1 dollar 2004 - Eureka Stockade
By CAA | Thursday, 11 July 2024
In 2004, the Royal Australian Mint released special dollar coins to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Eureka Stockade. The design for this $1 represents the uprising of the gold miners at Ballarat. Eureka is widely viewed as the most dramatic event experienced on Australian soil in the 19th century. The event, which took place on Sunday December 3, is seen by many Australians as the rise of democracy in this country and the concept of a 'fair go'.
The Eureka Centre is situated on the site where the violent uprising took place. The Eureka Stockade is considered one of the most significant events in the evolution of Australian democracy.
Each of the coins shows one of the following mintmark:
- B (Brisbane)
- C (Canberra)
- E (Eureka Centre)
- M (Melbourne)
- S (sydney)
On January 1, 2004, the first available one was the C mintmark. People outside of Canberra were able to order the coin from March 2004 through the Mint's Mint Issue subscription program and coin dealers throughout Australia.
The 'E' mintmark was available on Febrary 27, 2004, at the Eureka Centre Ballarat and was supervised by the Controller of the Royal Australian Mint, Dr Vivienne Thom and Professor Weston Bate OAM, President of the Royal Historical Society Victoria.
At the same time, a limited edition of Eureka Montage of just 150, crafted by the RAM was sold. The Eureka Montage design was crafted in consultation with the Eureka Centre and the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery to ensure the historical relevance and significance recreated within the frame. The unique features of the montage include a Eureka $1 silver proof coin and the Eureka $1 mintmark Coin.
An exclusively struck Eureka medallion, each individually hand-polished and strictly limited to the 150 incorporated in the montage design, a gold nugget, sourced from the Ballarat gold fields also features, along with stamps and images, all highlighting aspects of the Eureka Stockade.
The montage was also on display at the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery and the Royal Australian Mint Gallery, Canberra. The certificate of the montage is signed by the montage designer and Controller of the Mint.
A limited edition $1 fine silver proof coin was also produced.
1 dollar 2004 - Not intended for circulation
