C-Day 14th February 1966 From Pounds to Dollars Decimal Changeover Day

Competition Prize Conducted at the Changeover in 1966

Competition Prize Conducted at the Changeover in 1966

It was excitement and deep interest as consumers deliberately spent money to obtain the new dollars and cents on C-day Monday February 14th 1966. Banks had been closed since the previous Wednesday to allow the transition to decimal accountancy and reopened for C-day to hustle and bustle.

Shops showed some confusion with shortages of dollar notes and silver coins but plenty of copper 1c and 2c, most giving change in a mixture of both pounds, shillings and pence along with dollars and cents. Under the new currency a box of matches cost 1 1/2 cents so as there was no half-cents shopkeepers wanted to sell 2 boxes for 3c. The old half-penny didn’t fair in the conversion so these had been removed from shop pricing prior to the last Christmas.

Customers purchasing a middy of beer handed over 2 shillings to receive the thirst quencher and change of a sixpence and 1c. Some shopkeepers were just happy to continue trading with £.s.d and chalked the day up to “just another of Menzies’ fads” referring to the Prime Minister of the time, but they would come round.

Sydney Harbour Bridge toll collectors continued to hand out shillings to disappointed drivers hoping for 10c pieces as change for their florins. The Decimal Currency Board chairman Sir Walter Scott travelled to work by train on this day watching clerks at the booking offices eyeing off the transition and it’s affect on commuters “just going like clockwork this morning” he said.

The Sydney Stock Exchange transitioned easily with smooth, but slightly slower trading and investor confidence in the market appeared unaffected.

Interestingly, housewives of the time noted some price rises in household essentials in the leadup to changeover day. The conversions not always favourable so the prices just went up. An expert of the time, Professor N.R Wills (head of the School of Business Administration at the University of NSW) said the changeover would cost consumers no more than 5c (or 6d) a week extra.

“I think the advantage people will find in keeping a check on their money, and not be short-changed over the counter, will make up for this. Even morons can count up to 10”.

Experts said that the positives and negative pricing costs would even out and no one would be worse off for the event.

Shopkeepers who changed their pricing over on the weekend took advantage of the fractions that didn’t convert well. 2 pennies converted to 2c, but so did a threepence! The drought had been blamed for fresh food increases over the past 9 months anyway increasing the cost of living by 1-2 pounds ($2-4) per week.

Back in 1966 common household items cost:

    • postage stamp 4c
    • newspaper 5c
    • a pint of milk (600ml) 10c
    • mens haircut 70c

Department stores such as David Jones and Mark Foy’s (responsible for the issue of the Foy Bags containing the 1934/5 Melbourne Centenary Florin collectors will have heard of) hired experts who were on hand to answer customer questions and staff had been training for the conversion for between 4 months to 2 years. Along with these expert staff, conversion tables and charts hung from the ceilings with charts at each register allowing customers to accurately assess their dollar and cents change. Mark Foys implemented the change with a “big dollar bargains day” with ladies swimsuits at $1.50 and cardigans for $2 to shift the idea that their prices would increase with the changeover.

Special service staff "Dollar Guides" on hand to help consumers at department store "Farmers" in Sydney

Special service staff “Dollar Guides” on hand to help consumers at department store “Farmers” in Sydney

Posted in Australian Decimal Changeover

1982 Australian $200 Brisbane Commonwealth Games Gold Coin

Australia 1982 $200 Commonwealth Games Coin

Australia 1982 $200 Commonwealth Games Coin – Proof

Commemorating the Brisbane Commonwealth Games in 1982 a gold $200 coin was struck by the Royal Australian Mint. The XII Commonwealth Games logo can be seen on the commemorative 50c coin released into circulation. The 200 dollar gold issue features this logo and an athlete on the reverse with “XII Commonwealth Games Brisbane 200 Dollars” in the legends. The obverse features the Arnold Machin portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.

A series of gold $200 coins were released with the Koala reverse and yearly issues commemorating special occasions and events such as Charles and Diana’s Wedding, the First Fleet and Australian native fauna.

This Commonwealth Games issue was struck in uncirculated and proof finish and is Australian legal tender for two hundred dollars. They are 24mm in diameter and have full edge reeding. Each weigh 10 grams of 91.67% gold and 8.33% copper which is 22 carat equating to 0.2948 ounces of gold. The value of this coin is reflected in the trade of gold bullion, so if you have one of these coins check out the Australian Gold Coin Calculator to find out what it is worth today.

There were 77,206 uncirculated coins released at $210 and 30,032 proof coins released at $350. These issues continue to trend with gold bullion pricing.

If you are looking to pick one of these up I’d recommend paying the premium for the proof coin. Apart from the obvious higher quality coin, the proofs were issued in a capsule in a box in an outer cardboard box with a certificate of authenticity. The uncirculated versions were simply slid into a soft pvc sleeve which could lead to pvc damage, fingerprints and environmental problems. The pvc tends not to damage the coin surface because of the gold composition but over time will leave an icky sticky residue on the coin.

Posted in Collecting Coins, Investing in Coins Tagged with: ,

The 2001 Australian Centenary of Federation Series Circulation Coins

Commemorating the Centenary of Australia’s Federation, 2001 saw many coins released by the Royal Australian Mint for this special occasion. We’ve compiled a list so you can easily find the articles relevant to each issue. All of the coins listed below can be found in circulation.

