619) 2018 XXI Commonwealth Games, Gold Coast, Australia, (GC 2018) April 04-15 2018: - A Legacy of Reconciliation: Two Collector coins - 50 AUD (Gold) and 1 AUD (Silver) issued by the Royal Australian Mint:

619) 2018 XXI Commonwealth Games, Gold Coast, Australia, (GC 2018) April 04-15 2018: - A Legacy of Reconciliation: Two Collector coins - 50 AUD (Gold) and 1 AUD (Silver) issued by the Royal Australian Mint:

The Royal Australian Mint has released (23rd November) two new collector coins which are produced to celebrate the upcoming XXI Commonwealth Games to be hosted in Australia, April 4–15, 2018.

The Reverse of the silver $1 (AUD) coin against the backdrop of an indigenous  colour wheel on which the coin design is based

The XXI Commonwealth Games will be held on the Gold Coast, Queensland, located on Australia’s east coast, with events also taking place in Brisbane, Cairns, and Townsville. The Gold Coast, or GC 2018, will be the largest international multi-sport event ever hosted on the Gold Coast and will be the largest sporting event to be staged in Australia this decade. Across 11 days of competition, more than 6,600 athletes and team officials from 70 Commonwealth nations and territories will attend, competing in 275 events in 18 sports and seven para-sports.

The main venue of the Games would be Carrara Stadium.

Aside from the world-class sporting and cultural events, GC 2018 will leave a lasting positive legacy for communities across the state. GC 2018 is the first event of its kind to have an RAP (Reconciliation Action Plan). This is the result of a commitment from games partners to deliver legacy outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and has been led by the Queensland government through the Office of the Commonwealth Games and the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation.

Borobi the surfing koala is the mascot for the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast:

Borobi, the blue koala has been announced as the official mascot for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.  Borobi was inspired by 1982's Matilda the Kangaroo and designed by Upper Kedron teacher Merrilyn Krohn .

It was picked from 4,000 entries in a national competition.

Borobi - the Mascot showing the thumbs-up to the Games

 Borobi joins the ranks of previous characters like Clyde the Thistle from Glasgow 2014, Shera the Royal Bengal Tiger from Delhi 2010, and Karak the South-eastern red-tailed black cockatoo from Melbourne 2006.

Borobi's key features include his blue fur and coloured ears, crimson nose, sunscreen, Indigenous markings on hands and feet, and one thumb on each paw as well as indigenous markings on his hands, but miss the second thumb most koalas use to climb trees.

Borobi — the indigenous "Yugambah language" name for koala — is a great mascot, and a great way of telling a broader story for the Gold Coast and conservation of Koalas. Borobi is featured as a surfing koala with his boardies on and his sunscreen.

Borobi's qualities include - "determined", "a warrior", "champion", "tenacious", "energetic" and "up for a challenge".

Other distinguishing elements include strips of sunscreen or zinc on his face, but the red nose shows that he has been somewhat late to get a sun-screen. 


There is a "story" which goes alongside Borobi's qualities -         

When Borobi was born, all his Koala kin huddled around, utterly mesmerised by him and his very different paws. Each one bore unusual markings that Grandpa Koala, thought resembled drawings of the local people who spoke the Yugambeh language. Grandpa wondered if it could be a sign of great things to come. 

The markings weren’t the only special thing about his paws. Borobi was missing the second thumb most koalas have to help them climb trees, so he spent more time on lower branches where he watched surfers ride waves. The more Borobi watched, the more he dreamed of learning to surf. As a child, Borobi was constantly told that Koalas couldn't surf, but he was adamant.

One morning, he slapped on some sunscreen and joined a ‘learn to surf’ school. In no time, he was paddling out back. He put in so much effort, his crimson nose glowed even brighter. But try as he might, every time he attempted to catch a wave, he’d tumble off his board into the cool, blue water.

 Determined to learn how to surf, he walked to different Gold Coast beaches, leaving a trail of amazing pawprints. While Borobi was having lots of fun, he still hadn’t caught his first wave. After weeks of trying, he noticed a magical transformation. His grey fur had turned a vibrant blue – the colour of the water.

