Category: Medal
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RFS Macarthur Zone Challenge Coin
A fire brigade challenge coin from New South Wales, Australia Challenge Coins Immediately after posting the Code 9 “Senses” Challenge coin, I was asked “What is a Challenge Coin?” Challenge coins originated in the military, although how far back is hard to be certain. Peter Morrell goes back to Roman times and how some of…
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Code 9 “Senses” Challenge coin
A grounding tool to help first responders The Code 9 Foundation From Code9PTSD.org.au: “The Code 9 Foundation provides a place of support for current & veteran professional first responders & 000 operators (Emergency call takers)* who live with PTSD, depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions that result from their service to the community. This…
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2024 Koalas in Danger PMC set
PMCs helping save Australia’s endangered Koalas PMC The set comprises three PMCs, which each feature cute images of koalas. On the back of each is the (same) text: “Our iconic Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is facing a crisis. In its native habitat on the eastern and southern coastal regions of the mainland, the Koala is at…
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Saint Anthony of Padua Medal
A very large medal I hopefully won’t lose (Painting of St Anthony, from Catholic.org) St Anthony of Padua St. Anthony of Padua is one of the Catholic Church’s most popular saints. Saint Anthony of Padua, patron saint of lost and stolen articles, was a powerful Franciscan preacher and teacher. He’s typically portrayed holding the child…
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2006 Commonwealth Games PMC set
The first (medallion) PMCs from Australia Post Timeline to the first PMCs (Image of the first page of the first Philatelic Bulletin and issue 282 of the Stamp Bulletin, courtesy Australia Post) Firstly, this piece is about the first official Australia Post issued PMC. I am aware of other PMCs issued by other countries /…
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2019 PMC Moon Landing 50th Anniversary
A big medallion for a big milestone July 20th, 2019 was the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 astronauts landing on the moon. This was the first time that humans had set foot on our nearest celestial neighbour. It also fulfilled the goal, uttered by US President Kennedy on May 25, 1961, that: “I believe…
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2024 Marine Emblems 2 PMCs
A second series of Marine Emblem PMCs with cut-out medallions In March this year, Australia Post released a series of three “Marine Emblems” PNCs, featuring: Now, in July, they have followed up with three more medallion PNCs, this time featuring: These three have the same overall design as the earlier releases, however, use paler colours…
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19th Century German Baptism Medallion
A beautiful old pewter medallion Heads or tails? Some coins and medallions have a clear obverse and reverse. On some it is harder to define. The US Mint, I think only partly helpfully, explains: “Obverse (heads) is the front of the coin and the reverse (tails) is the back”. Ok, so if it has a…
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1oz Bismuth Ingot
A fascinating metal, although not found in many coins Bullion Traditionally, silver, and gold coins have been used as a store of wealth. With the value being in the metal itself, any object made of gold, for instance, tends to be valuable. Coins are convenient in that they are solid, compact ways to store that…
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2023 Australia King’s Birthday Medallion PNC
A PNC for a holiday A change in holiday In 2023, Australia Post released a medallion PNC to commemorate the King’s Birthday. This was a momentous occasion as it was the first time in 72 years that the holiday was for a King’s birthday, rather than a Queen. As someone from the Commonwealth, my head…
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Proverbs: “A friend loves at all times” medallion
A positive piece to give a friend. Medallions with bible quotes One of my favourite collections is my folder of pieces with biblical quotes. I posted earlier this year about a medallion depicting The Last Supper my daughter gifted me for Christmas. This time, I have another piece with a biblical reference, which I am…
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2016 PNC 400th Anniversary Dirk Hartog’s landing
A large medallion for a large milestone Unknown South Land (Early Dutch map of Australia (Hollandia Nova) showing much of the west and north of the country. Map from Swaen.com) Aboriginal people are known to have occupied mainland Australia for at least 65,000 years. It is widely accepted that this predates the modern human settlement…
