2023 Collectable $5 Coin - Australia World Heritage Sites
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19 October 2023
A collectable $5 coin was launched on 7 September 2023, which celebrates Australia’s history with it featuring the Australian prehistoric rainforests, ancient Aboriginal settlements, convict sites, and other heritage sites such as the Sydney Opera House. The coin also includes the “Convict Gaol Archway” at Kingston, depicting the Norfolk Island convict site historical area of KAVHA, (Kingston Arthur’s Vale Historic Area) which is one of the eleven convict sites from the early British convict settlements.
The $5 Australian Heritage Properties Sites coin is Australian legal tender and was available for purchase through the Mint’s coin shop, call centre and authorised dealers from Thursday, 7 September 2023. The collectible coin was also available for purchase from the gift shops at the World Heritage properties that feature on the coin. The coin sold very quickly, and I have learnt they have sold out from these centres, but I was pleased that I was able to purchase a coin for myself. Here on Norfolk Island, they were available via the Norfolk Island Museum shop at the REO at Kingston, but as stock was limited, the $5 coin have also sold out on Norfolk Island. I have found the coins available on eBay and other coin merchant sites, priced around $100.
The $5 coin honouring some of Australia’s World Heritage wonders has been created in honour of cultural conservation ahead of the 21st annual General Assembly and Scientific Symposium.
The collectable coin features images of all 20 Australian World Heritage Properties, including images of prehistoric rainforest wilderness and ancient Aboriginal settlements to unique landscapes and natural attractions, as well as convict sites and iconic 20th century buildings. The coin’s images of the heritage sites on the $5 frosted coin framed a central full-colour image of a handprint, a fan palm frond and a shell fossil to represent both natural and man-made “icons” and Australia’s Indigenous heritage.
Australia’s heritage sites depicted on the coin are:
- Australian Convict Sites,
- (including Kingston Norfolk Island KAVHA site)
- Budj Bim Cultural Landscape
- Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens
- Sydney Opera House
- Australian Fossil Mammal Sites (Riversleigh/Naracoorte)
Fraser Island (officially Kairi)
- Gondwana Rainforests of Australia
- Great Barrier Reef
- Greater Blue Mountains Area
- Heard and McDonald Islands
- Lord Howe Island Group
- Macquarie Island, Ningaloo Coast
- Purnululu National Park
- Shark Bay (Western Australia
- Wet Tropics of Queensland
- Kakadu National Park
- Tasmanian Wilderness,
- Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park,
- Willandra Lakes Region.
The $5 frosted coin was designed by the Royal Australian Mint coin designer Tony Dean. On the reverse side of the coin, it also features The Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Obverse, designed by renowned British engraver, Jody Clark.
If you would like to read more about this collectable coin, check out these internet links.
https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/new-coin-launched-to-celebrate-australias-heritage-c-11768677
I have included images of the $5 coin along with photographs of the Norfolk Island Convict Gaol Arches in the World Heritage Area at Kingston
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Betty Matthews
20 October 2023