Pictured above is the 2021 Indigenous Services Defending Country ‘C’ Mintmarked $2 coin. This coin was unveiled on the 30th of March 2021 by Royal Australian Mint CEO Leigh Gordon and Aboriginal artist; Kalkadoon woman, Chern’ee Sutton. Through this design Ms Sutton sought to tell the story of Indigenous soldiers past and present, serving in the Australian Defence Force.

This pictured example includes some distinctive indentations below the ‘C’ Mintmark on the reverse side around the rim of the coin. These indentations are described as a collar clash, which occur when the obverse and or reverse die come in contact with the collar of the press - otherwise known as the third die. This third die is responsible for the serrations or reeding on the side edge of Australian coinage. In the case of a collar clash, the contact of the third die cause the connecting die to chip, which then produce the indentations visible on the rim of the coin.

The RAM highlighted in a Facebook advertisement for the Indigenous Services ‘C’ Mintmark coin, posted on the 1st of April 2021, that “Indigenous Australians have a longstanding tradition of defending Country, having served in every conflict and commitment involving Australian defence contingents since Federation. From the Boer War, Gallipoli, the Western Front, Tobruk and Kokoda to Korea, Vietnam and Afghanistan, the strength of Indigenous service has been a constant throughout Australian history.”

In a media release made on the 30th of March 2021 the RAM stated the Defending Country design was “Inspired by the artwork of Chern’ee Sutton, the design of the coin is rich with Indigenous and military symbols that represent the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have served in the Australian Defence Force.” This media release also informed readers that the circulating type of the coin would be released into circulation in the coming weeks.

An Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) article, published on the same day, extends the sentiment further by informing us that “On the coin, a series of symbols depict soldiers leaving their communities and going to war, before a boomerang and a foot print depict personnel returning home and stepping back onto their land.” "I do hope people will get the coin in their change ... and when they see it they'll reflect on the sacrifices that were made," Ms Sutton said. The same article details that the project took Ms Sutton two years to complete and required permission from the Defence Force to use camouflage colours in the design.

The keenly anticipated ‘C’ Mintmark coin release was announced by the RAM in an Upcoming Releases noticeboard post on the 16th of March 2021, stating it would be available on the 1st of April 2021. The coins were in such high demand on the day, the RAM had to notify customers through a comment on the Facebook advertisement post; explaining their website was experiences issues impacted by the demand. The comment informs users “Due to intense demand for today's releases the Mint's online store is experiencing slow load times, we appreciate your patience during this period while website load eases. Thank you.” This was followed up with comments from Facebook users describing similar issues with the RAM eShop, and also in making contact with the Mint's shop over the phone.

The April Mint Issue 132 offers the ‘C’ Mintmark Coloured Uncirculated Coin at the retail price of $15.00. Included in the issue is the description “Once on the margins of Australia’s military history, the significance of the story of Indigenous Australian service is now being recognised. Today, Indigenous Australians serve with honour in all branches of the Australian Defence Force, their skills and abilities employed to best meet the demands of the day.”

To date the 2020 – 2021 RAM Annual Report shows that 50’000 of the 2021 'C' Mintmarked Indigenous Services Defending Country $2 coins were produced. The same report also shows that 10’000 official RAM rolls, and 40'000 Indigenous Services Defending Country $2 circulating type coins in sachets as being produced.

Remediation of figures published in the 2021 - 2022 RAM Annual Report establishes that the mintage figures of the circulating 2021 Indigenous Services $2 coin should have been published in the 2020 - 2021 report. The remediated mintage figure was stated as being 2'000'000 circulating coins, bringing the final circulating mintage to 2'000'000; along with 10'000 official RAM rolls, and 40'000 coins in sachets.

Release: 2021
Mintage: 50'000

RESOURCES

Facebook Advertisement 01/04/2021 - https://m.facebook.com/RoyalAustralianMint/photos/a.251059518267544/5511598112213632/?type=3

RAM Media Release 30/03/2021: New Circulating Coin Commemorates Indigenous Military Personnel https://www.ramint.gov.au/publications/new-circulating-coin-commemorates-indigenous-military-personnel

Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) 30/03/2021: Coin to recognise Indigenous military service released by Royal Australian Mint https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-30/mint-releases-coin-to-recognise-indigenous-military-service/100039190

RAM Upcoming Releases 16/03/2021 - https://www.ramint.gov.au/news-media/news/upcoming-releases-1-april-2021

Mint Issue 132
April 2021: https://www.ramint.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021_mint_issue_april_132_online.pdf

Annual Report
2020 – 2021: https://www.ramint.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021/Corp_site/Policy/2020-21_ram_annual-report_appendices.pdf

Last Updated: 22/10/2022