Prosecutors said William Bosia Grzeskowiak stole more than AU$155,000 (�65,000) in new two-dollar coins over a year at the Canberra mint.

Grzeskowiak, 48, was arrested two months ago while trying to change a large number of coins into notes.

He admitted theft but will dispute the amount in later hearings.

Lunch-box

A police statement read in court said: "He would take the coins from the trays they were placed in after stamping and conceal the coins in his pocket.

"He would then go to a toilet cubicle and transfer the coins from his pockets to his boots and walk out through security. He stole about AU$600 in $2 coins each time he did this."

Workers are not required to remove boots during random screening.

However, Grzeskowiak also managed to steal some cash by putting it in his lunch-box and holding it close to his head during screening sweeps, police said.

They said they found AU$100,000 in coins hidden in plastic buckets and shopping bags in the garage of Grzeskowiak's mother.

Prosecutors say the total stolen was AU$155,000 but Grzeskowiak disputes this.

The case triggered a review of security at the mint during which Australian Federal Police found a host of problems.