One day, when Borobi was out in the surf he saw the largest wave he’d ever seen rise up over the horizon. So he started paddling as hard as he could and was soon lifted to the top of the crest. Borobi leapt to his feet, landing perfectly on the surfboard. He was up and riding the wave! He took to the waves, his fur eventually changing colour, thanks to countless wipe-outs in his quest to master the waves.  Finally, he mastered the waves and achieved his childhood dream. 

As he walked up the beach, an elder approached Borobi. He explained that he’d been following Borobi’s pawprints, which had intricate patterns that spoke of a great gathering. The circles represented a large meeting place, the dots were spectators and the lines symbolised the athletes’ journey.

Today, you can see Borobi almost everywhere. A bright blue flash darting here and there, spreading the word about the exciting sporting events that will take place in 2018. He still proudly wears his vivid blue fur as a permanent reminder to never give up and that with a little hard work, any dream can come true.

Borobi is also a  Queensland fauna symbol .

        The Commonwealth Gold Coast, Queensland 2018 Games logo

                          The "Countdown Clock" at Surfer's Paradise

The Theme song of the Games:

The Theme song has been sung by the Busby Marou Band with their track "Days of Gold" which was released in October 2014. It is the perfect song for Borobi, because it is about making the most of every opportunity to realise your dreams, no matter how far out of reach they may seem.

Medals for the Games:

Around 1,500 medals for the Games have been minted by the Royal Australian Mint, each measuring 63.0 mm (approx.) in diameter and weighing between 138.0 and 163.0 mm.

The medal designs have been inspired by the coastline of Gold Coast along with indigenous culture. The medals represent soft sand lines which shift with every tide and wave and are symbolic of athletic achievement. The continual change of tide represents the evolution in athletes who are making their mark. Records are made and special moments of elation celebrated.

The Commemorative coins issued by the Royal Australian Mint:

The 2018-dated coins, issued in gold and silver, celebrate the values of vision, unity, energy, and legacy that are embodied in both the spirit of the games and the honoured tradition of fair competition. 

                 The Reverse of the 50 Dollars (AUD) Gold Coin

The Reverse  of the 50 Dollars (AUD) Gold Coin  design forms part of the Gold Coast - GC 2018 Reconciliation Action Plan -  and includes artwork created by artist Jenna Lee, a member of the Larrakia nation, who are a collective of indigenous Australian people in and around Darwin in the Northern Territory. Jenna’s artistic practice is strongly influenced by her heritage as she takes inspiration from traditional artwork styles, drawing on the rich artistic practices of her Larrakia ancestors.

The coin features on the upper periphery the values of "VISION.ENERGY.UNITY.LEGACY" of the Commonwealth Games. On the lower left to right peripheries is mentioned "XXI COMMONWEALTH GAMES.GOLD COAST. 2018".

On the right periphery is mentioned the fineness of the gold together with the coin's weight "1/2 Oz.9999 AU".

                  The Obverse of the 50 Dollars (AUD) Gold Coin

The Obverse of the 50 Dollars (AUD) Coin  depicts  Queen Elizabeth II, as designed by British sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley, appearing on all Australian circulation and most commemorative coins since 1999.

On the left to right periphery is mentioned "ELIZABETH II.AUSTRALIA.2018". On the bottom periphery is the denomination of the coin "50 DOLLARS".

The specifications of this coin are:
Denomination: $50 (AUD); Metal Composition: .9999 Au (Gold); Weight: 15.5 grams (or 1/2 Oz.); Diameter/Size: 30.0 mm; Coin Quality: Proof. Year of Issue: 2017 (with the mark of 2018). Mintage: 1,000 pieces; Minted By: Royal Australian Mint.

Each coin is accompanied with a certificate of authenticity and protected in a Perspex (or Lucite) capsule, which is then encased in a custom presentation case produced specially for the coins.

