Cultural importance

Turtles hold profound significance in Indigenous Australian cultures. For many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, turtles are powerful totems linked to stories of creation, wisdom, longevity, and the deep connections to land and sea.  They form an integral part of their cultural identity, of ceremony and traditions, as well as a sustainable natural world.

The timeless turtle

The coin’s coloured reverse depicts several turtles surrounded by elements which symbolise their journey through time, water and connection to Country.  The circles represent water holes and the ocean, while the trail of turtles is symbolic of the ocean currents they follow during migration. The jellyfish are their primary source of food, and the dotted circles embody generations of turtles telling the story of their life’s cycle and their relation to past, present and future. Also included in the design is a trail of eggs in the sand which denotes the return of the turtle to its place of birth to start the next cycle of renewal. The design also features the 2026 year-date and The Perth Mint’s ‘P’ mintmark.