Nothing amazing but toned up beautifully
(http://api.photoshop.com/v1.0/accounts/bdc8e25f8e4c4253b7785fa3940f991b/assets/e6d5be7071bb441b9fb959f0c98ce5b7/renditions/1024.jpg?md=1340430145000)(http://api.photoshop.com/v1.0/accounts/bdc8e25f8e4c4253b7785fa3940f991b/assets/0670b1e1c8564581b717070cdcd1f043/renditions/1024.jpg?md=1340430124000)
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sorry about the hu-mongous photos!
Photos automagically resize to the size of the window you have open. Nice tokeny thing. Are they the first tokens that used to be struck on the RAM gallery press before it did dollars?
errmmm dunno ... maybe? I think that they had something to do with the opening of the RAM in Canberra
QuoteAre they the first tokens that used to be struck on the RAM gallery press before it did dollars?
Yes.
They're more a "medal" than a "token", since there was never a monetary or ceremonial function for them; they're "just souvenirs". And they definitely date long after the RAM opening in 1965. This piece is bimetallic, a concept not made popular until the Italians began issuing bimetallic coins in the early 1980s. They were in the "mint-your-own-coin" presses in the leadup to issuing our first bimetallic $5 coins in the 1990s. The one in the Museum Victoria collection (http://museumvictoria.com.au/collections/items/1404934/medal-royal-australian-mint-canberra-australia-circa-1996?createComment=True#commentform) was acquired from the presses on a visit to the mint in 1996.
Cheers - thanks I just read the museum info more a 'medal' than a token. Cupro aluminium/bronze 1996. I have a few but none quite as toned.
"At centre on aluminium-bronze slug, a view of the front of the mint; around on a cupro-nickel ring, ROYAL AUSTRALIAN MINT (obverse)
At centre on aluminium-bronze slug images of three medieval moniers at work with a nioneteenth century press in the background; around on a cupro-nickel ring,, "
Hiya Rob, I think the colours on that medal? are amazing. Just beautiful. Give it a special spot in your album.
I have a similar medal which I can't find in Carlisle. It's 40mm bronze (not bimetal) and has the same guys making the coins (with Hahne initial HH) but the legends read "R.A.M COIN COLLECTOR". The other side has depiction of the RAM building but taken from the other front side of the old Mint building. It says "ROYAL AUSTRALIAN MINT" but doesn't have any designers initials.
I took a ride on the Sydney Monorail and I noted that they have a medalion that you can buy from one of the coin machines there.
I didn't buy one - but got to thinking that there may be some kind of rareity to them when it is shut down.
They cost $2.
Wavy20