14 August 2025
On HMAS Sydney, Leading Seaman Adam Hamburger – known as 'Burgs' to his shipmates – has a unique tradition. Every day he carries a different 'Coin of the Day'.
Today’s choice is a memorable one: a sandwich-shaped Challenge Coin from USS Shoup. While one side features the letters 'USN' (United States Navy), the other features eggs and mince on a sandwich.
Collectable Challenge Coins are frequently exchanged between naval personnel, with most coins costing between $20 and $40.
These one-of-a-kind mementoes are often passed on through a solid handshake.
For Leading Seaman Hamburger, coin collecting is an enduring hobby. In the last three months alone, while on regional presence deployment in the Indo-Pacific region, he has collected more than 130 coins.
“At home, I have a countless number of coins,” Leading Seaman Hamburger said.
“They've filled six bookshelves full and many containers. I really couldn't tell you exactly how many there are.”
After 27 years of collecting coins and patches, with coins from almost every country in the world – including Bangladesh, China, Japan, Mexico, Myanmar, Peru, Russia and the United States – the leading seaman baulks when asked what his top-three favourites are.
Although narrowing his massive collection down to a top three is nearly impossible, he does have one special coin he keeps with him at all times: a coin from HMAS Melbourne's decommissioning. It has a special place in his heart as he served aboard the ship for seven years.
'I've stayed in touch with a lot of people I've traded with around the world. It’s a really great hobby.'
Donning matching fluorescent orange dinosaur shorts, last year he and a friend from Sydney traded coins with personnel from the ships docked in Hawaii.
“Coin collecting has opened a lot of doors for me. I've met so many different people from all around the world and been able to share meals with captains and commanders thanks to my hobby,” Leading Seaman Hamburger said.
It has helped him maintain friendships, too. On a recent deployment in the Republic of Korea, Leading Seaman Hamburger was able to trade coins with a friend he had not seen for two years.
While in Japan, Leading Seaman Hamburger swapped one of his coins with a fellow collector, Lieutenant Takahiro Matsuki from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s JS Kumano.
“These are all coins I’ve collected throughout my time at sea,” Lieutenant Matsuki said, showing his collection to a group of Sydney’s sailors.
The Japanese officer is hoping to grow his collection to match the Australian sailor's coins.
As for Leading Seaman Hamburger, his hobby will not stop now that he is back in Australia.
“Maybe it helps that my last name is so memorable, but I've stayed in touch with a lot of people I've traded with around the world. It’s a really great hobby,” he said.
