A Sydney teenager has camped outside the Royal Australian Mint in Canberra since Christmas Day to receive the first coin minted of the year for the third year in a row.

Harley Russo, 15, spent seven nights sleeping on concrete outside the mint so he could be the first to strike a coin in 2015.

It was the third year in a row he had been first in line to mint the first coin for the year struck anywhere in the world, due to Australia's time zone.

Harley said the wait was painful but worth it.

"It's the longest I've ever stayed so it was a bit more of a challenge," he said.

"But there was some talk on Facebook that people were planning to get here on Boxing Day, so I decided I'd get here on Christmas."

Harley said he began collecting coins as a part of a family tradition.

"Mum showed me a couple of coins she had as a kid and I thought they were pretty great," he said.

"Then we came to the mint and I saw some silver sets with holographic designs and I fell in love with it.

"I just see that at the end of it there's going to be a chance to build for my future.

"I won't be letting go of the coin anytime soon."

The 2015 coin was designed to commemorate the centenary of World War I. ( ABC News )

Mint chief executive Ross MacDiarmid said the $1 coin Harley collected was designed to commemorate the centenary of World War I.

"The theme this year is very much around the Anzac and it's part of our series that goes right through from 2014 to 2018," he said.

"There's a cross to symbolise the sacrifice that Australians made during WWI, and particularly places like Gallipoli and Fromelles.

"It was obviously a sombre period for Australians, but one that we thought was appropriate to reflect on for 2015."

Along with Harley, the first 100 people to mint a coin in Canberra received a special certificate of authenticity.

Harley said he and his family would almost certainly be back next year, vying to be first in line again.