The Mint releases new coins marking key moments of dissent in Australian history including the Mutiny on the Bounty and the Rum Rebellion

  • Three coins were made to show moments of rebellion in Australian history
  • The collection will be showcased at the National Maritime Museum 
  • State-of-the-art software was used to create the unique coins

Some of Australia's most notorious events will be shown on new one dollar coins, including an overthrown captain and battle between miners and soldiers. 

The coins feature some of the key moments of rivalry in colonial Australia and will be showcased at the National Maritime Museum in Sydney.  

The Royal Australian Mint released a new commemorative coin series on Tuesday that reflects three of Australia's most significant moments of dissent: the mutiny on the HMS Bounty, the Rum Rebellion and the Eureka stockade. 

The mutiny of the HMS Bounty features on one of the coins (pictured)

The mutiny of the HMS Bounty features on one of the coins (pictured)

The first coin depicts the mutiny on the HMS Bounty, involving the overthrow of Captain William Bligh by his own crew in 1789, who left him with just a rowboat which he miraculously sailed 4,000 miles to shore. 

The mutiny occurred off the coast of Tahiti after Captain Bligh's sailors - led by officer Fletcher Christian - refused to leave the beautiful island, overrunning their skipper and forcing him to leave with a few crew members.

Blight went on to become the Governor of New South Wales after surviving the ordeal. 

Marlon Brando stars as Fletcher Christian in the 1962 film 'Mutiny on the Bounty' 1962 (file picture)

Marlon Brando stars as Fletcher Christian in the 1962 film 'Mutiny on the Bounty' 1962 (file picture)

The Rum Rebellion (pictured in a Raymond Lindsay painting) saw New South Wales Governor William Bligh removed from office by pastoralist John Macarthur and rebel troops

The Rum Rebellion (pictured in a Raymond Lindsay painting) saw New South Wales Governor William Bligh removed from office by pastoralist John Macarthur and rebel troops 

The second coin features the 'Rum Rebellion' which involved the takeover of the colony of New South Wales under Governor William Bligh.

On Australia Day 1808, New South Wales Corps troops led by powerful pastoralist John Macarthur marched from their barracks and arrested governor Bligh.

Animosity between Macurthur and Bligh grew after Bligh refused land grants and rum distributions, ultimately leading to Macarthur and his forces overthrowing him.

The second coin features the story of the 'rum rebellion' (pictured)

The second coin features the story of the 'rum rebellion' (pictured)

The last coin being commemorated in the launch depicts the Eureka stockade, which saw gold miners revolt against colonial authorities. 

The stockade took place in 1854 when gold miners in Ballarat, Victoria rebelled, over mining licences, resulting in a battle between miners and colonial authorities.

The stockade ended with 125 miners taken to prison and 28 killed. 

'The coin series acknowledges historical events and people from Australia's tempestuous colonial era, a time that resulted in mutiny and rebellion but contributed to eventual democracy', Mint general manager Mark Cartwright said.

The third coin depicts the Eureka stockade (pictured)

The third coin depicts the Eureka stockade (pictured)

The launch has come at a significant time for the National Maritime Museum, which is opening an exhibition on William Bligh in July.

State-of-the-art software used in the video game and film industries has been used to create the coins for the launch. 

'I was determined to capture this part of our history as creatively as possible with the sense of capturing a moment in history as if it were being photographed,' said Adam Ball, Australian Mint coin designer.  

Each coin comes in both silver and gold and can be purchased from the Mint's website, as well as being showcased in the National Maritime Museum.

The coin collection will be shown at the National Maritime Museum in Sydney (file picture)

The coin collection will be shown at the National Maritime Museum in Sydney (file picture)

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The Mint releases new coin collection marking moments of dissent in Australian history

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