澳洲皇家造幣廠發行紀念幣倒數50週年並紀念戰爭動物

澳洲皇家造幣廠發行了一枚具有收藏價值的硬幣，以紀念標誌性電視節目《倒數計時》播出 50 週年。

The Royal Australian Mint has unveiled a new 50 cent coin to mark 50 years of the iconic music television show Countdown.

澳洲皇家造幣廠推出了一枚新的 50 分硬幣，以紀念標誌性音樂電視節目倒數 50 週年。

The uncirculated coin will go on sale from early Friday morning.

未流通的硬幣將從週五凌晨開始銷售。

Hosted by Molly Meldrum, Countdown first hit small screens around the country in 1974.

《倒數計時》由 Molly Meldrum 主持，於 1974 年首次在全國小銀幕上播出。

Royal Australian Mint CEO Leigh Gordon said the coloured coin would "certainly resonate" with Australians.

澳洲皇家造幣廠執行長 Leigh Gordon 表示，這種彩色硬幣「肯定會引起澳洲人的共鳴」。

"It's a beautiful 50 cent piece that comes as a coin in a card, a collectible coin, and it's got the colour of the countdown set on it and a stylised TV," he said.

「這是一枚漂亮的 50 美分硬幣，是一枚裝在卡片裡的硬幣，是一枚具有收藏價值的硬幣，上面有倒數計時的顏色，還有一台風格化的電視，」他說。

Fifty thousand Countdown coins will be available.

將提供五萬枚倒數硬幣。

A gold coin commemorating animals used during war, issued by the Mint. (Supplied)

由造幣廠發行的紀念戰爭期間使用的動物的金幣。 （提供）

Coin commemorating service of animals in wars also releasedThe mint is also releasing a purple poppy $2 coin that commemorates war animals.

也發行了紀念戰爭動物服役的硬幣鑄幣廠也發行了紀念戰爭動物的紫罌粟 2 美元硬幣。

Two million coins will go into circulation today, while 40,000 coins will be available for coin collectors to come and buy at coin swaps around the country, Mr Gordon explained.

戈登先生解釋說，今天將有 200 萬枚硬幣進入流通，同時還有 40,000 枚硬幣可供硬幣收藏家在全國各地的硬幣交換處購買。

"It'll be a coin that should have quite a far reach, the purple poppy coin," he said.

「這將是一枚具有相當遠距離的硬幣，紫色罌粟幣，」他說。

Mr Gordon hoped that number of coins would mean they would stay in circulation for many years to come.

戈登先生希望硬幣的數量意味著它們能夠在未來很多年裡繼續流通。

He said many would already be aware of the story of Simpson and his donkey, but hoped the coin could help share some of the many other stories about animals in wartime.

他說，許多人已經知道辛普森和他的驢子的故事，但希望這枚硬幣能夠幫助分享有關戰時動物的許多其他故事。

"You know, carrier pigeons, thousands of horses went to the to the Middle East in the First World War ... we have military working dogs that are a very active part of the defence capability," he said.

「你知道，第一次世界大戰期間，信鴿、數千匹馬前往中東……我們有軍用工作犬，它們是防禦能力中非常活躍的一部分，」他說。

A small number of silver purple poppy coins — around 7,500 — will also go on sale.

少量銀紫色罌粟幣（約 7,500 枚）也將上市。

Royal Australian Mint CEO Leigh Gordon said he hoped people would collect coins for the story, not for financial gain. (ABC News: Donal Sheil)

澳洲皇家造幣廠執行長利·戈登表示，他希望人們為這個故事收集硬幣，而不是為了經濟利益。 （美國廣播公司新聞：多納爾·謝爾）

'Decline' in circulating coins but collectibles popularWith people lining up at the mint from Thursday evening, the coins appeared to have hit the right note.

流通硬幣“下降”，但收藏品很受歡迎從週四晚上開始，人們在造幣廠排隊，這些硬幣似乎擊中了正確的音符。

Mr Gordon acknowledged there had been a "decline" in circulating coins, but said this had allowed the mint to refocus on collectibles and the investment side of things.

戈登先生承認流通硬幣數量“下降”，但表示這使得鑄幣廠能夠重新關注收藏品和投資方面。

"We can't make every coin idea that we have, but it's good to have ones that are really successful and really resonate," he explained.

他解釋說：“我們無法創造出我們擁有的每一種硬幣創意，但擁有真正成功並真正引起共鳴的創意是件好事。”

"So it certainly makes us proud to think, 'Hey, we've picked a product that that the public really wants'."

“因此，我們肯定會自豪地想，’嘿，我們選擇了公眾真正想要的產品’。”

Previous coins released by the mint had led to some punters speculating on them and selling them for higher prices.

造幣廠先前發行的硬幣曾引起一些投機者的投機行為，並以更高的價格出售。

But Mr Gordon said he hoped people would be interested in collecting coins because they had a connection with them and their story instead.

但戈登先生表示，他希望人們對收集硬幣感興趣，因為他們與硬幣及其故事有聯繫。

Todd O'Rourke and Stephen Offnar are hoping to get their hands on the coins today. (ABC News: Courtney Barrett Peters)

托德·奧羅克和史蒂芬·奧夫納爾希望今天就能拿到這些硬幣。 （美國廣播公司新聞：考特尼·巴雷特·彼得斯）

Some of those people who wanted the coins so much they queued up at the mint from last night, included Stephen Offnar who had travelled from Armidale, New South Wales.

其中一些非常想要這些硬幣，他們從昨晚就在造幣廠排隊，其中包括來自新南威爾士州阿米代爾的斯蒂芬·奧夫納(Stephen Offnar)。

He arrived around midday on Thursday, hoping to get his hands on all of the coins being released today.

他於週四中午左右抵達，希望能拿到今天發布的所有代幣。

It wasn't the first time the coin collector had made the pilgrimage to wait for a new coin.

這並不是硬幣收藏家第一次朝聖以等待新硬幣。

Mr Offnar was joined by Todd O'Rourke from Canberra.

來自坎培拉的 Todd O'Rourke 也加入了 Offnar 先生的行列。

The pair were friends through social media, where their shared passion for coin collecting had united them.

兩人透過社群媒體成為朋友，對錢幣收藏的共同熱情使他們團結在一起。

He said he was particularly excited to see the new purple poppy coin in silver with the 'C' from the Canberra Mint on it.

他說，他特別興奮地看到帶有堪培拉造幣廠的“C”字樣的新銀紫色罌粟幣。

"Being silver, it will be highly collectible and one to hold for years to come," Mr O'Rourke explained.

奧羅克先生解釋說：“作為白銀，它具有很高的收藏價值，並且可以在未來幾年保存。”

As for why he was camping out, Mr O'Rourke had learned through bitter experience.

至於他為什麼要露營，奧羅克先生是從痛苦的經驗中得知的。

Last time he arrived at 4pm, and been 500th in the queue.

上次他是下午 4 點到達的，排在第 500 名。

People have also been able to register for a ballot to purchase coins online and through the mint's distribution network around the country.

人們還可以登記投票，透過鑄幣廠遍布全國的分銷網絡在線購買硬幣。

Doors open at the Royal Australian Mint at 8:30am.

澳洲皇家造幣廠上午 8:30 開門。