Royal Australian Mint marks AC/DC's 45th anniversary with special edition coins

Both limited-edition coins won’t be in circulation and are only be available to buy via the Royal Australian Mint’s official website to mark 45 years since AC/DC’s inception in November 1973.

Officially licenced by the legendary rock band, the coins are also housed in a lavish presentation pack and are legal tender should you inexplicably wish to spend them.

Limited to 30,000 units, the 12-sided 50 cent coin features the famous high voltage logos and design elements from AC/DC albums and will cost $15 (around £8.30).

For fans with deeper pockets, the $5 black Nickel coin, limited to 10,000 units, is shaped like a plectrum and costs $130 (around £72). The design elements have also been drawn from AC/DC’s album artwork and the amp-inspired packaging includes an actual guitar pick.

Making just a handful of the 30,000 50 cent coins an even bigger collector’s item, in the spirit of AC/DC’s timeless anthem ‘Thunderstruck’ the Mint partnered with Questacon – The National Science and Technology Centre - to strike ten of the coins with 3,500,000 volts of lightning.

“AC/DC is famous for their electrifying energy. It’s in their music, the titles of some of their songs, even their insignia,” said Royal Australian Mint Chief Executive Officer Ross MacDiarmid.

“The Mint thought that such an iconic band deserved high voltage coins and an electrifying launch to match.

“We weren’t sure what effect the lightning would have on the coins, but we discovered that because the coins are such excellent conductors of electricity, the lightning’s mark is only visible under magnification.”

> The results are in, thanks to @questacon we now know what happens when you strike the new AC⚡DC 50c piece with 3.5 million volts of man-made lightning. Get yours today: https://t.co/JgGXhQY6G0 pic.twitter.com/0DZMK03Odw > > — RoyalAustralianMint (@RoyalAustMint) October 2, 2018

Ten of the 30,000 50 cent coins were ‘Thunderstruck’ and will be randomly sent to ten customers who order their AC/DC – 45 Years of Thunder Uncirculated Coin through the Mint’s online store or Contact Centre.

“Striking these ten coins with lightning adds a uniquely AC/DC element to this release,” adds Ross MacDiarmid.

“To help the ten lucky customers identify their ‘Thunderstruck’ coins, we have added unique frosting to the coin’s AC/DC logo.”

Explaining why they’re honouring AC/DC, The Royal Australian Mint wrote: “Unrelenting, frank, and at times irreverent, the electrifying music of Australia’s premier rock band AC/DC turns 45 in 2018. Bursting into the Australian live music scene late in 1973 these hard-working musicians certainly took the long way to the top and managed to stay there for decades. The Royal Australian Mint proudly celebrates the 45th anniversary of our greatest rock band AC/DC with this coloured uncirculated coin.

“In 2018 we mark 45 years since the formation of a young band in suburban Sydney, who via Melbourne would conquer the rock music world. Turning the volume up on our numismatic tribute to AC/DC we have inverted the triangular blank and present this intricate design oriented like a guitar pick. Nickel plated black and featuring the high voltage logos in vibrant colour print, this is a must have piece for fans of the band or collectors alike.”

Don't forget, AC/DC also feature on the cover of Issue 10 of Planet Rock Magazine, which is available to buy right here. 

As we approach the first anniversary of Malcolm Young’s death we dig deep into the making of the band’s classic Powerage album, we tell the stories behind the Australian rockers’ 40 greatest songs, and we examine what the future holds for the band now that they’re back in the studio.