A new collectible $2 coin paying tribute to Australia’s Ambulance Services entered circulation today, via the Royal Australian Mint in Canberra.
The Ambulance Service coin follows the 2019 Police coin and 2020 Firefighters coin as the Mint’s third and final entry in a series honouring Australia’s first responders.
“This coin is dedicated to our brave and skilled ambulance service personnel who have played a pivotal role in the nation’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and who continue to provide vital, mobile healthcare to all Australians,” said Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar.
The new coin honours the 33,000 paramedics, communication centre operatives, researchers, analysts, corporate staff, and volunteers who provide 24/7 life-saving support across the country.
David Waters, CEO of the Council of Ambulance Authorities (CAA), thanked the Mint on behalf of all emergency ambulance services responding across Australia.
“This coin recognises and celebrates the significant commitment of all the many men and women, the ambulance staff and paramedics, that care for all who live in Australia during their hour of need,” he said.
“This is particularly poignant during these COVID times as the ambulance workforce battles this pandemic on the frontlines of emergency care, always putting their patients first.”
The design of the coin is dominated by a depiction of two paramedics, male and female, administrating care to a patient on a stretcher. In the centre lies a representation of the Maltese Cross, an international symbol for paramedics.
The circle of green surrounding the cross represents the green of many Australian paramedic uniforms. The relief under the print depicts 24 dots, one for each hour in the day, symbolising that Australia’s ambulance services are ready to help 24/7.
The 2021 $2 colour circulating coin is Australian legal tender and has a mintage of two million.
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