Dedicated to members of the armed forces who have lost their lives during conflict, the Australian War Memorial in Canberra consists of a shrine, a military museum and an extensive archive. Constructed between 1929 and 1941, it offers the people of Australia and international visitors a place for quiet contemplation and reflection.
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At the heart of the Australian War Memorial, the Hall of Memory is a domed, octagonal-shaped space. Its solemn interior features panelled stained glass windows on three sides, each portraying five uniformed First World War figures typifying one of the quintessential qualities displayed by Australians in war.
South Window – personal qualities
- Resource
- Candour
- Devotion
- Curiosity
- Independence
West Window – social qualities
- Comradeship
- Ancestry
- Patriotism
- Chivalry
- Loyalty
East Window – fighting qualities
- Coolness
- Control
- Audacity
- Endurance
- Decision
Installed between 1947 and 1950, these windows and other key elements of the Hall of Memory were designed by the Australian artist Napier Waller (1893 – 1972), a First World War veteran who lost his right arm in May 1917 at Bullecourt.
Directly above The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Waller’s magnificent Byzantine dome celebrates the immortality of those who believed in freedom and ultimately died to defend it.
Its symbolic design represents their spirits rising towards heaven. From a central spiritual sun, over which the stars of the Southern Cross are superimposed, seven shafts of light radiate to the cornice and symbolise the seven-pointed star of Australia.
Just above the cornice, a wreath of wattle leaves emphasises that the Hall of Memory is a memorial to the fallen. A flight of black swans symbolises the air, and beneath them are bands of stylised waterlilies and bulrushes, symbolising water. An unbroken golden chain represents the continuity of earthly life and the spirit.
The ANZAC Spirit 100th Anniversary Coin Series – Hall of Memory
2018 5oz Silver Coin
A numismatic masterpiece, this remarkable release honours the deep significance of the Hall of Memory in the public’s consciousness.
Struck from 5oz of 99.99% pure silver with an antiqued finish, the Australian legal tender coin depicts four of the figures epitomised in stained glass:
- AUDACITY – a light horseman
- DEVOTION – a nurse
- COMRADESHIP – a Lewis gunner
- CHIVALRY – an airman
A coloured representation of the Byzantine dome lies at the centre of the spectacular reverse.
The final individual silver release from our five-year ANZAC Spirit 100th Anniversary Coin Series, no more than 300 of these extraordinary coins will be released as fitting tributes to the fallen.
Due to significant early demand this coin is no longer available from The Perth Mint. Please contact your local coin distributor as soon as possible.
The Australian War Memorial logo is a registered trademark of the
Australian War Memorial TM & © 2018
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