This ten dollar
proof
coin was the first in one of the most beautiful and popular collectors sets, issued by the Royal Australian Mint. The
set is entitled The Millennium Series and this coin is called The Past. The three coins that complete the set were released
progressively between the years of 1999-2001 in celebration of entering into the new Millennium. The design of the coins
incorporates Australia's perspective as a nation of this much anticipated, celebrated and once in a life time event. The
additional two coins that complete the set are named The Present and The Future and all are bi-metallic coins with different
variations of metal composition.
This coin, The Past has a copper core with a sterling silver outer ring. The
reverse of all three coins was designed by competition winner, Australian Peter Soobik. It features a single flower
against the map of Australia. This image is over lapping a circle, which has lines coming out as if to represent the rays
of the sun, which is currently hidden behind Australia. There are people interspersed between links of a chain around the
outer ring. The legends on the reverse, which was sculpted by Wojciech
Pietranik include THE PAST written above the main image and THE MILLENNIUM SERIES written bellow. There is also the denomination
10 DOLLARS The designs of each of the three coins compliment each other and represent the growing nation of Australia through
the symbolic flower and later a tree. The obverse features the Ian Rank-Broadley
portrait of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the
legend
ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1999.
The design of the coins of the Millennium Series was the result of a competition set by the Royal Australian Mint to design
students, graduates and teachers. The winner was Peter Soobik of New South Wales who created this design, Which creatively
represents the growth of Australia and celebrates the transition into the 21st century.
(Royal Australian Mint, 1999)
Each of the coins feature the map of Australia in the centre, a sun rising from behind in different positions and a flower
or tree in the foreground. On The Past the sun is hidden and a flower stands solitary. Progress to The Present and a golden
circular sun is on the horizon, shining onto what has now become a young yet healthy tree with numerous branches standing
tall and strong. In The Future the sun has risen to its highest and the tree is larger than ever. The design of course represents
Australia as a growing nation that continues to develop and strengthen. With a limited
mintage
of just 20,000 per coin, the Millennium Series is one of the most popular sets issued by the RAM.
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