received this message from RAM today:
The Royal Australian Mint 2020 Outreach Program has begun. Our Minties will be popping-up in Launceston on Tuesday 17 March, Devonport on Wednesday 18 March and Hobart on 20 March. At these events you will be able to access the latest coin releases, strike a counterstamp coin and swap for the latest circulating coin releases.
The Mint will join the family fun at the Sydney Royal Easter Show from Friday 3 April to Tuesday 14 April 2020. At this event the Mint will give collectors the opportunity to strike a counterstamp 'S' for Sydney on the 2020 'Eureka! Australia's Gold Rush' uncirculated coin.
Visit the Mint website or social channels for more information on event times and locations.
-- ATTENTION LAUNCESTON --
On Tuesday 17 March, the Royal Australian Mint's Eureka! Roadshow will be striking gold in Brisbane Mall, Launceston from 8.00am - 3.00pm.
Join us to snap up some fresh change, strike an 'Australia' Counterstamp onto our Eureka! Australia's Gold Rush $1 coin, or to purchase the Mint's latest releases.
Coin Swaps Available:
2020 $2 Coloured Circulating Coin – 75th Anniversary of the End of the Second World War (5pk) $10
2020 $1 Circulating Coin - Centenary of Qantas (10pk) $10
2019 $2 Coloured Circulating Coin Swap – 30th Anniversary of Police Remembrance 5pk ($10)
2020 Standard Circulating Sachets (JC Effigy)
Please note coin swaps are cash only and will be limited to 3 sachets of each coin per person per line-up. Be sure to arrive early to ensure you don't miss out!
-- ATTENTION DEVONPORT --
On Wednesday 18 March, the Royal Australian Mint's Eureka! Roadshow will be striking gold in Market Square, Devonport from 8.00am - 3.00pm.
Join us to snap up some fresh change, strike an 'Australia' Counterstamp onto our Eureka! Australia's Gold Rush $1 coin, or to purchase the Mint's latest releases.
Coin Swaps Available:
2020 $2 Coloured Circulating Coin – 75th Anniversary of the End of the Second World War (5pk) $10
2020 $1 Circulating Coin - Centenary of Qantas (10pk) $10
2019 $2 Coloured Circulating Coin Swap – 30th Anniversary of Police Remembrance 5pk ($10)
2020 Standard Circulating Sachets (JC Effigy)
Please note coin swaps are cash only and will be limited to 3 sachets of each coin per person per line-up. Be sure to arrive early to ensure you don't miss out!
-- ATTENTION HOBART --
On Friday 20 March, the Royal Australian Mint's Eureka! Roadshow will be striking gold in Elizabeth Mall, Hobart from 8.00am - 3.00pm.
Join us to snap up some fresh change, strike an 'Australia' Counterstamp onto our Eureka! Australia's Gold Rush $1 coin, or to purchase the Mint's latest releases.
Coin Swaps Available:
2020 $2 Coloured Circulating Coin – 75th Anniversary of the End of the Second World War (5pk) $10
2020 $1 Circulating Coin - Centenary of Qantas (10pk) $10
2019 $2 Coloured Circulating Coin Swap – 30th Anniversary of Police Remembrance 5pk ($10)
2020 Standard Circulating Sachets (JC Effigy)
Please note coin swaps are cash only and will be limited to 3 sachets of each coin per person per line-up. Be sure to arrive early to ensure you don't miss out!
So no way to swap these in Queensland yet?
-- Important Notice regarding coronavirus (COVID-19) –
Due to the unfolding coronavirus situation, the Royal Australian Mint has cancelled the first Stage of the Eureka! Roadshow, which was scheduled to visit Tasmania next week.
The health and safety of staff, customers and visitors continues to be the Mint's first priority. We apologise for any inconvenience caused by this change and will keep you informed of any future developments through our social media channels and website.
The Mint remains open to the public and all other events and programs are operating as normal.