The custom made Presentation Case/capsule and Certificate of Authenticity

                   The Reverse of the 1 Dollar (AUD) Silver Coin

The Reverse  of the 1 Dollar (AUD) Silver Coin  design forms part of the Gold Coast - GC 2018 Reconciliation Action Plan -  and includes artwork created by artist Jenna Lee, a member of the Larrakia nation, who are a collective of indigenous Australian people in and around Darwin in the Northern Territory. Jenna’s artistic practice is strongly influenced by her heritage as she takes inspiration from traditional artwork styles, drawing on the rich artistic practices of her Larrakia ancestors.

The coin features on the upper periphery the values of "VISION.ENERGY.UNITY.LEGACY" of the Commonwealth Games. On the lower left to right peripheries is mentioned "XXI COMMONWEALTH GAMES.GOLD COAST. 2018".

On the right periphery is mentioned the fineness of the gold together with the coin's weight "1Oz.999 AG".

              The Obverse of the 1 Dollar (AUD) Silver Coin

The Obverse of the 1 Dollar (AUD) Silver Coin  depicts  Queen Elizabeth II, as designed by British sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley, appearing on all Australian circulation and most commemorative coins since 1999.

On the left to right periphery is mentioned "ELIZABETH II.AUSTRALIA.2018". On the bottom periphery is the denomination of the coin "1 DOLLAR".

The specifications of this coin are:
Denomination: $1 (AUD); Metal Composition: .999 Ag (Silver); Weight: 31.1 grams (or 1 Oz.); Diameter/Size: 40.0 mm; Coin Quality: Uncirculated; Year of Issue: 2017 (with the mark of 2018). Mintage: 10,000 pieces; Minted By: Royal Australian Mint.

The custom made Presentation Case/capsule and Certificate of Authenticity

Each coin is accompanied with a certificate of authenticity and protected in a Perspex (or Lucite) capsule, which is then encased in a custom presentation case produced specially for the coins.




Links on Sports posts on this blog:

1) Coins Commemorating London Olympics

2) Ryder Cup 2014 : Commemorative Banknote issued by the Royal Bank of Scotland

3) A 100 Rouble Banknote Commemorating the Sochi, Russia, Winter Olympics 2014  

4) A set of 4 stamps issued by Indiapost to Commemorate the FIFA World Cup, Brazil, 2014

5) Limited Edition Gold & Silver coins issued on Sachin Tendulkar "World's Greatest Batsman" by the New Zealind Mint

6) Australia's greatest Cricketing Legend Sir Donald Bradman honoured by issue of 5 Pound Austrailan coins by the Royal Australian Mint.

7) Commemorative Coins issued on the occasion of Moscow Summer Olympics 1980 by the Russian Mint   

8) Post Independence Indian coin issues: Commemorating Indian sports

Posts on Summer & Winter Olympics:

1) For more on the Olympics and Paralympics held in the past, including the origins and history of the Olympics and Commemorative coins issued both on London Olympics and Paralympics please read my post on the London Olympics 2012 link as follows: History of the ancient & modern Olympics and Paralympics & commemorative coins issued during the London Olympics and Paralympics

2) For the Moscow Summer Olympics held in 1980: please read the post on the following link: Commemorative Coins issued on the occasion of Moscow Summer Olympics 1980 by the Russian Mint

3) For the Winter Olympics held at Sochi, Russia and the Commemorative Banknote issued, please read the post on the following link:A 100 Rouble Banknote Commemorating the Sochi, Russia Winter Olympics 2014

4) For Rio 2016, please click on the following link to get interesting insights into the mascots of the Rio Olympics Vinicius and Tom, the Games and the Commemorative Coins and stamps issue programme: 1)The 31st Summer Olympics "Rio 2016"
2) Commemorative Stamps and booklets issued by the Department of Posts, India on 05.08.2016 

5) For Ancient Olympic Games on Greek Coins of Antiquity, please click on the following link: Ancient Olympic Games on Greek Coins of Antiquity

6) For a set of Post cards titled "Olympic Events" : please click on the following link:  "Olympic Events": A set of 12 Post Cards issued by the Karnataka Postal Circle, India Post on 11.07.2016

7) For a presentation set of two stamps titled "Spirit of Olympics, Athens, Atlanta" please visit the following link: Spirit of the Olympic Games, Athens-Atlanta: Celebrating the Centenary of the Modern Olympic Games  

