Monday, October 04, 2010

Mint issues commemorative Mary MacKillop coins

Perth Mint is issuing gold and silver commemorative coins to mark Mary MacKillop's canonisation this month.

The mint is issuing 2,010 gold coins and 7,500 silver coins to mark the occasion, and the number of gold coins will be deliberately restricted to 2010 to recognise the year in which Blessed Mary will become Saint Mary MacKillop, said an AAP report in the Sydney Morning Herald.

"Struck from one ounce of 99.9 per cent pure silver and one tenth of 99.9 per cent pure gold, both coins portray a coloured image of Blessed Mary and feature the inscription Saint Mary MacKillop, Australia's first saint and the 2010 year date," Perth Mint chief executive Ed Harbuz said at Mary MacKillop Place in North Sydney yesterday.

The coins can be ordered through Australia Post offices, at the Mary MacKillop Place gift shop and through the Perth Mint website.

The gold coin will cost $275 and the silver coin will cost $89.50, and will be issued after her canonisation.

SIC: CTH/AUS