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Royal Australian Mint, Deakin, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
The Royal Australian Mint was commissioned to produce Australia's decimal coinage, introduced into circulation on 14 February 1966. The Mint began making its own coins on 22 February 1965. On that day HRH the Duke of Edinburgh inaugurated the Mint in Canberra and activated its first production run of coins. Prior to this date, Australia had been striking coins at the Perth, Sydney and Melbourne Mints, which were actually branches of the Royal Mint, London. Australia bought its coins from the Royal Mint until 1965.
The first moves for Australia to mint its own coins had occurred shortly after Federation in 1901. After World War I it was decided that one of the first buildings to be erected in Canberra should be an Australian mint. The Depression and World War II thwarted these moves, and it was only in the 1950s that serious moves were made. A leading US Mint official was invited to visit, and in 1959 and 1960 Australian coinage experts took overseas trips to gather information. Finally, in 1962, the Government approved a construction timetable and in 1963 the construction contract was let.
The new mint was housed in a long, two-storied building, with a floor space of 100 yards square including five vaults. It cost $9,000,000 to build and outfit, including $4,000,000 for equipment. The first staff moved into the building just 12 months after the contract was let. Sixty-one employees of the Melbourne and Perth Mints joined the Royal Australian Mint. By 1969 it was recorded that about 250 people worked at the Mint.
At the outset, production processes at the Mint included the manufacture of cupro-nickel, coinage bronze and silver blanks (melting, rolling and blanking) together with striking, packaging and distribution of the finished product. The Mint also began to manufacture medals, medallions, seals and tokens for the private and public sectors. These include The Order of Australia, Third Pacific Conference Games Medallions, Sydney Monorail token and Conrad Jupiter's Casino tokens.
The manufacture of blanks ceased in 1987, followed by a major refurbishment of the production facilities.
Today the Mint is open to public visitors seven days per week.
References:
Gartner, John and Dean, John (1969). The Royal Australian Mint. Australian Coin Review. October, pp.1-11.
Royal Australian Mint website http://www.ramint.gov.au
Australian Coin Review. November 1969, pp.11-12.
Items per page: 10 50 (showing 1 - 10) 255 items
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Proof Coin Set - Uncirculated, Australia, 1971
Australia Proof Coin Set, 1971 Mint: Royal Australian Mint, Canberra A six proof coin set - 50 cent, 20 cent, 10 cent, 5 cent, 2 cent and 1 cent housed in a sealed clear plastic contai ...
From: Canberra, Australia Images: 2 -
Coin - 50 Cents, XII Commonwealth Games, Brisbane, Australia, 1982
Australia Brisbane Fifty Cent 1982 Commonwealth Games, Brisbane Mint: Royal Australian Mint Canberra This commemorative fifty cent coin features the logo of the Games over a map of A ...
From: Brisbane, Australia Images: 2 -
No Image Available
Coin - 1 Dollar, Silver Kangaroo Dollar, Australia, 1999
Australia Silver Kangaroo Dollar 1999 Mint: Royal Australian, Canberra This was the first year that the Rank-Broadley portrait of Elizabeth II was used on Australian coins.
Images: 0 -
Proof Coin Set - Uncirculated, Australia, 1972
Australia Proof Coin Set, 1972 Mint: Royal Australian Mint, Canberra A six proof coin set - 50 cent, 20 cent, 10 cent, 5 cent, 2 cent and 1 cent housed in a sealed clear plastic contai ...
From: Canberra, Australia Images: 2 -
Coin Set - Uncirculated, Australia, 1983
Australia Uncirculated Coin Set, 1983 Mint: Royal Australian Mint, Canberra A six coin set of 50 cent, 20 cent, 10 cent, 5 cent, 2 cent and 1 cent housed in a red plastic wallet.
Images: 3 -
Proof Coin Set - Uncirculated, Australia, 1979
Australia Proof Coin Set, 1979 Mint: Royal Australian Mint, Canberra A six proof coin set - 50 cent, 20 cent, 10 cent, 5 cent, 2 cent and 1 cent housed in a sealed clear plastic contai ...
Images: 2 -
Proof Coin Set - Uncirculated, Australia, 1973
Australia Proof Coin Set, 1973 Mint: Royal Australian Mint, Canberra A six proof coin set - 50 cent, 20 cent, 10 cent, 5 cent, 2 cent and 1 cent housed in a sealed clear plastic contai ...
From: Canberra, Australia Images: 2 -
Proof Coin Set - Uncirculated, Australia, 1974
Australia Proof Coin Set, 1974 Mint: Royal Australian Mint, Canberra A six proof coin set - 50 cent, 20 cent, 10 cent, 5 cent, 2 cent and 1 cent housed in a sealed clear plastic contai ...
From: Canberra, Australia Images: 2 -
Proof Coin Set - Uncirculated, Australia, 1975
Australia Proof Coin Set, 1975 Mint: Royal Australian Mint, Canberra A six proof coin set - 50 cent, 20 cent, 10 cent, 5 cent, 2 cent and 1 cent housed in a sealed clear plastic contai ...
From: Canberra, Australia Images: 2 -
Token - 1/4 Ounce, Cast, Kangaroo Office, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1853 (1957 Copy)
Gilt, coin replica 1/4 Ounces, by the Royal Austrlian mint. It is a replica of the 1/4 ounce gold coin created for the Kangaroo Office in 1853 by W. J. Taylor of London. It was created ...
From: Melbourne, Australia Images: 2
