Everyday Australian Inventions to Be Celebrated on New Coins

Some of the inventions Australians use every day are about to receive an unusual tribute: they are being turned into collectible coins.

The Royal Australian Mint has unveiled a new collection celebrating five Australian inventions that have influenced everyday life in Australia and, in some cases, around the world.

Five Ideas That Changed Everyday Life

The Bright Ideas collection features the stump jump plough, the jaffle maker, the black box flight recorder, the baby safety capsule and wireless local area network technology, commonly known as WLAN.

Each invention will appear on a new $1 coin. A special $2 coin will also feature all five inventions together.

From Farms to Family Kitchens

The collection reaches back to the 19th century. The stump jump plough was designed by South Australian farmer Richard Smith in 1876 and helped farmers work land that had previously been difficult to cultivate.

Decades later, Dr Ernest Smithers invented the jaffle maker in 1949. The simple device became a familiar part of Australian kitchens, later inspiring electric sandwich-making appliances.

The Invention That Changed Aviation Safety

Another coin celebrates the black box flight recorder, invented in 1953 by Australian Defence scientist Dr David Warren.

The device records cockpit data and conversations, providing investigators with crucial information when examining what happened before an aircraft accident. Despite its famous name, the recorder is normally brightly coloured to make it easier to find.

Technology That Helped Create Wi-Fi

The collection also highlights the work of scientists at Australia’s CSIRO, who helped develop WLAN technology in the 1990s.

The technology allowed electronic devices to communicate without physical cables and helped lay important foundations for the wireless connections now used around the world.

A Reminder That Big Ideas Can Be Ordinary

The Royal Australian Mint said the collection was designed to encourage people to look again at inventions that have become so familiar that their origins are often forgotten.

The coins will be available from October 8 through the Royal Australian Mint and participating newsXpress stores. A special $2 version will also enter circulation, meaning Australians may soon discover one in their everyday change.

Source: ABC News and Royal Australian Mint