Hundreds queue for hours to get their hands on limited-edition NAIDOC coin

The Royal Australian Mint released the 50c coin in Adelaide to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the National Aboriginal and Islanders Day Observance Committee.

Hundreds of South Australians are lining up to get their hands on a limited-edition NAIDOC coin, hoping it will be worth a small fortune one day.

The Royal Australian Mint is releasing the special 50c piece in Adelaide on Friday to mark the 50th anniversary of the National Aboriginal and Islanders Day Observance Committee.

It features a blue dot-painted ring, symbols of Indigenous culture and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags.

Cortney Glass, originally from Katherine in the Northern Territory, won a competition to have her design featured on the coin.

“Being the artist behind a special collectible coin is beyond my wildest dreams,” Glass said.

“This experience is truly an honour and I am profoundly thankful for it.”

National NAIDOC Committee co-chair Dr Lynette Riley said the coin reflected a significant milestone for the committee.

“In producing this coin, we wish to celebrate and pay homage to all our people who have worked tirelessly over the past 50 years to ensure NAIDOC is a celebration of our people and our cultures, locally, state-wide, and nationally” Riley said.

“Our Elders, who first established NAIDOC, would be very proud of them all.”

About 300 coin collectors queued in Rundle Mall to get their hands on the new release on Friday morning.

An uncirculated frosted coloured version of the coin cost $20 to buy, while the circulated version was priced at $10 for 20 coins.

Katrina Miles of Adelaide Exchange Jewellers said the coloured coins could be worth more money in the future.

“The high demand will make it a collectible piece,” she said.

The Mint also began releasing coins with King Charles’ effigy on them this year — the first time in nearly 60 years a new monarch has appeared on a full suite of Australian coins

A 2024 six-coin set with King Charles was also being sold in Rundle Mall for $150.