New Australian coin reaches seven times its value

A limited edition coin celebrating the 50th anniversary of the National Aboriginal and Islands Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) is fetching prices of up to $145 online just one day after its release.

The Royal Australian Mint released the collector coin by lottery on Thursday. It was available for $20 and was sold out.

The 50 cent coin was designed by Aboriginal artist Cortney Glass, who collaborated with the National Indigenous Australians Agency, NAIDOC and the Mint on the project.

The 50 in the centre of the coin was used to highlight the history of NAIDOC and the blue at the bottom of the coin represented the 10 people who came together to form the committee.

On the other side is a portrait of King Charles.

Ms Glass said she was incredibly grateful for the opportunity.

“As a girl from the small provincial town of Katherine in the Northern Territory, I could never have imagined in my wildest dreams that I would be the artist behind a special collector’s coin. This experience is truly an honour and I am deeply grateful for it,” she said.

NAIDOC co-chair Lynette Riley said the organisation had worked tirelessly to bring the coin to life and it was a special memento of a significant milestone.

“The fact that NAIDOC has been coordinated by an entirely Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander committee for 50 years is significant in recognising and empowering Indigenous people to shape the messages that relate to the issues we want Australia to focus on and learn about through our direction,” she said.

“The coin image chosen by Cortney embodies the essence of NAIDOC by listing all the themes from 1972, surrounded by artwork that emphasises culture as the foundation of our identity and the ongoing fight for Indigenous rights, showing that this fight is done in solidarity.

“By producing this coin, we want to celebrate and honour all our people who have worked tirelessly over the last 50 years to ensure NAIDOC is a celebration of our people and our cultures, locally, state and nationally.

“Our elders who founded NAIDOC would be very proud of you all.”

The commemorative coin was unveiled during a reception at Adelaide Town Hall hosted by Adelaide Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith.

She said NAIDOC Week provides an opportunity for people to celebrate Indigenous culture, reflect on the past and honour the contributions of First Nations people.

“It is a tremendous honour for Adelaide to have been selected as host city for this year’s celebrations, which include the national NAIDOC Awards and the unveiling of this commemorative coin,” she said.

Assistant Treasurer Andrew Leigh said the Mint had a long tradition of celebrating Australia’s Indigenous heritage and telling stories on coins.

“I would like to congratulate the NAIDOC national committee and its winning artist Cortney Glass on this beautiful design,” he said.