It’s the most exciting thing to happen to a dollar since the coin toss.

The Royal Australian Mint is leading the country on a nationwide treasure hunt through $1 coins.

The Mint announced this week that it has been quietly slipping three million special $1 coins into the pockets of Australians.

Marked with the number 35, and either an A, U, or S, the curious coins caught the attention of the internet some weeks ago, with bloggers querying the anomaly.

The mint ended the mystery, announcing the coin hunt is part of its upcoming celebration of the 35th birthday of the coin on May 14 next year.

The coins will be worth more than their face value, and Australians are being encouraged to check and collect the coins as finding all three will land the owner a prize.

The Royal Australian Mint has released three million special $1 coins, marked with an A, U, or S.

It’s also a hope that it will encourage and re-engage Australians young and old with coin collecting and financial literacy.

Mint chief executive Ross MacDiarmid said the hunt aimed to engage a new generation of coin collectors, and remind them of the value of a dollar.

“Australia’s Dollar Discovery is a nationwide treasure hunt that we hope encourages Australians of all ages and from every state and territory to check their change for these special coins,” Mr MacDiarmid said.

Dollar rewards

How do you turn your $1 into something much more?

Scour your coins for a specially marked one – they have a 35 in the middle of the three leaping kangaroos on the left, and either an A, U, or S under the belly of the biggest roo.

When you’ve found all three, head to the Dollar Discovery website and follow the links to submit your entry.

There are minor and major prizes to be one – the minors include piggy banks and $150 Royal Australian Mint vouchers.

One winner will be chosen from each state, and flown to Canberra, where they will get a VIP tour of the mint, making their own one kilogram pure silver coin.