Australia Post celebrates the country's 'Big Things' with commemorative $1 coin collection
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Ready for a trip down memory lane?
Australia Post has done something truly novel; in collaboration with the Royal Australian Mint, a limited collection of $1 coins was recently issued featuring iconic Aussie tourist attractions, aptly named the 'Aussie Big Things' series.
Big things, indeed! If you've driven through the state of New South Wales, there's no chance you could have missed the Big Banana, a landmark that holds a special place in the hearts of many.
And guess what? This 'a-peeling' attraction is now available in your pocket change!
The Big Banana is one of Australia's most recognised landmarks, and the locals on the NSW mid-north coast take immense pride in it. ‘They’re excited to have a local icon on a national coin. It’s been well received,' Craig Felton, Australia Post's Coffs Harbour Postmaster, explained.
As a matter of fact, the buzz is so high around this special coin that it's already sold out in parts of the city.
'We've got our regular collectors; they've put their orders in early, and we've allocated all of our coins to them so far. [The coins] are pretty scarce,' Mr Felton added.
Mr Felton feels a sense of pride whenever he holds the coin honouring Coffs Harbour's Big Banana—a sentiment shared by the local community. It's not every day you get to see your local icon minted in national currency!
Now, don't think for a second that the design process of these coins was taken lightly. When The Big Banana's sales manager, Leah Holmes, was approached about featuring the attraction on a coin, she was adamant about including the banana plant itself in the design.
'It was pretty important to us that we had the actual banana plant in there. We still have a working plantation here, we have a huge connection to that historical part of Coffs Harbour. It's part of our footprint now,' Ms Holmes explained.
Ms Holmes also thinks one of the reasons these tourist 'Aussie Big Things' are so popular is because of the nostalgia they evoke. She said many visitors come in with pictures they took as a child when they visited with their parents, and they wish to recreate them now!
Australian MP Andrew Leigh said the country's Big Things were loved by all.
'Whether it's The Big Banana or Canberra's very own Big Swoop, the best "Big Things" celebrate the character of our communities and give visitors a reason to smile and pop in for a visit,' he said.
From Queensland's Big Pineapple and the Giant Koala in Victoria, Australia Post said the collectable coins aimed to celebrate iconic regional landmarks.
Fans and collectors can also purchase limited edition stamps for $1.20. The special edition $1 coins are for sale for $3 each and will be available in participating post offices. The full coin set inside a folder retails at $29. Check them out here.
So, whether you are a coin collector or not, this might be the perfect token to remind you of the places you cherish or just a piece of Australian culture you're proud to hold.
Members, if you're curious and want to learn more, or if you'd like to add to your collection of oddities, these limited edition coins are available from Australia Post outlets and post offices.
As the coins are only available in limited quantity, it's advisable to act quickly if you'd like to try and get your hands on a coin for your collection. Each post office has different quantities available, so it's worth calling ahead to see if they still have any in stock.
If you know of any of the extraordinary Big Things across our great nation, are lucky enough to get one of these coins, or have a special story to tell about any of these legendary sites, please let us know in the comments below! We would love to read any stories you have.
Australia Post has done something truly novel; in collaboration with the Royal Australian Mint, a limited collection of $1 coins was recently issued featuring iconic Aussie tourist attractions, aptly named the 'Aussie Big Things' series.
Big things, indeed! If you've driven through the state of New South Wales, there's no chance you could have missed the Big Banana, a landmark that holds a special place in the hearts of many.
And guess what? This 'a-peeling' attraction is now available in your pocket change!
Australia Post has launched a collection of limited edition $1 coins featuring iconic 'Big Things' located across the country. Credit: Australia Post.
The Big Banana is one of Australia's most recognised landmarks, and the locals on the NSW mid-north coast take immense pride in it. ‘They’re excited to have a local icon on a national coin. It’s been well received,' Craig Felton, Australia Post's Coffs Harbour Postmaster, explained.
As a matter of fact, the buzz is so high around this special coin that it's already sold out in parts of the city.
'We've got our regular collectors; they've put their orders in early, and we've allocated all of our coins to them so far. [The coins] are pretty scarce,' Mr Felton added.
Mr Felton feels a sense of pride whenever he holds the coin honouring Coffs Harbour's Big Banana—a sentiment shared by the local community. It's not every day you get to see your local icon minted in national currency!
Now, don't think for a second that the design process of these coins was taken lightly. When The Big Banana's sales manager, Leah Holmes, was approached about featuring the attraction on a coin, she was adamant about including the banana plant itself in the design.
'It was pretty important to us that we had the actual banana plant in there. We still have a working plantation here, we have a huge connection to that historical part of Coffs Harbour. It's part of our footprint now,' Ms Holmes explained.
Ms Holmes also thinks one of the reasons these tourist 'Aussie Big Things' are so popular is because of the nostalgia they evoke. She said many visitors come in with pictures they took as a child when they visited with their parents, and they wish to recreate them now!
Australian MP Andrew Leigh said the country's Big Things were loved by all.
'Whether it's The Big Banana or Canberra's very own Big Swoop, the best "Big Things" celebrate the character of our communities and give visitors a reason to smile and pop in for a visit,' he said.
From Queensland's Big Pineapple and the Giant Koala in Victoria, Australia Post said the collectable coins aimed to celebrate iconic regional landmarks.
Fans and collectors can also purchase limited edition stamps for $1.20. The special edition $1 coins are for sale for $3 each and will be available in participating post offices. The full coin set inside a folder retails at $29. Check them out here.
So, whether you are a coin collector or not, this might be the perfect token to remind you of the places you cherish or just a piece of Australian culture you're proud to hold.
Members, if you're curious and want to learn more, or if you'd like to add to your collection of oddities, these limited edition coins are available from Australia Post outlets and post offices.
As the coins are only available in limited quantity, it's advisable to act quickly if you'd like to try and get your hands on a coin for your collection. Each post office has different quantities available, so it's worth calling ahead to see if they still have any in stock.
If you know of any of the extraordinary Big Things across our great nation, are lucky enough to get one of these coins, or have a special story to tell about any of these legendary sites, please let us know in the comments below! We would love to read any stories you have.
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