By arts editor HELEN MUSA

Canberra’s spring celebration is set to leave its mark on Australian coin collecting, with the Royal Australian Mint unveiling a special ACT bluebell privy mark coin as part of this year’s Floriade About Town festivities.

For the first time, the Mint will change one of its popular gallery coin presses mid-year, allowing visitors to strike their own coin featuring the limited-edition bluebell design during the four-week Floriade celebration.

The ACT bluebell, one of the region’s best-loved native flowers, will appear as a privy mark on coins produced exclusively through the gallery press, making them a sought-after souvenir for collectors and visitors alike.

To launch the initiative, the Mint is offering one lucky visitor the chance to mint the very first bluebell coin. On September 12, visitors arriving from 7.30am will receive a free numbered wristband, with one number drawn at random. The winner will strike the inaugural coin and receive it in a specially designed commemorative display frame.

The floral theme will continue throughout the Mint with its Coins in Bloom exhibition and free daily tours exploring the many flowers that have appeared on Australian coins over the years. From native wildflowers to commemorative designs, the tours reveal how Australia’s botanical heritage has been celebrated in metal.

Opening day celebrations will feature live music, food trucks, face painting, a coin swap and activities designed to appeal to both seasoned collectors and newcomers curious about the world of coin making.

With flowers in bloom across Canberra and a rare chance to strike a limited-edition coin, the Royal Australian Mint is adding a distinctly local flourish to the city’s biggest spring festival.

Opening day celebrations,  Royal Australian Mint, September 12.

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