A brand-new 50 cent coin provides a whole new meaning to the phrase “money issues” since it has an incredibly challenging code that only a spymaster could decipher.
Four messages concerning the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD), which is commemorating its 75th anniversary this year, are hidden within the letters, numbers, and symbols etched on the reverse of the commemorative coin.
However, it won’t be in your change since just 50,000 of these coins are being produced and can only be bought from the mint.
The Australian Signals Directorate’s functions are what?
The Australian government and armed services rely on the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) for intelligence, cyber-security, and offensive cyber operations.
It decodes communications from foreign sources covertly for security reasons.
Additionally, the organisation protects confidential military and national security communications. Government, industry, and the community are all given help in terms of cyber security.
ASD may even undertake cyberattacks from outside to thwart the plans of Australian enemies.
The Australian Geospatial-Intelligence Organization (AG0) and the Defense Intelligence Organization are two additional intelligence organisations that are part of the Department of Defense (DIO).
The Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO), the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS), and the Office of National Assessments are other national security organisations (ONA).
Anyone who could decipher the code on the coin, according to ASD Director-General Rachel Noble, had the ability to enter the world of espionage.
According to Ms. Noble, “This fascinating coin release invites Australians to engage with the kinds of problem-solving that our bright employees at ASD perform on a daily basis and could even be a pointer to a new career with us for those who can crack it.”
“A career at ASD may be just what you’re looking for if you love puzzles and solving problems, and if you can decipher the messages on our 75th anniversary coin.”
The four layers of coding on the coin, according to Ms. Noble, depict the development of encryption since World War II.
She said that during World War II, both military and civilian members of her country—mostly women—used pencil and paper to decipher Japanese military codes before re-encoding them and sending them to the allies in order to inform them of the whereabouts of Japanese combatants.
“We have layered that aspect of our history to illustrate the advancements in technology and encryption throughout the course of our 75 years.”
“Like the early code breakers in ASD, you can get through parts of the levels with only a pencil and piece of paper, but right towards the finish, you may require a computer to crack the final level,” the author writes.
Leigh Gordon, CEO of the Royal Australian Mint, stated that complex design was needed to create the coin.
Despite being Australia’s largest denomination, the 50 cent piece has a little amount of surface area, according to Mr. Gordon.
“One of the issues our employees were able to address with ASD, to make a unique and exceptional product, was making sure customers could read the code to decode it.”
Securing important Australian communications, keeping an eye on groups that are hostile to Australia, and fighting cybercrime are all actions carried out by ASD.
One of the 50,000 specially produced coins is available for purchase from the Royal Australian Mint.