This ten dollar
proof
coin was the third and final 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 Future. 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 Past and The Present and all are bi-metallic coins with
different variations of metal composition.
This coin, The Future has a gold plated, sterling silver core with a copper outer ring. The
reverse of all three coins was designed by competition winner, Australian Peter Soobik. It features a mature and
healthy tree with an abundance of branches against the map of Australia. Within the outer ring of the coin is the golden,
circular sun, sitting high in the sky. The links interspersed with people, which have featured on the previous two coins
has been replaced with a chain made solely out of people standing hand to hand. The legends on the
reverse, which was sculpted by Wojciech Pietranik include THE FUTURE 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 2001.
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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