LOOSE CHANGE: OCTOBER 9, 2022

Debate over which famous faces should appear on the country's currency has reignited, with two dedicated fans campaigning in a desperate attempt to get one Aussie icon into our wallets.

Principal petitioners Vincent Wu and Kirby Miles have started two separate petitions in a bid to feature crocodile hunter Steve Irwin on the $5 note.

Their goal is to have the Australian conservationist, wildlife expert and TV personality's portrait feature on the lowest value note opposed to that of King Charles III.

And their hopes may become a reality after Assistant Treasury Minister Andrew Leigh revealed that the new king may not necessarily replace his mother on the $5 note in the way new coins will feature him.

The endless possibilities of who could replace the Queen on the note has amassed discussion online, even attracting international attention.

Hi I'm American, can we replace Andrew Jackson on our money with Steve Irwin? We love him too, one international fan tweeted.

To read the complete article, see:
Australians petition to put Steve Irwin on new currency, replacing Queen Elizabeth (https://nypost.com/2022/10/02/australians-petition-to-feature-steve-irwin-on-new-5/)

 

The Austrian Mint has released new collector coins which mark the occasion of the reopening of the Parliament building in Vienna.

The obverse design is the work of Helmut Andexlinger and Rebecca Wilding and features two heads in profile and one facing front which represents the Austrian people as sovereign. To the left is a watchful eye surrounded by stylised laurel leaves and to the right is a section of the Austrian Parliament building in the background. Another part of the design illustrates the spirit from which the Austrian Republic was born and includes text from Austria's Constitution ÖSTERREICH IST EINE DEMOKRATISCHE REPUBLIK – IHR RECHT GEHT VOM VOLK AUS (Austria is a Democratic Republic – Its laws emanate from the people) the words are seen on the top and bottom edges of the coin along with the year of issue, 2022. The standard reverse design on copper and silver versions depicts each of the nine cantonal coats of arms arranged in a circle on the value side of the nine-sided coin. The crests are surrounded with the text REPUBLIK OSTERREICH along with the denomination of 5 EURO, the numeral 5 is centred.

Of particular interest is the base metal five-euro version, which is unlike any coins previously minted in Austria. The Democracy €5 coins are struck from the old copper sheeting recovered from the former roof of the Parliament building in Vienna. By recycling the copper from the Parliament's refurbishment, it is hoped the ideals of the Republic itself will be a special keepsake for many and a permanent part of Austrian coinage.

To read the complete article, see:
Austria: New five-euro coins focus on democracy and the reopening of the Parliament building (https://news.coinupdate.com/austria-new-five-euro-coins-focus-on-democracy-and-the-reopening-of-the-parliament-building/)

	NBS (coinbooks.org) Web