It started in 2013, aboard HMAS Melbourne, somewhere in the Gulf. 

Petty Officer Matthew Smith met a United States Naval Criminal Investigative Service member who handed him a patch and a coin – small tokens, but rich with meaning. 

That handshake sparked something.

From then on, every patch and coin became more than just memorabilia – they were stories, friendships and moments frozen in metal and thread.

Deployments turned into treasure hunts. Cocktail parties became trading grounds. 

With every foreign ship visit, Petty Officer Smith’s collection grew. It now boasts around 100 patches – mostly Air Force – and nearly 700 coins from navies across the globe. 

His home is a museum of memories with coin displays, folders, boxes and a desk adorned with the latest Talisman Sabre collection.

These tokens may be small, but they carry the weight of stories, of service and of staying strong.

Among his favourite coins is a pair from USS Rafael Peralta.

“In 2021, HMAS Brisbane docked in Yokosuka and I finally met the crew. Coins were traded for hoodies, Tim Tams and stories,” Petty Officer Smith said. 

“The Peralta crew even brought sushi and udon from town, turning a base picnic into a cultural exchange.”

But the crown jewel? A framed set of Chief of the Defence Force (CDF) Admiral David Johnston’s CDF coin and a thank-you letter in return for a jigsaw coin Petty Officer Smith had designed himself.

His favourite patches are a set made during the DDG builds in Adelaide – each one representing a weapon system and crafted with Aussie-US flair by a chief petty officer.

Inspired by United States Navy swap meets, Petty Officer Smith dreamed up an Aussie version – a place for collectors to trade, connect and maybe even start a club. 

He said the Royal Australian Navy Coin Collectors Club patch was already in the works. But behind it all is something deeper – designing coins and trading them has helped Petty Officer Smith through tough times. It’s given him purpose, connection and a reason to keep showing up. 

These tokens may be small, but they carry the weight of stories, of service and of staying strong.