The Royal Australian Mint turns 60 and there’s never been a better time to re-visit

Posted on 25 February, 2025

If your Year 6 excursion was the last time you explored the Royal Australian Mint, its 60th birthday is a great time to re-visit this fascinating national institution.

From pounds and pence to dollars and cents, 1965 marked a revolutionary moment in Australian history. As the nation embraced decimal currency, the Royal Australian Mint opened its doors in Canberra, ready to create our distinctly Australian coins.

Fast forward 60 years, and those doors have welcomed millions of visitors while the Mint has produced billions of coins that tell our national story. Now, this beloved institution is inviting everyone to join its diamond anniversary celebrations – it’s the perfect time to take another look!

A Family Fun Day worth its weight in gold

Mark Saturday 1 March in your diary for a free celebration that’s about more than just coins. The grounds will be buzzing with live music, food trucks, and face painting, but the real treasure lies in special experiences like the coin swap (perfect for finding those elusive coloured coins) and a kids’ trading station where young collectors can turn their pocket money into something special. Plus, Questacon’s Excited Particles team will be there with their signature blend of science and storytelling.

Strike While the Iron’s Hot

Create your own piece of history by minting a commemorative coin – including a special 60th anniversary version with an exclusive ’60’ countermark during the Family Fun Day. It’s the perfect souvenir that’s actually worth something!

That ‘Wow’ Factor

Talk about making an entrance – the recently made-over museum welcomes you with a stunning column containing exactly 24,432 gold dollar coins (and yes, they’re real). Follow this up with the 15-metre ‘Stories of Change’ mural, featuring 12,617 coins that tell the story of Australia’s decimal currency. Unlike most museum pieces, this one’s designed for touching.

Get Your Game On

Gone are the days of ‘look but don’t touch’. The renovated museum now lets you try your hand at designing digital coins and test your skills with coin-production games. Consider it your chance to see if you’ve got what it takes to make the money (literally).

History with a Twist

The Mint60 Exhibition (running until 11 May) is a fascinating journey through time, from the Mint’s humble beginnings as a sheep paddock to its current status as a world-class facility. You’ll discover quirky facts (like how finding solid rock during construction actually helped secure the vaults) and see rare pieces from the National Coin Collection, including the stunning Daintree Rainforest and Cassowary gold proof coins.

Meet the Robots

While beloved Roxie (the coin-packing robot who served from 2004 to 2021) may have retired, you can still catch her in the Mint60 Exhibition. But the real showstopper is Titan, the massive orange robot that can lift up to a tonne of coins at once. Watch from the factory viewing platform as this mechanical marvel moves Australia’s money.

Discover the Story of Australia’s First Coins

Step back in time to 1965 when the Mint faced its most creative challenge yet – designing Australia’s very first decimal currency. Through fascinating displays and original artworks, you can trace the journey of how our iconic coins came to be. See the original sketches from six talented artists who competed to capture Australia’s spirit in miniature form, from bouncing kangaroos and lazy koalas to graceful brolgas and blooming wattle.

The exhibition even features the original plaster sculptures that tested how these distinctly Australian designs would look in 3D – a rare glimpse into a pivotal moment that shaped the coins we carry today.

Make a Day of It

With the new café serving up barista-made coffee and tasty treats, plus plenty of picnic spots in the grounds, you can turn your visit into a proper day out. After all, even coin enthusiasts need refuelling.