Newly minted Bluey Dollarbuck features beloved backyard cricketer
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The front and back of packaging for the new Bluey collectable coin. (Supplied: The Royal Australian Mint)
"Are you right with a bit of spin, Rusty?" Bluey's dad Bandit asks as one of his daughter's mates steps up to the crease.
"All good, Mr Heeler," Rusty replies, cricket bat at the ready.
That much-loved scene in an episode from ABC children's cartoon Bluey has played in households around the world — and will now feature on a $1 coin.
And like all Bluey episodes, there are life lessons to be found in season three's Cricket, where Rusty's dad pens a letter to his son from military deployment:
"I wish I could be there to bowl a few at you, but I can't right now, mate. But look, as you grow up, you'll face harder things than a cricket ball and you'll have two choices," the letter read.
"Back away and get out, or step in front and play a full shot. Just keep your eye on the ball and take care of your little sister for me," Rusty's dad wrote.
Rusty in the Bluey episode, Cricket. (ABC)
Coins can't be used as change
The Royal Australian Mint's new $1 coin, which will not be circulated but is available for collecting, shows Rusty hitting the ball as Bluey cheers in the background.
Mint chief executive Emily Martin said the choice to create a new Bluey coin came down to Australia's love of cricket and the children's series.
200,000 new Bluey coins will be minted for collecting. (Supplied: The Royal Australian Mint)
"This colourful coin brings together the fun of cricket with the heart and humour of Bluey, celebrating the friendships, teamwork and memories that make playing together so special," Ms Martin said.
"Cricket is a little bit like life — sometimes you hit a six, sometimes you miss the ball completely, and sometimes your little sister insists she's not out."
It is not the first time the Mint has used Bluey's popularity in the hopes of getting younger people into coin collecting.
Coins featuring the blue heeler were released by the Mint two years ago.
The 2024 Bluey Dollarbucks were a collection of three colourful coins featuring Bluey on her own, the Heeler family together, and Bingo and Bluey dressed up as The Grannies.
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