On 28 January ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher and Member for Canberra Gai Brodtmann, representing the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, Bernie Ripoll, unveiled the design for the new commemorative Centenary of Canberra circulating coin, which will soon appear in pockets, wallets and purses across Australia.

The 20 cent coin shows the original blueprint for Canberra, as designed by Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin, which has shaped the development of the city into the capital it is today.

“The response to the release of the 2013 Centenary of Canberra 20c coin has been overwhelmingly positive. Canberrans have been really eager to get behind the celebration and collect a tangible memento of Canberra’s centenary year,” said Royal Australian Mint CEO Ross MacDiarmid.

This design was developed by Royal Australian Mint coin designer Aleksandra Stokic, in collaboration with the Centenary of Canberra team, and is expected to be seen in circulation within the coming months. However, the Mint will be holding a coin swap at the One Day International cricket match on 6 February 2013 for those who would like to be one of the first to get their hands on the new coin.

A Centenary of Canberra coin will also be used to begin tomorrow’s match in the coin toss, but it’s a brand new $5 silver proof coin which will not be released into circulation. The 2013 Centenary of Canberra $5 silver proof coin will be available to buy from the Mint stands at Manuka Oval tomorrow.

“There was a lot of anticipation around the release of the 2013 Centenary of Canberra $5 silver proof coin, people were lined up in front of the Mint yesterday before the shop had even opened to be one of the first to get their hands on one,” said Mr MacDiarmid.