Designing the Next Australian Classic!

As 2026 begins to find its feet, it is worth remembering that it is actually 2027 that marks one of the most important anniversaries in Australian numismatics, the 60th anniversary of the legendary 1967 Swan Dollar competition.

Few coins are as deeply woven into the fabric of Australian collecting as this iconic issue, which remains one of the most admired and sought-after designs ever produced, whether as an official Mint release or in later commemorative form.

In 2024 we celebrated the 60th anniversary of the first issue of the Australian Coin Review by striking the 2024 Swan Dollar commemorative. The response was overwhelming. Collectors embraced it, and in truth it helped ensure the magazine’s future for another generation.

In light of that success and the genuine buzz it brought to the magazine and coin community, we are now taking the next, more ambitious step — recreating the original 1967 Crown Design Competition in full.

We will run the competition exactly as it was proposed in 1966, but on a much larger stage. This time the stakes are higher.

The winning design will be struck in the same spirit as the original 1967 coin and the 2024 commemorative, with a very limited mintage and a range of gold proof, silver proof and uncirculated strikings available.

The theme of the competition today remains unchanged — and perhaps even more relevant than it was in the 1960s. To put this moment in context, here is the original 1966 competition brief that launched the Swan Dollar legend:

A design of any nature suitable to Australia, and the words “AUSTRALIA 1967.” No limit is placed on the coin design for the reverse, except that it should be simple and modern.

The only difference this time around is the date — “AUSTRALIA 2027” — and the requirement for both a reverse and obverse design for each entry. With no limit on creativity, that could mean Aussie flora, fauna, food or something fun — the choice is yours.

A monarch is not required on the obverse. Entrants may submit as many designs as they wish. One important condition is that the winning design can be produced using modern minting standards — an issue that famously plagued the original Swan Dollar and must be considered from the outset.

Entry designs can be submitted in the form of a photograph, scan or JPEG to [email protected] or via our website at www.australiancoinreview.com.au/competitions from the 1st of February, and will close at the end of the 30th of September.

The winner will be announced in the November issue and, all going to plan, the coin will be released in time for Christmas 2026 or early 2027.

We hope this competition will once again attract attention far and wide across Australia’s shores and beyond. The winning design will be selected by a panel of three judges, including myself, with official full terms and conditions published in a forthcoming issue and on the ACR website.

Sixty years on, we are ready to write the next chapter of that story. Stay tuned — the legend continues. ■