The official 2018 ANZAC Spirit coin collection consists of 15 commemorative 20 and 50 cent coins which are available with the purchase of a News Corp newspaper* -the first coin and a collector folder is free. Subsequent coins cost $3 with a newspaper purchase (all states except WA*). This is the fourth and final newspaper coin collector set coins struck by the Royal Australian Mint and distributed by News Corp.
The “ANZAC Spirit -values that defined our nation” is the theme for this years final set in commemorating the ANZAC Centenary 2014-2018. The first coin issued either Saturday or Sunday October 27-28th (depending on where you live) is titled “United”. The final coin issued on November 11th symbolises what we remember on that day. Each coin represents a value held by Australians and those that have served in war, something we as Australians should be proud of and what we should strive to be. These values are drawn from a series of stained glass windows above the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier at the Australian War memorial in Canberra.
The 15 coin designs are:
1.United (50 cent)-Many different nationalities, colours and creeds were united in uniform and united in cause. This design celebrates the comradeship of war.
2.Resourceful (50 cent) -Celebrates battlefield inventions such as the periscope rifle, the coin design similar to this image at the AWM.
3.Confident (20 cent) -Cool, calm and confident this image is of a WWI sniper
4.Knowledgeable (20 cent) -One outstanding Commander Sir John Monash and his study of tactics, knowledge being the key to success in the battlefield. He coordinated and planned with the hope of solving deadlock on the Western Front. This coin depicting aircraft drops of ammunition which was vital to resupply the troops.
5.Honest (20 cent) -In depicting war it was up to the correspondents and photographers to show the honest truth of war even when it was uncomfortable. This coin design depicts a camera on a tripod with official war photographer Frank Hurley.
6.Disciplined (20 cent) -In battle discipline was crucial and this coin design depicts training with Lewis machine guns in France, see the AWM image.
7.Patriotic (20 cent) -Being proud of this country and loyalty to Britain and the Commonwealth saw willing volunteers march to recruitment offices. This reverse depicts and image of the Cooee march where 263 men marched from Gilgandra NSW to Sydney in 1915. In total there were 9 recruitment marches known as the snowball marches as more men joined the march each day.
8.Devoted (50 cent) -Australian Army nurses were devoted angels to the war wounded. In a white apron and veil a nurse bandages a wounded soldier in this coin design.
9.Daring (50 cent) -The beginning of the end of the war in the middle east, the Battle of Megiddo where daring mounted light horsemen wielded bayonets as they charged in cavalry style. This coin reverse depicts the dash and daring of this mounted offensive.
10.Brave (20 cent) -The ultimate recognition for bravery in War is being awarded the Victoria Cross medal. One such recipient Corporal “Snowy” Howell is depicted in this coin design shaking hands with King George V.
11.Curious (20 cent) -Australians enlisting in the war were curious and thirsty for adventure. The design seen on this coin is the “Kulgoa” laden with new volunteers eager to see what the military could show them of the world.
12.Enduring (20 cent) -The endurance of those that landed on the shores of Gallipoli on April 25th 1915 is commemorated in this coin. Eight agonising months before their evacuation these troops had to endure the searing heat of summer, bitter cold of winter, outbreaks of disease and a monotonous diet. Following this was a further three years enduring the squalid trenches of the Western Front.
13.Loyal (20 cent) -Loyal volunteers on the home front raised money, packed food and clothing parcels, home comforts and gifts that were sent abroad to bring relief and a sense of home to soldiers.
14.Independent (20 cent) -This coin depicts an Australian Flying Corps (AFC) pilot in front of his single seater aircraft. These AFC squadrons were the first to serve independently from Britain and Australian airmen became skilled at working self-sufficiently.
15.Decisive (20 cent) -Tough hard decisions leading through the chaos of war saw the Armistice signed at 11am on November 11 1918 (11.11.11). The elation can be seen in the coin design in this decisive moment, the end of the war.
* See the ANZAC Coin Collection website for more details. Each coin is available to collect from October 27 – November 10, 2018 (VIC, SA, NT, TAS) and from October 28 – November 11, 2018 (NSW and QLD) for only $3.00 each with original hardcopy token (not digital) from The Daily Telegraph/The Sunday Telegraph (NSW), Herald Sun/Sunday Herald Sun (VIC), The Courier-Mail/The Sunday Mail (QLD), The Advertiser/Sunday Mail (SA), NT News/Sunday Territorian (NT), Mercury/ Sunday Tasmanian (TAS), The Cairns Post (QLD), Townsville Bulletin (QLD), Gold Coast Bulletin (QLD), Geelong Advertiser (VIC), The Toowoomba Chronicle (QLD), Sunshine Coast Daily (QLD), The Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, QLD), The Northern Star (Lismore, NSW), NewsMail (Bundaberg, QLD), The Daily Mercury (Mackay, QLD), The Queensland Times (Ipswich, QLD), Fraser Coast Chronicle (QLD), The Observer (Gladstone, QLD), The Daily Examiner (Grafton/Clarence Valley, NSW ), The Gympie Times (QLD), Warwick Daily News (QLD). Strictly while stocks last.
