Description

To celebrate the centenary of two icons of Australian childrens’ literature, the Royal Australian Mint presents the set of two coloured $1 coins featuring The Tales of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie by May Gibbs, and The Magic Pudding by Norman Lindsay. Both published in 1918, these characteristically Australian books still delight readers. Everyone who treasures the classic stories will love this set, presenting the lively characters from both books.

Legend has it that Norman Lindsay wrote The Magic Pudding to settle an argument. A friend had told him that children wanted to read about fairies. Lindsay staunchly believed that they'd rather read about 'food and fighting' - and thus, the tale of a walking, talking pudding was born. Needless to say, it was a hit.

Both coins housed in individual presentation cases, set within an illustrated outer sleeve.

Obverse

Fourth crowned portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II facing right, wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara.

The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara was a wedding present in 1947 from her grandmother, Queen Mary, who received it as a gift from the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland in 1893 on the occasion of her marriage to the Duke of York, later George V. Made by E. Wolfe & Co., it was purchased from Garrard & Co. by a committee organised by Lady Eve Greville. In 1914, Mary adapted the tiara to take 13 diamonds in place of the large oriental pearls surmounting the tiara. At first, Elizabeth wore the tiara without its base and pearls but the base was reattached in 1969. The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara is one of Elizabeth's most recognisable pieces of jewellery due to its widespread use on British banknotes and coinage.

Engraver: Ian Rank-Broadley

ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2018
IRB

Reverse

Depicts a full-colour motif inspired by the story's original illustrations.

Wanting to see the world, Bunyip Bluegum the koala sets out on his travels, taking only a walking stick. At about lunchtime, feeling more than slightly peckish, he meets Bill Barnacle the sailor and Sam Sawnoff the penguin who are eating a pudding. The pudding is a magic one which, no matter how much one eats it, always reforms into a whole pudding again. He is called Albert, has thin arms and legs and is a bad-tempered, ill-mannered so-and-so into the bargain. His only pleasure is being eaten and on his insistence.

The Magic Pudding: Being The Adventures of Bunyip Bluegum and his friends Bill Barnacle and Sam Sawnoff is an Australian children's book written and illustrated by Norman Lindsay. It is a comic fantasy, and a classic of Australian children's literature.

The story is set in Australia with humans mixing with anthropomorphic animals. It tells of a magic pudding which, no matter how often it is eaten, always reforms in order to be eaten again. It is owned by three companions who must defend it against Pudding Thieves who want it for themselves.

The book is divided into four "slices" instead of chapters. There are many short songs interspersed throughout the text, varying from stories told in rhyme to descriptions of a character's mood or behaviour, and verses of an ongoing sea song.

THE MAGIC PUDDING
1 DOLLAR
1918-2018

Edge

1 Dollar

4th portrait

Treasured Australian Stories
The Magic Pudding by Norman Lindsay

Subscribe series
KM#
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Aluminium Bronze
Weight 9 g
Diameter 25 mm
Thickness -
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Royal Australian Mint (RAM)

Related coins

4th portrait, The Tales of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie by May Gibbs

Treasured Australian Stories

Aluminium Bronze, 9 g, ⌀ 25 mm