Unique two-up coin toss at Anzac Day UC Brumbies match

The Royal Australian Mint has partnered with the University of Canberra Brumbies to incorporate a fitting tribute to Diggers at the Anzac Day commemorative rugby match tomorrow. In lieu of the coin toss, a quick game of two-up will be played using a bespoke kip (paddle) to fit two of the Royal Australian Mint’s impressive Anzac Centenary commemorative coins.

Victoria Cross recipient Corporal Mark Donaldson will take part in the two-up game, featuring the latest release in the Mint’s Anzac Centenary Coin Program, a 57mm $10 Antique Copper Victoria Cross collectable coin. This unique coin features the names of every Australian Victoria Cross recipient surrounding a representation of the Victoria Cross medal itself.

The substantive size of the coin enabled the Mint to use micro text, an innovative technical minting process, to fit all 100 names onto the coin design, and applied a similar technique used for medal production to create an antique finish.

“The Royal Australian Mint is privileged to have the opportunity to help share the story of the ANZACs. Coins are more than just money, they are also keepsakes with intrinsic value that connect to a memory and represent something exceptionally meaningful,” said Royal Australian Mint CEO Mr Ross MacDiarmid.

“The two coins being used in the two-up game today do just that, the design representing ‘valour’ – a word that describes all Australians who bravely sacrificed for their nation – and on this day, we will remember them,” said Mr MacDiarmid.

Sporting Anzac commemorative jerseys and working with Soldier On as the Match Day charity, the UC Brumbies were pleased to be able to further acknowledge the Anzac spirit in this way.

“Coins themselves have played a small part in the story of ANZAC and now represent a part of the Anzac Day tradition, so it is fitting that the UC Brumbies have partnered with the Royal Australian Mint today to bring the two together,” said UC Brumbies General Manager Mr Simon Chester.

Only five thousand of these collectable 2014 $10 Antique Copper A History of the Victoria Cross Coins, will be produced with the public invited to submit a ballot entry for an opportunity to purchase one. The Mint’s first Anzac Centenary release, the triangle-shaped $5 Lest We Forget silver proof triangular coin, sold out of the 10,000 mintage within days. The Mint encourages any interested person to enter the ballot for the $10 Victoria Cross copper coin by visiting the Mint’s online store eshop.ramint.gov.au The retail price is $100 each and the ballot closes on 30 May 2014.

The four Victoria Cross recipients will visit the Mint this Saturday morning and strike one of these coins – in part, etching their own name on a piece of history.