PERTH MINT LAUNCHES ABORIGINAL COIN FOR NATIONAL RECONCILIATION WEEK

Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston yesterday launched The Perth Mint’s Black Swan Maali 2022,  two-ounce silver antiqued colored coin featuring Aboriginal artwork.

Perth Mint commissioned Whadjuk-Yuet-Ballardong artist Kevin Bynder to design the silver coin. 

Mr Bydner says he was asked by the Perth mint to design the coin after doing work on their Reconciliation Action Plan. He told Ngaarda Media about the significance of the coin. 

‘Well, it’s the Maali which is the Black Swan here in Waajak country and the actual design itself is the swan coming into land on the water. Depending on which way you look at it it’s the east of the west so the sunset or the sunrise is behind it. The bottom half of it is the water and greenery which represents the swans nest which is around the Burswood area of the Swan River.’

Over the past three years, he has designed a range of sports jerseys for AFL, Cricket, and Rugby Union teams as well as murals for sporting clubs.

‘I’ve done West Coast, Port Adelaide, Fremantle Dockers, and also the Perth Scorchers two years in a row in the big bash league as well as the RAP plan design for the Western Force in the Rugby. The Wildcat’s indigenous round uniform as well as the 2023 uniform that they will wear every day, murals at swan districts football club. It’s been a really busy three years.’

His advice to young artists is to make art you want to make and don’t worry about what anyone else thinks.