Five Big Australian Ideas on One $2 Coin
Some of the most useful things in the world started in Australian sheds, labs and kitchens. The 2026 Bright Ideas $2 Uncirculated Coin puts five of them on a single coin.
It is a joint release from newsXpress and the Royal Australian Mint. At $20 in a collector card, it is also the easiest way into the program.
What the coin celebrates
The reverse shows five inventions arranged around a lightbulb. Inside the bulb sits a map of Australia. The words "Australian Inventions" complete the design.
The five inventions are:
- The stump jump plough, patented by Richard Smith in 1876. It let farmers work ground still full of stumps and roots.
- The black box flight recorder, invented by Dr David Warren in 1953.
- The jaffle maker, first created by Dr Ernest Smithers in 1949 and reworked by Breville in 1974.
- The Safe-n-Sound Baby Safety Capsule, developed by Bill Bowtell, Bob Heath and Colin Nagel.
- High-speed WLAN technology, developed by CSIRO in the 1990s.
Each one solved a real problem. Some have saved lives. One just made a better toasted sandwich. Together they make a good story to share with a child or a curious adult.
The details
- Metal: aluminium bronze
- Weight: 6.60g
- Diameter: 20.50mm
- Finish: uncirculated
- Mintage: unlimited
- Obverse: effigy of His Majesty King Charles III
The unlimited mintage matters. This is not a coin to chase for scarcity. It is a coin to enjoy, give and talk about. That makes the $20 price easy to justify.
Who it suits
The card format works well as a gift. It slips into a birthday card or a Christmas stocking. Teachers and grandparents may like it as a way to start a conversation about Australian science and farming.
Collectors building the full Bright Ideas set will want it as the entry piece. It sits naturally alongside the $2 proof coin and the $1 five-coin folder.
Buying from Mint Coin Shop
Mint Coin Shop is an official stockist for the Royal Australian Mint. The coin sells at the recommended retail price. There is no mark-up for demand.
There is a limit of 10 per customer, address or household. Every order is checked by hand. Most orders ship the same day, and click and collect is available from the Hawthorn office.
