The best place to start collecting is in your change. Empty out your wallet, piggy bank or swear jar, then start rummaging for stories. Pick out any coins that you think are cool.

Once you start noticing your shrapnel is special, choosing your collecting ‘theme’ makes the hunt much more fun. Pick a time period, coin finish, denomination, coloured coins, commemorative coins, Mint Mark, design theme, artist—the options will shape your collection in no time.

For example, older coins can sometimes feel like a timewarp. They just helped you buy a coffee, but 50 years ago they were helping someone buy new typewriter tape, or even…a retro coffee! And they’ve exchanged hands thousands of times along the way.

Whereas commemorative coins tell a different version of history, mostly through the image on their reverse. These coins celebrate something significant to Australia and can usually be found on 20c, 50c, $1 and $2 coins.