Mint delivers a taste of childhood memories

A SLICE of childhood nostalgia is being served up in coin form, as the Royal Australian Mint honours one of Australia’s most treasured cookbooks with a commemorative coin collection.

The new collection is inspired by The Australian Women’s Weekly Children’s Birthday Cake Book, a cultural classic released in 1980 that, for more than four decades, has been a staple in kitchens across the country, sparking joy, cherished memories and a healthy dose of chaos.

The 12-coin release immortalises several of the cookbook’s quirky children’s-themed birthday cakes – such as the echidna ice-cream cake with quills formed with chocolate finger biscuits and the yellow-frosted rubber ducky with popcorn hair and a potato-chip beak – and features 11 individual $1 coins and a $2 coloured hickory dickory watch coin.

 

 

The coins are available, in a variety of different packaged forms, from participating newsXpress stores across Australia, including newsXpress Ocean Grove which, according to owners Clint and Cathy Staehr, is the only outlet between Werribee and Warrnambool stocking the entire set.

“We [are] over the moon to be able to bring these delightful new coins to Ocean Grove, the Bellarine and greater Geelong,” Mr Staehr said, labelling the collection “a delicious tribute” to the cookbook.

“Each coin honours one of the book’s most iconic cakes – from the unforgettable choo-choo train that graced the cover and inspired countless birthday wishes, to the jelly-filled swimming pool, the lolly-laden candy castle and the charming cuddly koala.”

 

 

Royal Australian Mint acting chief executive officer Emily Martin said the coin collection is a tribute that spans generations, with the cookbook also a fixture of her own childhood.

“I have such fond memories of growing up with this book – my sister and I would choose our birthday cake weeks in advance, and Mum would do her best to recreate them.

“Whether you’re a child of the 80s or beyond, or a collector, you’ll really get the sense of fun this coin collection brings to mind.”

For more information, drop into newsXpress Ocean Grove at 1/82 The Terrace.