I just returned from the annual ANDA show in Perth after attending at the Coin Club stall. I was there to promote several of the coin series I had assisted in designing and I also signed a bunch of sets of Bush Babies PNCs. There was a good turnout, I think partly because of the crowds brought in by the exclusive show specials being offered by the Royal Australian Mint and The Perth Mint.

The queue for the 2012 2oz Dragon on Saturday was huge and the dragon was sold out just 50 minutes after the show opened. There were more coins allocated for Sunday and I managed to catch my own 2oz Dragon!

Early birds rushing to nab the special! (Sunday)

The beginnings of a queue at The Perth Mint stand (small compared to Saturday’s)

Me with my very own dragon

I was also invited to a special evening at The Perth Mint and saw the very impressive 1 tonne gold coin in person for the first time. The highlight of the evening for me though was seeing some of the staff/ friends I used to work with.

There were a few quiet periods once the crowds for the show specials had died down and it gave me time to think of some ideas for more interactive displays of the coin design process at coin shows and I’m hoping that we can implement those in the near future!

For some reason I always drive away from short trips like this feeling inspired and motivated and on the 1.5 hr drive from Perth to Bunbury I tried to figure out why. It could be the breaking of normal patterns, or change of scenery.. but I think it’s actually the different perspective you get from sharing your stories with friends, old and new. Whatever the reason,  I think I should do it more often 😉