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2024 Marine Emblems PMCs
A set showcasing three state emblems on cut-out medallions Obverse Here is a set of three brightly coloured Postal Medallic Covers. They work well together, so I’m giving them all equal billing rather than trying to highlight just one. These showcase the marine emblems of three states of Australia. I must admit, I didn’t realise…
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2024 Solar Eclipse Medallion
A beautiful memento with personal significance Eclipse A “Solar Eclipse” happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, casting a shadow on Earth that either fully or partially blocks the Sun’s light in some areas. This only happens occasionally, because the Moon doesn’t orbit in the exact same plane as the Sun and…
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St Florian Medallion
The Patron Saint of Firefighters Obverse The obverse features the text “SAINT FLORIAN” and “Patron Saint of Fire Fighters” around the edge. In the centre is a traditional image of Saint Florian pouring water out of a bucket onto buildings. Note: “firefighter” is usually written as one single word, both in UK and US English.…
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1986 Ukraine Chernobyl Liquidator’s medal
A chilling reminder of bravery This is my entry for Day 21 “U” of the Blogging from A-Z April Challenge!U = Ukraine, or USSR Chernobyl View of Chernobyl taken from the roof of a building in Pripyat, Ukraine. Photo from Wikipedia. The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (Ukrainian: Чорнобильська атомна електростанція) was a set of four…
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Christ died for our sins medallion
The meaning of Easter and Christianity in one image Obverse As a humble numismatist, I don’t think I am qualified to teach on theology. As a Christian, I can hopefully pen a few words on one of the key aspects of our faith without botching it too badly though! The Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and…
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2024 Lunar New Year PMC
The Year of the Dragon Lunar New Year The Lunar New Year is a very popular time for commemorative pieces of all kinds. Australia Post generally release at least one coin PNC, and at least one medallion PNC. As of 11th Feb 2024 (the morning after Lunar New Year), a search for “Year of the…
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1943 Cameroon 50 Centimes
A WWII African coin showing support for the exiled Free France government. French Cameroon What became Cameroon was originally claimed by Germany as “Kamerun” in the “Scramble for Africa” of the late 19th century. Soon after WWI was declared, French and British troops poured into the country. The dense equatorial rainforest was as much an…
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Ward Beam’s Daredevils / Lord’s Prayer
Two seemingly contrasting themes from a different time Obverse Here is an interesting token with two quite different sides. Bert Ward Beam was an event promoter from Celina, Ohio. In the 1920s, he started promoting “wreck-it” races in which $50 jalopies would race to the finish, but crash along the way. B.Ward Beam is credited…
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St. Eloi, Patron du Materiel medallion
St. Eloi is patron to more than numismatics Patron Saint I have written several pieces on Saint Eloi (Saint Eligius) as the Patron Saint of Numismatics. Saint Eloi is also revered as the patron of several other groups and professions. Today’s piece explores some of those. NewmanMinistry records St Eligius as Patron Saint of: That…
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The Last Supper medallion
The 100th piece on the site, a present from my daughter This is the 100th post on the site and I hope you’re enjoying these little snippets about coins and exonumia. I’ve been trying to think how best to mark this milestone – my most expensive coin? A coin from a country I haven’t covered…
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The Lord Bless You and Keep You medallion
A beautiful verse on a medallion. In the Old Testament, the book of Numbers presents an account of the 38-year period of Israel’s wandering in the desert following the establishment of the covenant of Sinai. The covenant of Sinai is detailed in the book of Exodus. It was God’s agreement with the Israelites, after Moses…
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2014 Centenary of King George Stamps PNC
A follow-up impressive medallion The 2013 Centenary of Commonwealth Postage Stamps PNC commemorated the very first Australian designed postage stamps. Those stamps featured the very Australian design of a kangaroo on a map of Australia. The Kangaroo and Map stamp issue, introduced in 1913, was considered by many not to be sufficiently respectful of Britain.…