Over 40,000 coins inspired by the popular children’s television series Bluey have been retrieved by authorities in Australia.
Officials from New South Wales stated that police conducted a search at a self-storage location in Wentworthville, uncovering a collection of Royal Australian Mint bags filled with the cartoon-themed currency.
Earlier this year, the mint released coins depicting characters from the animated series, each valued at one Australian dollar (approximately 50 pence in the UK). These coins are recognized as legal currency.
On July 12, law enforcement reported that 63,000 of the exclusive edition coins were pilfered from a warehouse in Wetherill Park, New South Wales, several months prior to their intended release for circulation.
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The Bluey phenomenon
More than 40,000 limited edition Bluey coins were retrieved by authorities. Pic: Rex
The coins have a value of one Australian dollar and are identified as legal currency. Pic: AP
In July, 63,000 of the coins were stolen from a warehouse in Wetherill Park. Pic: AP
Referred to as Bluey Dollarbucks, these coins have been listed online at prices reaching up to ten times their nominal value, with one eBay seller advertising a set of three for nearly 600 Australian dollars (£309).
A total of 40,061 coins deemed stolen were recovered by the Strike Force Bandit unit – a specialized police team named after Bluey’s father in the series – on Tuesday.
Additionally, police reported the seizure of power tools, apparel, and bags from the storage site, all of which are believed to be stolen items.
To date, three individuals have been charged for their suspected roles in the warehouse theft that occurred in July.
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Now among the most beloved shows globally, Bluey first aired in Australia in 2018 and was made available for streaming in the UK on Disney+ in 2020.
In April, a producer associated with the series reassured fans there will be additional episodes of Bluey following a puzzling season finale that left many parents anxious about potential cancellation.
Sam Moor expressed on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “It’s the query that everyone is asking – no, this is not the end for Bluey; I am certain we have many more surprises headed your way.”
