Games were played by ancient civilisations as competitive recreation and represent one of humanity’s oldest forms of social interaction. Despite modern electronic alternatives, many continue to provide entertaining group activities strongly associated with joyous times, including Christmas and summer vacations.

‘Noughts and Crosses’ insert

The coin portrays game-related motifs within a ring of circles. Clockwise from the top, they symbolise playing cards, dominoes, a spinning dice, chess, snakes and ladders, terni lapilli, mahjong, draughts (or checkers), knucklebones, backgammon, and dice. Also included on the reverse is a background pattern and The Perth Mint’s ‘P’ mintmark.

The coin’s centre features a 24-carat plated stainless steel insert representing noughts and crosses, also known as tic tac toe, a ‘three-in-a-row’ challenge believed to have evolved from the ancient Roman game of terni lapilli (three pebbles).