylised rippled water of Sydney’s harbour above and below the main Opera House image, respectively.

The investment coins feature a very similar design, with a cross-section of the Opera House depicted on the lefthand side. Rather than the rippled water below the building, the $100 gold proof coin depicts an aerial view of the Opera House.

Australian Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury, Andrew Leigh noted that, ‘Jørn Utzon [architect of the Opera House] once said that if the 14 shells of his building were combined, they would make a perfect sphere. So it’s perfectly fitting that they grace a new Australian coin.’ 

Jovita Idar Sales Exceed 2.5 Million Coins

The US Mint has released the fourth coin in this year’s American Women Quarters programme, the ninth release in the series in total.

Jovita Idar was a Mexican-American journalist, activist, teacher, and suffragist who devoted her life to fighting against separatist ideologies and sought to create a better future for Mexican-Americans.

Accordingly, the reverse design depicts Idar in the centre with her hands clasped and inscribed within her body are several phrases depicting some of her greatest achievements and the newspapers for which she wrote.

As with all other quarters in this series, the obverse side of each coin depicts a portrait of George Washington, originally composed and sculpted by Laura Gardin Fraser to mark the 200th anniversary of his birth.

The Mint has also released a collection of keepsake ornaments which display the reverse of each of the honourees' uncirculated quarter from the Philadelphia Mint. Each ornament has been handcrafted in solid brass with a rhodium finish and includes intricate elements specific to each honouree.

The Idar ornament includes colours and design elements inspired by her Mexican heritage. A stack of books and shirt represent the school supplies, clothing, and food she provided to school children, while a white cross arm band (La Cruz Blanca) honours her volunteer work as a nurse during the Mexican Revolution. A stack of newspapers and typewriter pay homage to her life as a journalist and writer.

According to the latest sales figures from the Mint, combined sales of Jovita Idar quarter products are at 2,547,320 coins – with a further 1,316 ornaments sold.

Buffalo Bullion Completes Big 5 Series II

The South African Mint has released the final set of coins in the Big 5 Series II coin range, featuring the Buffalo. Series II of the Mint’s Big 5 range was launched in 2021, with each coin in the series mirroring the reverse design seen in the original Series I range – introduced in 2019. The design shows two halves of the featured animal’s face, forming a full face only when two or more coins are placed side-by-side.

The obverse highlights a striking new rendition of the buffalo’s head, facing the right with its head and horn boss prominent. The obverse also includes the South African coat of arms, indicating the coin’s status as legal tender.

As with the previous series, the coins are available in gold, platinum and silver. The platinum range is a single 1oz coin, whilst the silver range includes a 1oz BU coin, a 1oz double capsule set containing two silver proof coins, and a special Big 5 and Krugerrand buffalo privy mark combination set.

The gold range includes a 1oz gold proof, a 1/4oz gold proof, and a 1/4oz gold proof double capsule set containing two identical gold proof coins. The gold coins are complemented by a Big 5 and Krugerrand buffalo privy mark combination set consisting of a 1oz gold proof Big 5 coin and a 1oz gold proof Krugerrand coin.

‘This magnificent coin provides a fitting culmination of the Big 5 Series ll range’, said Honey Mamabolo, Managing Director of the South African Mint.

‘Series II made its mark in 2021 with a significant design refresh, while maintaining the high craftsmanship associated with the Big 5 series, and the Buffalo coin exemplifies this exceptional design aesthetic.’