Australia issues commemorative coins, stamps for World Youth Day

Sydney, Australia, Mar 4, 2008 / 04:24 am

The Perth Mint and the Australian Post Office have released a set of limited edition coins and stamps commemorating World Youth Day 2008.

The Perth Mint CEO Ed Harbuz presented the coins to Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney, at a ceremony at St. Mary’s Cathedral House. 

“The Perth Mint is delighted to present His Eminence with our Vatican-approved 1oz Gold Proof Coin and a 1oz Silver Proof Coin,” Harbuz said at the ceremony.

“World Youth Day is a momentous occasion in the history of Australia and the Catholic Church and we hope that our range of commemorative coins will help to keep the memory alive for years to come,” he said

The coins each depict the Pope, the WYD08 logo, and the inscription “World Youth Day Sydney 2008” on the reverse side.

Australia Post, the nation’s postal service, has also released one domestic stamp and two international stamps using imagery of Pope Benedict XVI to represent the World Youth Day event to be held in Sydney this July.  The stamps include a limited number of gold and silver-coated World Youth Day stamps, the first of their kind to be produced by Australia Post.

“Australia Post is proud to unveil the WYD08 stamps and to offer people around the world another medium through which to share their faith and excitement about the upcoming WYD08 event,” said Australia Post Philatelic Group Manager, Noel Leahy.

Both Australia Post and Perth Mint are official World Youth Day licensees.  The products can be purchased through their respective websites.