Coin collectors, pay close attention because the Royal Australian Mint has just released a commemorative coin marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War! And it has become, of course, a piece full of emotion, history and symbolism, we are not going to spoil it for you, but it is beautiful…
The coin is decorated with a wreath of red poppies and a purple ribbon that symbolizes mourning and sacrifice, and it is a direct tribute to the almost one million Australians who participated in the war (of whom about 40,000 never returned home).
There will only be 200,000 units, a very limited mintage and almost specially designed for collectors.
It tells a story
Australia has a very deep relationship with its military memory, and you can tell. The interim chief executive of the Mint, Emily Martin, explained that each design tries to capture a part of what has built the identity of the country, and this coin is, in some way, a way to highlight a chapter that has remained a wound in entire generations…
You may wonder what each thing means, for example, the butterflies are the symbol of Remembrance Day (11:11 on November 11 and just remembering). Each flower represents a decade since the end of the war, as if they were small lights that connect past and present.
Designed to move
If you look at the coin, the first thing that catches the eye is the wreath of poppies. It is perfect, delicate, powerful. It represents all the Remembrance Day ceremonies, but it also reminds us that it has been eighty years since that conflict that we have not been able to forget.
And just below appears a purple ribbon, much more subtle, but it represents mourning, respect and the dignity of those who did not return. Purple represents sacrifice, the wound. Just as, for example, in Christianity every Good Friday. It is a very subtle touch, but it represents the pain that is still felt in thousands of Australian families.
A limited edition
Let’s be honest, this coin is causing a stir because there will be very few units and being collectible, in a few years its price will increase a lot… Yes, commemorative coins related to wars or important anniversaries tend to appreciate over time, especially when the mintage is so low and the design has such strong symbolism.
Beyond the material
Behind each of these coins there is a story, that of a country that sent thousands of young people to fight in places they did not even know or locate on the map. Most returned. But many did not, they were lost along the way… And others returned completely different. This is the Australian government’s way of showing that they do not forget, even when eight decades have passed, there are wounds that do not close and, in the turbulent times we are living, we certainly should not.
Much more than a coin
We could talk about prices, limited editions or investment potential. But in the end, this coin has something that cannot be bought and that is its meaning, its symbol of belonging. It is a tribute, a piece of memory, a silent reminder of the sacrifice of an entire generation.