Australia Celebrates Space History on World’s 1st Coin Minted in 2024
The world’s first coin to be struck in 2024 highlights Australian space exploration history. “Out of this World – Australia in Space” was chosen by the Royal Australian Mint as its 2024 theme “to showcase Australia’s history and significance as one of the earliest nations to launch its own satellite.”
Historical Significance
The coin’s reverse, or tails side, depicts an Australian astronaut on a spacewalk and the launch of WRESAT-1 on a modified U.S. Redstone rocket in 1967.
The satellite, which carried upper atmospheric radiation measurement experiments, established Australia as the seventh nation to put a satellite into orbit and the third country to launch from its own territory, after the Soviet Union and United States.
Design Highlights
The coin’s Design also includes Earth, with the Australian continent clearly visible, and the moon, an homage to the country’s role in relaying the live television signal during Apollo 11, the first moon landing.
The depiction could also be a reference to Paul Scully Powers, the first Aussie to launch into space, but as an oceanographer flying as a payload specialist on a U.S. space shuttle.
Collaboration with Australian Space Agency
The mint worked with the Australian Space Agency to Design the coin. The agency ensures that Australia plays its part in the global effort of space exploration by working with partners like NASA, the European Space Agency, Japan’s JAXA, and more.
Coin Details
The 1-inch (25 millimeters) aluminum bromide coin weighs 0.3 ounces (9 grams) and has the legal tender of one dollar. Although collectible, it is not a limited edition. The uncirculated coin is also the first commemorative to feature the effigy of King charles III on its obverse, or heads side.
Celebration of the New Coin
In celebration of the new year and new coin, the Royal Australian Mint held a drawing for the right to strike the first coin. Izzy Zaharis, a 12-year-old girl from Wollongong, was the winner. She and 99 others who gathered in Canberra were able to press their own coin to take Home, complete with a certificate of authentication from the mint. Monday’s (Jan. 1) release was only for the gallery press coin. Additional finishes will be released in early February, including a $10 gold proof, a $1 silver proof, and an uncirculated four-coin set.
Conclusion
The creation and release of the world’s first coin minted in 2024 by the Royal Australian Mint, with the theme “Out of this World – Australia in Space,” serve as a significant milestone commemorating Australia’s history and contribution to space exploration. The collaboration with the Australian Space Agency and the attention to detail in the coin’s Design underline the importance of space exploration in everyday life and the global efforts being made in this field.
The coin not only pays homage to past achievements but also symbolizes future collaborations, as evidenced by the planned mission to launch Australia’s first moon rover on NASA’s Artemis mission. The celebration surrounding the coin’s release further emphasizes the excitement and interest in space exploration, as it engages the younger generation and honors the achievements of the past. Overall, the coin captures the spirit of exploration and discovery that continues to drive humanity’s exploration of the cosmos.
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Source: space
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