 8) For a presentation set of four stamps titled "XXVIII Olympic Games" (2004 Summer Olympics Athens, Greece, please visit the following link: XVIII Summer Olympic Games, Athens Greece (2004)
9) For a presentation set of two stamps titled "XXIX Olympic Games" (2008 Summer Olympics, Beijing, China, please visit the following link: XXIX Olympic Games Beijing, China: 08.08.08- 24.08.08: A Presentation set of four stamps issued by India Post on 08.08.08



Links to Posts on Australia, New Zealand and countries and Overseas Territories of the South Pacific on this blog:

1) Bank of Papua New Guinea: 36th Anniversary Celebrations (1973-2008): A Commemorative Uncirculated Coin Set consisting of a 2 Kina Banknote & a 2 Kina Coin

2) Papua New Guinea: An uncirculated coin set brought out in 1995 commemorating the 20th Anniversary of Independence 

 3) Currency & Coinage of the Solomon Islands: Dollars and Cents

4) New Zealand: New Banknote "Seventh Series" issued under Project "Brighter Money" from 2015 onwards

5) Coinage of the French Polynesian Island of Caledonia (or Nouvelle Caledonie) the CFP Franc  

6) French Institution for issuing uniform currency/coinage for French Overseas Territories in the Pacific and the French Southern Territories of Antarctica: The Institut d'emmission d'outre Mer (IEOM)

7) Currency & Coinage of Samoa: Tala and Sene 

8) Currency of the South Pacific Island Country of Fiji 

9) Coinage of New Zealand: A commemorative coin set issued in 1979 

10) Currency and Coinage of Australia: Dollars and Cents 

11) The Australian Emblem or the Coat of Arms 

12) The story of the Australian Penny 

13) The Legend of the Mutiny on the Bounty: A Commemorative Coin Set from the Pitcairn Islands depicting relics from the Bounty issued in 2009 

14) An Australian $5 coin issued in 1996, commemorating Australia's greatest cricketing legend - Sir Donald Bradman 

15) New Series/Generation of Australian Banknotes being introduced from 01.09.2016 onwards starting from $5 issues 

16) Southern Lights: A $1 Silver holographic coin issued by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand in January 2017

17) Currency & coinage of the Kingdom of Tonga : Pa'anga & Seniti 

18) Postage Stamps & Coin: Commemorating the Centenary of the Trans-Australian Railway Line stamps issued by Australia Post & coins by Perth Mint on 04.07.2017

19) Cook Islands: Commemorating 50 Years of Self Governance (1965-2015): A circulation coin set ossued by the Royal Australian Mint in 2015:

Links to interesting posts on coins from Tuvalu Islands: 

1)Famous Pirates of the Caribbean :2) Edward Teach or "BlackBeard"

2)Famous Pirates of the Caribbean: 3)Bartholomew Roberts or Black Bart Roberts 
  
 3)Famous Pirates of the Caribbean:4)Jack Rackham 

4)Famous-pirates-of- the Caribbean : 5) Henry Avery 

5)Famous Pirates of the Caribbean : 6) Sir Henry Morgan

6)Norse Goddess Freya - a Silver 2 Dollars High Relief antiquated Coin , the first in the Series titled "Norse Goddesses" (2017) 

Other interesting links to posts from Cook Islands minted by Coin Invest Trust:

1) Brexit : Britain's exit from the EEC : Coins issued by the Cook islands in the denomination of $1, $5 and $ 20 in 2016 

2) 150th Anniversary of "The Great Tea Race - 1866": Commemorative Coins in the denomination of 10 and 2 Dollars issued by Cook Islands in 2016

3) The Mystical Ancient Egyptian Labyrinth depicted on $10 Silver coins issued by Cook islands in 2016, under its "Milestones of Mankind Series".

4) King Arthur: The first coin in the six coins "Camelot Series".

5) Quilling Art: Silver 2 Dollars coins issued - Flowers (2016) & Bird (2017) 

6) Queen Guinevere: The second coin in the six coin "Camelot Series". 

Links to posts on issues from the Republic of Palau:

5) Republic of Palau issues "Sand Dollars": Silver & Gold 1$ coins