Perth Mint and Navy launch commemorative coin
3 February 2011
The Minister for Defence Stephen Smith joined the Royal Australian Navy and the Perth Mint on board HMAS Perth today, to launch a silver coin tribute to commemorate 100 years since the granting of the ‘Royal’ prefix to the Royal Australian Navy.
On 10 July 1911, King George V approved Australia’s request to have the ‘Royal’ prefix attached to the Navy’s title. This change in name from the Commonwealth Naval Forces, formed in 1901, to the Royal Australian Navy, was a reflection of the emerging responsibility of the Navy as a maritime force in the region.
The silver commemorative coin is a tribute to the Royal Australian Navy’s coming of age 100 years ago. The granting of the Royal title was an affirmation by the world’s then most powerful sea power that Australia had entered the maritime arena.
Officially announced on 5th of October 1911, the Royal Australian Navy warships were from this time on to be prefixed with the words: His Majesty’s Australian Ship.
With increasing international tensions at the time, Australia recognised that it needed to assume greater responsibility for its maritime defence. In 1909 the nation embarked on a significant naval expansion program. The establishment of the Australian Fleet a few years later was recognised as a key symbol of Australia’s progress to nationhood with the Royal Australian Navy going on to play a full and active part in World War I.
In the last 100 years the men and women of the Royal Australian Navy have continued to serve Australia with pride in every major conflict that Australia has committed the Defence Force to. Navy has key responsibility for protecting our borders and continues to contribute to peacekeeping operations around the world and emergency assistance operations overseas and at home.
100 years later our Navy continues to grow and upgrade its maritime defence capability with construction underway for two new amphibious support ships, the Canberra Class Landing Helicopter Dock ships which will be the largest ships ever operated by the Royal Australian Navy as well as three new Air Warfare Destroyers being built in Australia. Adding to this are plans for a significant expansion of Navy's submarine capability and 24 new naval combat helicopters and new multi-role helicopters (MRH-90).
Further information about the coin is available from the Perth Mint http://www.perthmint.com.au
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