Looks like Royal Easter Show will not happen.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/coronavirus-updates-live-australian-grand-prix-to-be-called-off-as-virus-spreads-20200313-p549ml.html (https://www.smh.com.au/national/coronavirus-updates-live-australian-grand-prix-to-be-called-off-as-virus-spreads-20200313-p549ml.html)
Just slightly ticked off by the cancellation here in Tassie, and others to follow as well, as it was my only chance to get the bags of current coins. Had arranged a day off work to go to the event. Hope they are going to make them available online to compensate for the lack of attendance .
Quote from: 'eirrab' pid='121687' dateline='1584164243'Just slightly ticked off by the cancellation here in Tassie, and others to follow as well, as it was my only chance to get the bags of current coins. Had arranged a day off work to go to the event. Hope they are going to make them available online to compensate for the lack of attendance .
Agreed.
Guy I know who was working for the mint says due to an ATO ruling they are not able to "sell" circulating coins in bags. Only swap them on a dollar for dollar basis at the pop ups.
Something to do with if they sell them they are required to pay GST and then they are losing money. Sounds like the ATO didn't like RAM providing coins to collectors without getting their cut.
Personally I'd happily "pay" RAM up to double face value to get them since I can rarely get to a pop up but RAM thinks it isn't worth their while. I'm somewhat amazed RAM still makes an effort to provide pop ups. I suppose they aren't losing money because it doesn't cost them $10 for ten dollars worth of circulating coins.
I used to get the swaps from the Mint Shop by mail until that was stopped. No pop up swap shop has ever been close enough for me to visit. I did do swaps at Ekka a few years ago but that visit was planned regardless of the RAM stall.
I would happily pay GST (plus a handling/processing fee) to get the $10 bags of new coins.
Quote from: 'gweidion' pid='121698' dateline='1584184387'Guy I know who was working for the mint says due to an ATO ruling they are not able to "sell" circulating coins in bags. Only swap them on a dollar for dollar basis at the pop ups.
Something to do with if they sell them they are required to pay GST and then they are losing money. Sounds like the ATO didn't like RAM providing coins to collectors without getting their cut.
Personally I'd happily "pay" RAM up to double face value to get them since I can rarely get to a pop up but RAM thinks it isn't worth their while. I'm somewhat amazed RAM still makes an effort to provide pop ups. I suppose they aren't losing money because it doesn't cost them $10 for ten dollars worth of circulating coins.
Yeah I think that's why the RBA stopped selling notes at face value too.
They do sell the made for collector stuff at the pop-up shops too, so they make money on that. Also, the mint spends a lot less than face value making the money so they're still ahead.
A part of the problem is the government dictates what RAM's core business is, and that is making coins for circulation, not for collectors. RAM has been able to get away with making collector coins on the basis that they make money out of it and lower the overall burden on the Australian taxpayers who fund the operation of coins for circulation.
Quote from: 'gweidion' pid='121698' dateline='1584184387'Guy I know who was working for the mint says due to an ATO ruling they are not able to "sell" circulating coins in bags. Only swap them on a dollar for dollar basis at the pop ups.
Something to do with if they sell them they are required to pay GST and then they are losing money. Sounds like the ATO didn't like RAM providing coins to collectors without getting their cut.
Personally I'd happily "pay" RAM up to double face value to get them since I can rarely get to a pop up but RAM thinks it isn't worth their while. I'm somewhat amazed RAM still makes an effort to provide pop ups. I suppose they aren't losing money because it doesn't cost them $10 for ten dollars worth of circulating coins.
Basically is you "sell" a coin then someone is buying it for its perceived collector value rather than a medium for exchange. Financial transactions are GST free therefore transferring ownership by "medium of exchange" does not attract GST. If someone is buying it for collector value the it follows normal GST rules and attracts GST. If the mint were to sell these at greater than face there would be GST on them. If they do it dollar for dollar, cash for cash basis it is the same as going into a bank and "swapping" your $20 not for $20 bag of coins that you could use to give your kids for the school canteen and is GST free.
The issue is that the online purchases were not "cash for cash".
Makes it hard for collectors who live nowhere near any pop up shop locations.