Coincryption Competition

This year marks the 70th anniversary of Australia’s Security Intelligence Organisation, ASIO.

To mark this milestone, the Royal Australian Mint has created Coincryption – a competition that celebrates the secret and elusive world of spies and espionage.

The ASIO 70th Anniversary 2019 50c Uncirculated Coin will give you an exclusive opportunity to win the only 70th Anniversary of ASIO 2019 50c Proof coin minted.

Terms & Conditions

The Coin

The ASIO 70th Anniversary 2019 50c Uncirculated Coin is the first coin ever produced by the Mint to include secret symbols to discover a coded message to break. The coin design includes a unique ‘One-Time Pad’ key that was used by operatives during the Cold War, to encrypt and decode secret messages.

Denomination 50c
Mass 15.55 g
Diameter 31.51 mm
Metal CuNi
Finish Uncirculated
Mintage 20 000
Designer A. Ball
RRP $10.00

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How to enter

Your undercover mission, should you choose to accept, is to:

1. Purchase an ASIO 70th Anniversary 2019 50c Uncirculated Coin from the Royal Australian Mint or one of its authorised coin distributors between 9 September 2019 and 2 December 2019.

2. Decipher the encrypted message using the One-Time Pad – the key to cracking the secret message on your coin – to be included with your coin.

3. Register your details along with the secret message on the competition website www.coincryption.com.au by 2 December 2019 to go in the draw to win.

The winner will need to provide proof of purchase from the Royal Australian Mint or one of its authorised coin distributors, with the transaction dated between 9 September 2019 and 2 December 2019. The winner will also need to provide proof of identity and residence. Please note: one entry per person only.

The Prize

Entrants who correctly decipher and enter the secret message here will go in the draw to win the only 70th Anniversary of ASIO 2019 50c Proof coin minted.

Dates

9 Sept Competition opens
2 Dec Competition closes
12 Dec Winner notified by email
13 Dec Winner announced on coincryption.com.au

How to Crack
The Secret Message

To decipher the secret message on the coin, you will need:

1 Your ASIO 50c Uncirculated Coin

2 The One-Time Pad included with your coin or found here

3 The One-Time Pad Conversion Table included with your coin or found here

Example of how to decipher the code:

First five letters on the coin are: UWGJM

First five letters on One Time Pad are: MWPZJ

Look to the conversion table and find U. Look down the column and find M. The letter next to the M is the first letter of the code (T)

Second letter is W. Find W on the conversion table. Look down the column until you find W. The letter next to the W is the second letter of the code (H)

Third letter is G. Find G on the conversion table. Look down the column until you find P. The letter next to the P is the third letter of the code (E)

Spelling out the first three letters of the message (THE...). Now continue spelling out the rest of the message.

Here is a hint: the message contains 24 words.

Once you have deciphered the secret message click here to enter the full message and go in the draw to with the only 70th Anniversary of ASIO 2019 50c Proof coin minted.

About ASIO

During the 1940s and 1950s the Soviet intelligence service, the KGB, used One-Time Pads to encrypt their cables to and from Moscow. Poor encryption practices allowed the 5-EYES allies to decrypt some of the cables under Operation VENONA, revealing the presence of a Soviet spy ring active in Australia and prompting the United Kingdom to urge Australia to establish a security service, leading to the establishment of ASIO in 1949.

ASIO has been at the heart of Australia’s national security and will continue to work to protect Australia, its people and interest now and into the future.

By necessity, ASIO has always worked quietly – often in the shadows – to provide timely and highly effective security intelligence, work vital to protecting Australia.

It is this amazing, intriguing and secret history of ASIO that has fired up the imagination of the public and has been the inspiration for many classic literature and popular culture.

The Mint’s first encrypted 50c uncirculated coin gives you a small window into the fascinating and mysterious world of ASIO, reminding us of the important role ASIO plays in keeping Australia safe.

To find out more about ASIO visit www.asio.gov.au