Weekly World Mint Coinage: May 21, 2026

Australia - Royal Australian Mint

New Silver Proof and Colour Coins Focus on Second World War

The Royal Australian Mint released a three-coin set entitled 1941: Service Amid Strife. The set commemorates the major campaigns during the Second World War in these areas in 1941. One coin marks the establishment of the women’s services, which first came into being during that same year and also coincides with the 85th anniversary of these momentous events.

Australian forces played a significant role in the Mediterranean and North African theatre from 1940 to 1942, fighting in Greece, Crete, Syria, and the Siege of Tobruk. The Royal Australian Navy and Air Force units continued operations there until 1944. Fighting around the Mediterranean, on the sea, in the air and on the land characterised the experiences of the Australian armed forces especially during 1940 and 1941. Naval Operations and the Royal Australian Navy were especially active with the ‘Scrap Iron Flotilla’ destroyers and cruisers such as HMAS Sydney conducting patrols, battles and supply missions in both the Mediterranean and Red Sea.

Victory in Europe was declared in May 1945, but the fighting did not end for Australian forces. They were deployed to the Pacific theatre of war, much closer to home and to fight Imperial Japanese forces to eventual victory with Japan’s unconditional surrender in August 1945.

Coin 1 - Greece and Crete. This design focuses on the German aerial assault in Crete. Junkers planes fly in formation above and German parachutes descend through the sky. The central focus of the design is an Australian Army soldier who mans an anti-aircraft gun pointing up towards the enemy advancement. The soldier is shown atop a structure inspired by Minoan columns, an architectural feature local to the island of Crete. A horizontal line of standing figures represents those injured, fighting and lost in this conflict. Blue and white colour print represents the stripes on the Greek flag. The anniversary year 1941 is placed near the left edge of the design in a vertical direction. The text GREECE & CRETE is shown above a row of soldiers and nurses near the right side of the design and the numeral 20 is placed just under the anti-aircraft tank.

Coin 2 - North Africa and the Middle East. The reverse features some of the material utilised in these conflicts by the Australian Air Force, Army and Navy. The ship depicted is the HMAS Stuart, used in the evacuation of Crete. A Hawker Hurricane plane represents the Air Force, and representative of the Army is an Ordnance QF 25-pounder gun. The background pattern is inspired by tiled patterns historically found in the North African and Middle Eastern regions, while the colour print draws from war medals awarded for service in these areas. The anniversary year 1941 is placed near the left edge of the design in a vertical direction. The text MIDDLE EAST is shown just below the image of the HMAS Stuart and additionally, the text NORTH AFRICA is superimposed over part of the hawker airplane in a vertical direction. The numeral 20 is placed just under the anti-aircraft gun.

Coin 3 - Australian Women’s Service. The design depicts a few of the many roles undertaken by women. Three lines of morse code radiate from the telegraph key near the centre of the design along with a standing female telegrapher, spelling out the acronyms of the three services and in three different directions. The colour print is inspired by the uniform colours of the Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force – the first and largest of the services. The anniversary year 1941 is placed near the left edge of the design in a vertical direction. The text WOMEN’S SERVICES is shown just below the horizontal line of Morse code. The numeral 20 is placed just under the anti-aircraft gun.

The obverse of each coin includes the Commonwealth obverse effigy of HM King Charles III designed by engraver Dan Thorne. The year 2026 included as part of the legend.

The BU coins are available as a three-coin set and presented in a sealed, coin-card format and case designed to hold all three cards. The silver Proof and colour coins are encapsulated and presented in a heavy-gauge card case with silver wrap replicating a metal finish accompanied by a certificate of authenticity. For additional information, please visit the e-webshop of the Royal Australian Mint.

South Africa - South African Mint

Powerful Leopard Features on New Big Five Gold and Silver One-Ounce Coins  

The South African Mint offers their latest Big Five Series III, continuing the success story of a new classic. First introduced in 2019, the innovative reverse-side design quickly gained a dedicated following with beautiful depictions of five of the continent’s most impressive and well-known wildlife species.

