The department worked with the Royal Australian Mint on the design of a special commemorative coin to mark the 60th anniversary of Australian citizenship.

The coin’s design represents the seven people who were the very first to be conferred citizenship in the 1949 ceremony at Albert Hall in Canberra. They are depicted with smiling faces and hands raised to signify their pride in becoming Australian. Their images are linked symbolically to create the star of federation.

The department worked on the coin in collaboration with the mint. Visitors to the mint were able to press their very own citizenship coin throughout 2009.

About 40 per cent of staff working at the mint were born overseas and have since become Australian citizens so there was great interest in the development and production of the citizenship coin.

The designer of the coin, Mr Wojciech Pietranik, came to Australia from Poland almost 25 years ago and has worked at the mint as a coin designer since 1989. He said the citizenship coin signifies the pride new citizens have in Australia.

Mr Pietranik said the coin featured symbols of Australia as a nation being built by its citizens who work together for the common good. Press play on the video above to see an image of the coin.