15 January 2019
|
The United States Mint (Mint) and the Royal Australian Mint are set to produce a commemorative coin set in celebration of the historic Apollo 11 Moon landing of 1969, in what has been described as an 'historic collaboration'.
The set will feature a U.S. Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Half Dollar paired with an Australian 50th Anniversary of the Moon Landing 1 oz. $5 Silver Coin.
The limited production set will be sold and distributed by the Royal Australian Mint, and will include a Certificate of Authenticity signed by the Director of the United States Mint and the Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Australian Mint. The United States Mint will market the set on its website and provide a link to the Royal Australian Mint’s website for U.S. customers who wish to purchase the product.
“This jointly–issued coin set magnificently symbolizes our long standing alliance and friendship with Australia,” said United States Mint Director David Ryder. “Many Americans will remember listening for the critical reports from the tracking stations in Australia at Carnarvon, Honeysuckle Creek, Tidbinbilla and Parkes, as the Apollo 11 spacecraft traveled to, orbited and landed on the Moon.”
“We are very pleased that the Royal Australian Mint is entering into a product partnership with the United States Mint to bring customers a unique collectible that marks one of mankind’s most remarkable achievements,” said Senator the Hon. Zed Seselja, the Australian Assistant Minister for Treasury and Finance. “The collaboration highlights the unique part Australia had to play in sending a man to the Moon.”
The United States Mint unveiled the designs for the 2019 Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Program in October 2018.
The obverse and reverse designs will be featured on the four coins in the program: a $5 gold coin, a standard size $1 silver coin, a half dollar clad coin, and a five ounce $1 silver proof coin. In a manufacturing first for the U.S. Mint, the five ounce silver proof coin is curved, as are the other coins in the program.
Visit our growing archive of coin guides to read more about Australian coins and American coins.