NEW AUSTRALIAN COINS FEATURE NATIVE ANIMALS

The next time you reach for a gold coin, artist Ryhia Dank hopes you'll discover something new about First Nations culture.

The Sunshine Coast-based Gudanji/Wakaja and Kalkadoon artist has illustrated a collection of $1 and $2 coins with six native animals and their names in language.

"I want the kids back home to pick up the coin and say, 'Oh, that's the crocodile that's floating down the river, or the brolgas that are dancing there'," Dank said.

Dank — who creates under the name nardurna meaning "woman" — is from Borroloola in the Gulf of Carpentaria region in the Northern Territory.

She said the collection offered an opportunity to share the Gudanji language, and encourage others to learn about the Country on which they live.

However, her greatest hope is keeping the language alive.

"There aren't many speakers of the Gudanji language left, like a lot of languages all around Australia that are unfortunately dying down."

Six Australian coins featuring animals native to Borroloola Country

The Our Animals, Our Country coins were released as a collection this week with some $2 coins already in circulation.

The project was a collaboration of the Australian Mint, Australia Post and the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF), of which Ms Dank is an ambassador.

To read the complete article, see:
A piece of Gudanji culture is making its way into Australians' pockets (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-11-08/artist-brings-first-nations-language-and-culture-to-gold-coins/107349684)

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