October, 14th, 2010 – Born in Melbourne in 1842, Mary MacKillop was a passionate believer in educating the impoverished and marginalized. In 1866 she co-founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart in the South Australian town of Penola. Before long, many Josephite schools were opened throughout remote Australia and beyond.
Mary’s holiness was characterized by her commitment to God, unbounded generosity, selfless charity, and compassion for all. After a lifetime of tireless work on behalf of the needy, she died in Sydney in 1909.
In 1995, Mary was beatified by Pope John Paul ll. This marked the Catholic Church’s official recognition of the goodness of Mary’s life, and of her intercessory power with God since her death.
In late 2009, with the Catholic Church’s acknowledgement of a second miracle, Mary advanced towards official sainthood. She will be named Australia’s first Saint on 17 October 2010 at a canonization ceremony performed in Rome by Pope Benedict XVl.
Australia; Mary Mackillop; face value: 1 AUD; 1 oz silver; weight: 31,135 g; diameter: 40,60 g; date of issue: October, 18, 2010; designer: Aleysha Howarth; mintage: 7.500 PP.
Australia; Mary Mackillop; face value: 15 AUD; 1/10 oz gold; weight: 3,111 g; diameter: 16,60 g; date of issue: October, 18, 2010; designer: Aleysha Howarth; mintage: 2.010 PP.
The 1oz silver proof coin’s reverse depicts a colored image of Saint Mary MacKillop. The design also incorporates the inscriptions SAINT MARY MACKILLOP, FIRST AUSTRALIAN SAINT, the 2010 year-date and The Perth Mint’s ‘P’ mintmark.
The 1/10oz gold proof coin’s reverse portrays a coloured image of Saint Mary MacKillop. The design incorporates the inscriptions SAINT MARY MACKILLOP, FIRST AUSTRALIAN SAINT, the 2010 year-date and The Perth Mint’s ‘P’ mintmark.
The obverse of each coin depicts the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the monetary denominations of $1 (silver) and $15 (gold).