First Australian Coin with Braille Released for Invictus Games 2018
With less than one month to go until the Invictus Games Sydney 2018 presented by Jaguar Land Rover, Australia’s first coin featuring braille text has been released by the Royal Australian Mint (the Mint), an Official Supporter of the 2018 Games.
The coloured $1 collectable coin is the first of its kind in Australia and commemorates the Invictus Games Sydney 2018, an international adaptive sporting event celebrating the unconquered spirit of wounded, injured and ill service personnel and veterans.
The coin’s unique braille text spells ‘Sydney 18’ and is accompanied by an image of a wounded competitor, symbolising the healing power of sport to inspire recovery and support rehabilitation.
Royal Australian Mint Chief Executive Officer Ross MacDiarmid said the coins were a tribute to the courage and resilience displayed by the competitors and their families and friends.
“The coloured $1 collectable coin combines innovative colour print technology with braille text – a first for the Royal Australian Mint and for Australia – and has been released alongside a fine silver selectively gold-plated coin.
“Together these coins honour the service and sacrifice of those competing in the Invictus Games Sydney 2018 and are a tangible demonstration of the Mint’s support of the event,” said Mr MacDiarmid.
Invictus Games Sydney 2018 Chief Executive Officer Patrick Kidd OBE is grateful for the Mint’s support of the Games.
“The Mint is a national institution and their support is a great demonstration of the significance of these Games to our nation. Once again, the Mint has lead the way by producing Australia’s first coin to feature braille text and it is a real honour that they have chosen to do this with the Invictus Games Sydney 2018. While these Games honour the sacrifice of all Australians who have given their lives for their country, they also recognise the many veterans who live amongst our communities as well as the families who are united by service in Defence. Above all they celebrate the incredible competitors who use sport as a vehicle to recover and rehabilitate and themselves are unconquered,” said Mr Kidd.
“The images on the coins depict the unconquered ‘Invictus’ spirit which will be seen throughout the Games (20-27 October 2018) and which, in turn, will inspire people of different abilities to reach out, be active and connect through sport.”
The Invictus Games Sydney 2018 $1 Coloured Frosted Uncirculated Coin (featuring braille) is available now from the Mint for $15.00 AUD. The $5 Fine Silver Selectively Gold Plated Proof Coin is $150.00. The coins are limited to mintages of 30,000 and 2,018 respectively.
The release of the new commemorative coins follows the launch of a $2 circulating coin celebrating the Invictus Games Sydney 2018, which will appear in wallets and change in time for the Invictus Games Sydney 2018 to be held from 20 to 27 October.
To purchase or find out more about the new coins, visit www.eshop.ramint.gov.au or phone
1300 652 020.
For more information on the Invictus Games Sydney 2018, visit: www.invictusgames2018.org
