The Perth Mint struck and launched a silver proof commemorative coin celebrating the 25th anniversary of Australia II, which became the first challenger ever to win the America’s Cup on 26 September 1983.
The Australian legal tender coin is made of 99.9% pure silver, contains one full ounce, and has a very limited mintage ceiling of 5,000.
The very attractive coin comes with a unique piece of history — a fragment of sailcloth taken from Australia II’s genoa, and worn as she crossed the finish line at the end of the decisive seventh race.
Speaking in front of Australia II at the Western Australian Maritime Museum, John Longley AM said, "Although the victory was won 25 years ago, it still seems like yesterday to me and the crew. So, for The Perth Mint to honour our efforts with the release of this magnificent coin, so long after the event, it is quite humbling."
The coin’s reverse depicts the 12-metre yacht with a coloured representation of her spinnaker bearing the famous identification number KA-6.
Inscriptions include:
- America’s Cup Victory 1983-2008,
- AUSTRALIA II, 25, and
- The "P" mintmark, denoting the Perth Mint
Australia II’s Sailcloth
Taken directly from the Perth Mint site, the included sailcloth is described by the following statements:
The coin is accompanied by an exclusive memento of the 1983 America’s Cup – a piece of sailcloth taken from the clew of Australia II’s 4-1 genoa.
The sail was used throughout the series, including the final beat to windward of Race 7 when she held off US yacht Liberty in a 49 tack duel. It was the head sail worn by Australia II as she crossed the finishing line on 26 September.
The sail is made from a bonded material with woven Kevlar cloth bonded to a Mylar film. The number 4-1 signifies that it is the fourth code 1 sail made for the 1983 campaign. Code 1 sails are the lightest sails, used in conditions from 1 knot to a maximum of 10 knots of true wind speed.
The sail had been in the possession of Australia II crewman John Longley since being retrieved from a fire that destroyed most of the sails from Australia II and Australia III in 1986.
Price and order information
The 5000 limited mintage commemorative silver coin is priced at:
- $86.36 (AUS)
- $81.83 (US)
More information regarding the coin may be found on the Perth Mint product page:
25th Anniversary of Australia II America’s Cup Victory 1983-2008
About the Perth Mint
The Perth Mint, wholly-owned by the State Government of Western Australia, is the official issuer of the Australian Federal Government’s Gold and Silver Bullion Coin Program. The Mint opened in 1899 in response to the discovery of rich gold deposits in Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie. It was Australia’s third branch of Britain’s Royal Mint – the others being the Sydney Mint and the Melbourne Mint (both closed).
The Perth Mint remained under Britain’s jurisdiction until 1 July 1970, when ownership transferred to the State Government of Western Australia.
In 2003, The Perth Mint officially opened an 8,400 square metre state-of-the-art manufacturing facility next door to its original limestone building. Dominating the Mint’s heritage precinct, these two important buildings are powerful symbols of more than 100 years of minting excellence in Western Australia.
