The Taylor boys had stars in their eyes when one of their favourite footballers was on hand to help them add to their coin collections this morning.
Leslie (10) and Damon (8) ventured into their local Anaconda store before school to purchase their NRL coin sets, only to find former Canberra Raiders captain Jarrod Croker behind the counter waiting to serve them.
"I thought I was going to buy my new coin set, but I got a huge surprise and got to meet Jarrod. The Canberra Raiders were my Pop's favourite team, which is why they're my favourite team too," Leslie said.
Only relatively new to coin collecting, the Taylor boys were excited to find coins that combined two of their favourite things - coin collecting and rugby league.
The NRL, Anaconda and the Royal Australian Mint (the Mint) have kicked off the National Rugby League season with a new coin release celebrating the 2024 NRL Men's and Women's premierships.
With passion running high in every game, fans will watch on week after week with anticipation to see which team takes home the 2024 premiership title.
The set features 17 $1 coins, designed by accomplished coin designer Tony Dean, highlighting each team's logo and name, set above a stylised representation of a packed stadium, with a ball placed for kick-off in the foreground.
As a bonus to the set, fans and collectors can complete the collection with two $2 printed collectible coins designed by Mint coin designer Lydia Ashe.
"The NRL coin features the NRL Premiership prize, the Provan-Summons Trophy, with the iconic image of Norm Provan and Arthur Summons embracing after the 1963 grand final, encompassed by the words 2024 National Rugby League Premiership.
"As an important symbol of Australian sport today, the NRWL trophy is showcased on the second $2 coin. With an elegant, modern design related to the men's trophy, it embodies the inner strength of the women's league, surrounded in the words 2024 National Rugby League Women's Premiership.
"Each $2 coin features the league's stylised chevron logo behind the trophy, and a printed ring of the league's colours of bright green and teal. In circulation, the print will wear away to reveal coloured chevrons within the ring," Ms Ashe said.
Anaconda National Marketing Manager, Shane Connors, said that while Anaconda had a long-standing partnership with the National Rugby League, a project of this scale in collaboration with the Royal Australian Mint was an exciting first.
"Anaconda will be launching the 2024 NRL season with a bang, and we look forward to our customers getting their hands on these coins as they hold great significance. As a lifelong sports fan, I was an avid collector of sporting memorabilia when I was younger. My 10-year-old self would have never let my parents sleep if I didn't get my hands on these coins.
"Memorabilia is such an important part of Australian sporting culture, and Anaconda is proud to release these exclusive sporting commemoratives for all Australians to enjoy and hopefully pass down for generations to come," Mr Connors said.
Former Canberra Raiders Captain, Jarrod Croker, said it was exciting to see the Raiders featured as part of the new coin set.
"It's great to see the Raiders on one of these limited edition coins and I'm sure all NRL fans will be looking to get their hands on their team's coin.
"Having them produced in Canberra at the Royal Australian Mint makes it extra special, as Canberra's team now has their own coin," Mr Croker said.
The $1 NRL team coins are only available via purchase, either in individual Team Coin Cards (RRP $12.50) or in the NRL 2024 17-Coin Collection (RRP $45) from Anaconda stores and the Royal Australian Mint.
The two $2 coloured coins celebrating the 2024 NRL Men's and Women's (NRLW) Premierships are exclusively through Anaconda tills from March 28. For NRL fans and coin collectors to score these special release coins, they will need to visit any Anaconda store Australia-wide and make a cash purchase for the chance to find an NRL or NRLW $2 coloured coin in their change.
