Excitement of the group centred around the release by RAM (The Royal Australian Mint) of a 2022 colored Remembrance Day $2 poppy coin. The original 2012 $2 coin had a very low mintage of around 0.5M coins. This made it very collectable due to its rarity with the current ebay price anywhere from $400 to $2,000 depending upon condition. The RAM has now minted a limited 2022 version which was to beavailable on line from 3rd November. The demand was that great that their website crashed. The coin will now be available via a RAM ballot closing on 26th November, at the original purchase price of $15. If you were in the ballot and secured a coin consider yourself having acquired a valuable investment.
At our meeting a number of interesting coins were circulated for inspection. These included English coins of the 18/19th century including halfpennies and pennies. Of particular note where the coins covering four English monarchs: Victoria 1, Edward 7th, George 5th and George 6th.
Interesting to note that as the United Kingdom prepares to start issuing coins with His Majesty King Charles III, one might notice a key feature you think would be a staple: the monarch wearing a crown. This isn’t the first time a monarch hasn’t worn a crown on a coin. Previous British kings are known not to wear crowns on coins that feature their portraits.
One of our members visited the Royal Australian Mint Canberra in early November 2022. He purchased the latest $2 colored coin depicting the 75th anniversary of Australian Peacekeepers. He also reported that on the 3rd November that people lined up to purchase the expected release of $2 re poppy coin stretched more than 300 metres.
Our members at the meeting used the app Coinoscope. The app is free and simply by taking a photo of the coin it can identify the coin’s details, particularly useful for foreign coins and those without any legible writing. Once the coin is identified you can put the details into your web browser to see its selling price on ebay.
Doug Smith