Dedication has paid off for a Canberra teenager who spent a week camped outside the Royal Australian Mint to claim the first coin struck anywhere in the world in 2017.

Luke Marshall, 16, arrived at the Mint on Christmas Day, and maintained a campsite by the Mint's entrance through blistering sun, rain, and even a bout of food poisoning.

"I had to go home twice, one time because my skin was starting to go purple because of sunburn," he said.

"The first time ... I got food poisoning which wasn't fun, not at all.

"I never thought about giving up ... it was always 'I've gotta try and stick it out'."

The reward for his ordeal was the first coin made in 2017, an item prized by collectors and potentially worth thousands of dollars.

The first coin minted in a year is extremely valuable to collectors. ( ABC News )

But this year was not the first time Luke braved conditions to stake a claim in the annual race for the year's first coin.

"It's something I've wanted to do since I came here four years ago where I was seventh in line, and I just wanted to be number one," he said.

"Last year I came here, it was Boxing Day and I just missed it by a couple of hours, so this year we got here at Christmas.

"I want to try coming back here next year, try to get number one again."

Chief executive of the Royal Australian Mint Ross MacDiarmid said the coin commemorated the 100th anniversary of the Trans-Australian Railway.

"This was a significant event that not many people know about," he said.

The first 100 visitors to strike a coin at the Mint were also presented with certificates noting the significance of their coins.