Coins are available in Australia and New Zealand

The Royal Australian Mint is celebrating the 45th anniversary of AC/DC with the release of two high voltage AC/DC coins. In the spirit of the Australian band’s hit single, “Thunderstruck,” the Mint partnered with Australia’s Questacon – The National Science and Technology Centre to strike its AC/DC coins with a bolt of man-made lightning.

The experiment was conducted in the Caged Lightning exhibition at Questacon, which produces lightning using a Tesla coil. Ten AC/DC fifty cent pieces, appropriately featuring the famous high voltage logos and design elements from AC/DC albums, were “Thunderstruck” with 3.5 million volts of lightning.

“AC/DC is famous for their electrifying energy. It’s in their music, the titles of some of their songs, even their insignia,” states Royal Australian Mint Chief Executive Officer Ross MacDiarmid.

“The Mint thought that such an iconic band deserved high voltage coins and an electrifying launch to match.

“We weren’t sure what effect the lightning would have on the coins, but we discovered that because the coins are such excellent conductors of electricity, the lightning’s mark is only visible under magnification.”

Ten of the 30 thousand coins were “Thunderstruck” and will be randomly sent to ten customers who order their AC/DC – 45 Years of Thunder Uncirculated Coin through the Mint’s online store or Contact Centre.

“Striking these ten coins with lightning adds a uniquely AC/DC element to this release,” says Ross MacDiarmid.

“To help the ten lucky customers identify their ‘Thunderstruck’ coins, we have added unique frosting to the coin’s AC/DC logo.”

The second coin minted for AC/DC’s 45th anniversary is the Mint’s first-ever nickel plated coin. Not only black, its detailed design is minted on a triangular blank to resemble a guitar pick. The design elements have also been drawn from AC/DC’s album artwork and the amp-inspired packaging includes an actual guitar pick.

Both coins are legal tender in the country and can be spent or collected. The new coins are both officially licensed AC/DC merchandise and are available now from the Mint’s online store. They are only available to residents of Australia and New Zealand.