Woolworths launches special $2 coins commemorating beloved TV icon
Beloved Aussie TV icon Mr Squiggle is celebrating its 60-year anniversary, and Woolworths is joining in the celebrations by releasing a limited-edition line of $2 coins.
The supermarket giant has partnered with the national coin producer, Royal Australian Mint to create four coin designs depicting Mr Squiggle and other famous characters from the eponymous show.
The coins will be released in stages over the coming weeks. The first $2 design, featuring Mr Squiggle, is available in Woolworths registers this week, while the next three coins featuring Gus the Snail, Bill Steamshovel and Blackboard will be released on February 20, February 27 and March 6 respectively.
A limited-edition seven-coin set for $15, including two $1 coins and a 1-cent coin, is also available for purchase.
Mr Squiggle, created by Norman Hetherington, first came to Australian screens in 1959. With 40 years on screen, the show has become one of the longest-running programs in Australia, captivating children across generations as the characters turned "squiggles" into drawings.
"lt's such an honour to have the Royal Australian Mint and Woolworths immortalise my father's work in this unique way, " said Rebecca Hetherington, the creator’s daughter and the show’s co-host.
"The coins perfectly represent Mr Squiggle's fun and imaginative view of the world, attributes he shared with my father.
"I'm excited to share this opportunity with Australians who have grown up with him and remember him fondly, and also to introduce Mr Squiggle to a new generation."
This is not the first time the supermarket has offered special coin collections. Previous releases launched through Woolworths include the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games and Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games editions. Last year, a legal battle brewed over the Remembrance Day and the Possum Magic sets as the Canadian Royal Mint sued the Australian government over infringed rights to a unique painting process.
Will you be collecting the limited-edition $2 coins? Let us know in the comments.