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NEW BOOK: THE HISTORY AND ART OF AUSTRALIAN COINAGE
Darren Burgess, President of the Numismatic Association of Victoria submitted this note about a new book on the coinage of Australia.
Thanks! -Editor
There has been lots of press coverage in relation to the anniversary including an article in The Melbourne Age on the design process, highlighting the work of Australian artist Stuart Devlin; an article in the Canberra Times regarding the possible alternative names of the currency; and an article in the Sydney Morning Herald proclaiming the (not so) imminent demise of the 5 cent piece. All of the articles make reference to Peter Ree's new book, Inside the Vault: The History and Art of Australian Coinage , the release of which is covered in more detail in the Press Release from the Royal Australian Mint. I've ordered my copy and will look to provide a review once it lands with a resounding thump on my desk.
Here's an excerpt from the press release. -Editor
“As we commemorate 50 years of decimal currency, it is important to recognise all who worked so hard to make this anniversary a reality. This book, Inside the Vault, is bursting with insights and stories about Australian coins and the characters behind them. I congratulate Peter on a read that brings our coins and their role in our nation’s development to life,” said the Governor-General. The Assistant Minister to the Treasurer the Hon Alex Hawke MP said the book was the story of an important historic milestone and complimented the Royal Australian Mint for its commitment to the production of Inside the Vault in 2016, aligning its publication with the 50th anniversary of decimal currency celebrations. “This history of modern Australian currency has never been told in such detail. Peter Rees has ensured that all of the key developments over more than 200 years are told to unify the story,” said Mr Hawke. “The history and art of currency is fascinating, yet it has never before been captured in a detailed chronological story, making Inside the Vault such an enjoyable and worthwhile project.” Peter Rees said Inside the Vault tells not just the story of Australian currency, but also celebrates its unique role in the nation’s past. “Through interviews with numismatists and wider research, including contact with national institutions, I was able to trace the symbolic journey that coins in Australia have taken.” said Mr Rees. “Inside the Vault follows Australia’s coinage story from the First Fleet, the Rum Rebellion, the role that a convicted forger played in developing Australia’s first dollar currency, the gold rushes, Federation, the story of the elusive 1930 penny, the opening of the Royal Australian Mint, and the behind-the scenes conflict in the move to decimal currency in the 1960s.” “The book also tells us the story of recent circulating and collectible products in the Mint’s collection and looks at the future of coins.” Officially launched at the Royal Australian Mint on 11 February 2016 with readings by Mr Rees, Inside the Vault, produced by NewSouth Publishing, is available for purchase for $59.99 via the Mint's eShop. For more information, or to order, see:
To read the complete press release, see:
To read the complete articles, see:
Wayne Homren, Editor The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization promoting numismatic literature. See our web site at coinbooks.org. To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor at this address: whomren@gmail.com To subscribe go to: https://my.binhost.com/lists/listinfo/esylum All Rights Reserved. NBS Home Page Contact the NBS webmaster 
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