IT'S NOT quite the same as getting your face on the currency, but Australia's living Victoria Cross recipients united for the next best thing at the Royal Australian Mint on Saturday, striking collectable coins that bear their name.
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Ben Roberts-Smith, Mark Donaldson, Daniel Keighran and Keith Payne were given VIP passes and donned white coats to enter the heart of the mint, where they pushed two buttons to activate the 1250-tonne press that struck their names and those of the 96 other Australian VC winners into the copper coins.
Afghanistan veteran Mr Keighran said the coins, the latest to be released under the Anzac Centenary Coin Program, were another timely marker of the service of Australians at war.
''It's good to see everything coming together,'' he said.
''It's pretty amazing. It's going to be our names on there.''
The decorated soldiers were joined at the Mint by their families and the only living Australian holder of the civilian George Cross, Michael Pratt, a former policeman awarded the medal for gallantry after being shot in the back attempting to prevent an armed robbery.
The $10 face-value coins will be sold to 5000 members of the public, chosen by ballot, for $100.
Corporal Keighran, an Army Reserve member who left full-time service in 2011, now spends his time chasing more precious metal as a blaster at a goldmine in Kalgoorlie.
He said the coin honour capped a special week, with the four VCs meeting together for the first time, marching at the head of the Anzac Day national service and spending some time with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge while in Canberra.
Mint chief executive Ross MacDiarmid said the striking of the Victoria Cross coin was unconnected with the awarding of the 100th Victoria Cross in February. ''It was just part of the overall Anzac commemorative period … we've got a whole range of releases associated with events and some ceremonial recognition of inspirational Australians, and this seemed to be right at the top of the list,'' Mr MacDiarmid said.
The names are struck in microtext and are visible with the finest eye or a magnifying glass.
Those wanting a chance at owning the unique piece of military history need to enter their name via the Mint's online store, eshop.ramint.gov.au, by May 30.
