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As a coin collector snapping up each new release it’s exciting when something a little bit different pops up. Not just a new design on an old favourite but a striking of your favourite coin in a different metal to what is the standard. If we’re talking about the Australian 50 cent most will know that it’s silvery appearance is not a precious metal but a cupro-nickel alloy of 75% copper and 25% nickel that these coins are struck. Occasionally an issue will be made out of a different metal, this is known as an off-metal strike. This affects the colour and weight of the coin but all other specifications of these legal tender coins remain the same. The weight of these off-metal 50c coins are 14.09g, almost 1 1/2 grams lighter than a standard Cu-Ni at 15.55g.
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The golden alloy used on one and $2 coins is often used as an alternate metal for special collector 50 cent coins. This is aluminium bronze, an alloy of 92% copper, 6% Aluminium and 2% Nickel. Coins struck in this metal are few and keenly sought. Here’s my list off the top of my head, can you think of any others?
2003 50th Anniversary of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II -Golden Anniversary
2020 Banjo Paterson Collection
2022 50th Anniversary of the Tamworth Country Music Festival -Golden Guitar
2022 Henry Lawson Collection
Certainly seeing a different coloured coin in your collection of commemorative, special and interesting designs on coins is quite on trend with collectors.
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