2018-03-09 Fri

The Anzac Spirit or Anzac Legend is a concept which suggests that all the Australian and New Zealand soldiers possess some shared characteristics, specifically the qualities of those soldiers who were exemplified on the battlefields of World War I. The concept of this Anzac Spirit captures the “nationalism” of both the countries.

The Anzac Day is a celebrated as the National Day of Remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, broadly commemorating all Australians and New Zealanders "who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations" and "the contribution and suffering of all those who have served". Observed on 25th April each year, Anzac Day was originally devised to honour the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought at Gallipoli against the Ottoman Empire during World War I.

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Anzac spirit, Perth Mint Australia has been issuing a fear-year long coin series. The series comes to a befitting end in 2018 with the final coin being issued.

This silver proof coin pays tribute to the ‘Ode of Remembrance’, an ode (lyrical stanza) form the poem “For the Fallen” by English poet Laurence Binyon. It portrays an Australian Army bugler standing among red poppies. Inspired by the Australian Army’s ‘Rising Sun’ badge, symbolic rays of sunshine radiate from behind a hillock, each one inscribed with the words of the Ode.
“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them.”
These lines are most recited verse to emerge during the conflict and are used on Remembrance Day in Australia and all over the world. These famous lines are inscribed on countless war monuments and the Anzac Spirit 100th anniversary coins too!

Ain’t it just beautiful? With a limited mintage of 7,500 coins, these coin series is already popular with the folks. Grab one for you too!

Image Courtesy: Perth Mint