The “Big Five” – elephant, lion, Cape buffalo, rhinoceros and leopard - are so called as they were once hunted on safari and sought-after trophies. Today, they are still eagerly pursued while on safari but, only with a camera. These incredible animals are regarded as emblems and ambassadors of this culturally rich continent and represent the African fauna.

The fourth issue of the new series III is dedicated to the leopard or, Panthera pardus which ranks among the most graceful and powerful big cats in the world. With its lithe appearance, distinctive coat pattern and impressive muscular strength, it embodies both elegance and power. It is equally at home in the dense forests of Africa as well as in mountainous regions, vast savannahs and arid semi-desert landscapes. Thanks to its intelligent hunting techniques, it is considered one of the most successful predators among the big cats. 

The obverse seen on both gold and silver strikes features a full-body depiction of an adult leopard standing in an alert posture on a rock. Near the lower left rim is the text SOUTH AFRICA and on the opposite side is the commemorative inscription BIG FIVE 2026 separated by the South African coat of arms placed near the lower middle rim. The unique reverse design shows two halves of a leopard’s head. Placing two of these coins next to each other gives a full close-up portrait of a leopard. In the centre contained in a circle are the denomination FIFTY RAND (gold) or FIVE RAND (silver), the weight 1OZ and the fineness Ag 999 or Au 999. A special highlight is the delicate engraving of an African fruit chafer beetle which is shown just below to the left of the denomination. Found throughout South Africa, the fruit chafer beetle draws attention to the importance of an integrated ecology.

The five Rand BU silver options are encapsulated and presented in a tri-folder with informative text and illustrations. The single Proof-quality coins are encapsulated and presented in a hardwood case – the two-coin set is also specially encapsulated to highlight the reverse design and presented in a custom case. All versions are accompanied with a certificate of authenticity. Collectors / investors resident in South Africa can visit the website of the South African Mint. Collectors / investors outside South Africa are advised to inquire with their local distributor / bullion dealer.

The Big 5 series III will conclude with the Cape buffalo scheduled for release in August 2026.

Curacao – Royal Dutch Mint

Commemorative coins dedicated to ‘The Blue Wave’

Curaçao’s national football team, better known by their nickname ‘The Blue Wave’, have made sporting history. For the first time in the country's history, and as the smallest country by population ever to do so, the team has qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Another historic sporting milestone is that Curaçao is the first non-sovereign national team from the Americas to qualify for a FIFA World Cup.

Curaçao’s football history spans more than a century. The football federation, the Curacaose Voetbal Bond (CVB) was organised in August 1921, establishing the first Curacao Championship with eight participating clubs. For many generations, fans in Curaçao had hoped that one day the team would qualify for the World Cup championship. The Blue Wave, led by experienced coach Dick Advocaat, qualified for the FIFA World Cup on 18^th November 2025.

Now, all eyes on this small Caribbean island are set on the FIFA World Cup which is being hosted jointly by Canada, the United States and Mexico from the 11th June to the 19th July 2026. The most significant day of the tournament, especially for Curaçao will be on the 14th June as they face off against Germany.

The coin is produced by the Royal Dutch Mint in Utrecht on behalf of the Central Bank of Curacao and St Maarten. The reverse is the work of the Royal Dutch Mint’s in-house designers and entirely dedicated to “The Blue Wave” team. Shown at the bottom half is a silhouette outline of the team, behind which lies a coloured blue wave, a reference to the team's nickname and the text THE BLUE WAVE following the curvature of the wave. Also shown is the image of a football along with two stars that appear on the flag of Curaçao. Around the left rim is the name of the country CURAÇAO and along the right rim is the commemorative inscription SELEKSHON NASHIONAL DI FUTBÒL 2026. The obverse includes an effigy of HM King Willem-Alexander facing to the right. Above the portrait is the text WILLEM-ALEXANDER and below, KONING DER NEDERLANDEN. The numeral 5 is shown to the left of the effigy and the letter G denoting Gulden is placed on the right.

Each coin is encapsulated and housed in a custom presentation case with a certificate of authenticity. For additional information, please visit the on-line e-webshop of the Royal Dutch Mint, official distributors.