The molar the merrier with Royal Australian Mint's new Tooth Fairy coin

For kids, there is a time when losing a tooth is a good thing. Rather than it meaning a trip to the dentist like for adults, it can mean receiving money.

The Tooth Fairy has gone down in history a bit like Santa Claus, an imaginary figure who rewards children for their good deeds – in this case, losing a baby tooth.

Children were told that if they placed the missing tooth underneath their pillow before drifting off for the night, they would wake up with a coin in its place.

Of course, adults know the Tooth Fairy is actually just a parent who sneaks into the bedroom in the dead of night.

If this is you, the Royal Australian Mint now has the perfect coin for the occasion. It has minted a special $2 coin that depicts the elusive character, complete with a tooth in her arms.

“As the official supplier of coins to the Tooth Fairy in Australia, the Mint is proud to offer this adorable keepsake to celebrate this special moment for children all over Australia,” reads the description at the Mint’s online store.

The coin forms part of a ‘Tooth Fairy Kit’, which also includes a cloth coin bag, bamboo toothbrush, a floating glitter pen, a tooth chart for counting baby teeth losses, and a “special message from the Tooth Fairy” herself encouraging the recipient to take “very good care” of their “magical teeth”.

It is all encapsulated in a lavishly decorated box with carry handles.

The coin represents legal tender, but the Mint won’t be directly circulating it. The kit is currently for sale on the Royal Australian Mint eShop for $25.

Reactions to the Mint’s Tooth Fairy post on Facebook suggests it might be a hit.

“I got one last year for my son – oh my goodness, he was bananas with excitement for the kit,” reads one comment.

Reads another: “This is so cute, but also highlights one of the reasons we must NEVER become a cashless society. It just wouldn’t be the same if the tooth fairy has to make direct deposits into children’s accounts.”

Another comment makes the point that “when you really think about it, the tooth fairy is creepy, swapping body parts for $ – what an odd tradition we’ve all grown up with and perpetuated.”

Meanwhile, the honour of the first coin minted in 2022 goes to Dorothy the Dinosaur, the much-loved sidekick to The Wiggles.

People from across Australia entered into a ballot in the hopes of winning the highly sought after first coin of the year, with this year’s theme being ‘Dinosaurs Downunder’.

Royal Australian Mint CEO Leigh Gordon highlighted the importance of showcasing Australia’s unique and diverse range of dinosaurs under the new theme.

“Most of the dinosaurs in popular culture are not found in Australia,” he said. “We want to change that narrative with these coins.

“The coin itself features one of Australia’s earliest dinosaur predators, the carnivorous Australovenator dinosaur, in both its fossilised and live forms. The packaging of the coin also highlights Australian dinosaurs, with five different cards to collect.”

Anne Raisbeck from the Upper Hunter region was the lucky winner of the ballot. She will receive a unique, one-of-a-kind coin set that includes the First Coin of the Year and accompanying certificate of authenticity, as well as the Dinosaurs Down Under ‘C’ Mintmark and Privy coin set, and the Dinosaurs Downunder Silver Proof coin.

In previous years, the Mint’s First Coin of the Year event attracted hundreds of keen coin collectors to the Mint in the hope they will get to press the first coin. Due to COVID-19 concerns, the event was made digital for 2021 and 2022.

Mr Gordon remarked on the importance of ensuring this much loved event went ahead despite the unprecedented circumstances presented in 2021.

“The First Coin of the Year event is one of the most important events for the coin collector community, and after the challenging year we have all had, we wanted to be able to keep the First Coin of the Year tradition alive, in whatever way possible,” he said.