Twenty Cents 20c

New South Wales
Victoria
Queensland
South Australia
Western Australia
Tasmania
Northern Territory
Australian Capital Territory
Norfolk Island

Fifty Cents 50c

Centenary of Federation (National Issue)

New South Wales
Victoria
Queensland
South Australia
Western Australia
Tasmania
Northern Territory
Australian Capital Territory
Norfolk Island

One Dollar $1

Centenary of Federation

Posted in Collecting Coins

The Complete Guide to PNC Issues Philatelic Numismatic Covers

A PNC or Postal Numismatic Cover is a joint release by the Mint (either Perth Mint or Royal Australian Mint) and Australia Post. It is an envelope usually with a design and a stamp, postmark and a coin insert.

Unofficial

1966 99 Co. PNC’s for each new decimal denomination
1969 Yarralumla PNC

Official Royal Australian Mint

1994 Year of the Family 50c
1995 Weary Dunlop End of WWII 50th Anniversary 50c
1997 Sir Donald Bradman tribute $5
1998 Bass and Flinders 50c
1999 Year of Older Persons $1
2000 The Last Anzacs $1
2000 For Valour Victoria Cross $1
2001 Army Centenary $1
2002 50th Anniversary of Accession of Queen Elizabeth II 50c
2003 50th Anniversary of Coronation Golden Jubilee 50c
2005 100 years of the Australian Open Tennis $5
2005 World Heritage Sites 50c (jointly with the UK)
2005 Queen’s Baton Relay $5
2006 Commonwealth Games $5
2007 Sydney Harbour Bridge $1
2007 The Ashes $1
2007 Year of the Surf Lifesaver 20c
2007 Bounding Kangaroos $1
2008 Centenary of Scouting 50c
2008 100 Years of Quarantine $1
2009 Australia Post Bicentenary $1
2010 Lost Soldiers of Fromelles 20c
2010 Centenary of the Australian Tax Office 20c
2010 150th Running of the Melbourne Cup 50c
2010 Centenary of Australian Commonwealth Coinage $1
2010 Centenary of Girl Guides $1
2011 National Service 50c
2011 The Ashes 20c
2011 Royal Wedding 50c
2011 The President’s Cup $1
2011 International Year of Volunteers 10th Anniversary 20c
2011 Remembrance Day 11/11/11 $5
2012 Australian Open Tennis 100th Mens Championship $5
2012 Australian Open $1 (contains 2 coins)
2012 Year of Co-operatives $1
2012 Sir Douglas Mawson 1 dollar
2012 Sumatran Tiger coloured 1 dollar
2012 Remembrance Day Coloured Poppy $2 Cmm
2012 50th Anniversary of the Australian Ballet 50c
2012 Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee 50 cent
2012 AFL Premiers $1 Sydney Swans PNC
2013 50 Years of the Bathurst Endurance Race 50c
2013 Surfing Australia 50c
2013 Canberra Centenary 20 cent
2013 100 Years of Commonwealth Stamps (Kangaroo and Map) 50 cent PNC
2013 100 Years of Commonwealth Stamps (Kangaroo and Map) M Counterstamp 50 cent PNC World Stamp Expo 6 different foil colour postmarks
2013 Black Caviar 1 dollar PNC (non-coloured dollar)
2013 Black Caviar 1oz fine silver proof Dollar in PNC (mintage 100)
2013 Parliament House 20 cent PNC
2013 Army Chaplains 20c PNC, individually numbered limited to 300 $29.95
2013 AFL Premiers Hawthorn Dollar PNC
2013 Holey Dollar and Dump (C mintmark) 1 Dollar PNC
2013/2014 Royal Baby 50c Christening PNC (limited mintage 14,000)
2013/14 The Urn Returns The Ashes 20c PNC (limited mintage 7,500 individually numbered)
2014 Anzac Centenary $1 PNC circulation commemorative coin
2014 Centenary of the Sydney/Emden Engagement 50c PNC (Battle of Cocos NCLT 50c)
2014 Things that Sting Bull Ant coloured $1 PNC (max mintage 11,000 issue price $15.95)
2014 AFL Premiers Hawthorn $1 PNC (individually numbered 5,000 issued @ $24.95)
2014 Remembrance Green Coloured $2 PNC
2014 Remembrance 2012 Red Poppy $2 and 2014 Green $2 PNC (limited mintage 1,111 Gold Foil postmark)

2015 100 years of Commonwealth management of lighthouses $1 PNC ($15.95, 9,000 mintage)
2015 800th Anniversary of the Magna Carta 20c (issued at $15.95, 7,500 limited and numbered)
2015 Netball World Cup 20c (issued at $19.95, 9,000 limited mintage)
2015 Netball World Cup 20c PNC Overprint
(Melbourne ANDA show 22-23 August 2015 overprint limited and numbered 250 issued, Sydney ANDA show overprint limited and numbered 150 issued)
2015 Gallipoli Campaign 50c PNC (12,000 issued @ $15.95 each)
2015 Welcome Princess Charlotte of Cambridge 50 cent PNC limited top 9,000 issued @ $15.95
2015 Longest Reigning Monarch 50c PNC (711260 issue price $15.95)
2015 Long May She Reign joint collection PNC with Longest Reigning Monarch commemorative 50 cent an UK crown (250 issued @ $149.95)
2015 Unlikely Heroes PNC, Murphy the Donkey Unlikely Heroes Series coloured dollar (711251, 10,500 produced, issued for $15.95)
2015 Unlikely Heroes Animals at War Limited Edition PNC (features coloured donkey dollar). Individually numbered foil postmark, only 300 produced $39.95
2015 NRL Moments that Matter $1 2015 Premiers Cowboys limited and individually numbered 3,000 issued, $24.95
2015 AFL Premiers $1 PNC Hawthorn limited and individually numbered 3,000 issued, $24.95
2015 Remembrance Day (Orange) $2 PNC ($19.95, max issue 11,000))
2015 Remembrance Day Special Edition (Orange) $2 PNC (limited and numbered 1,111 issued, red foil postmark, issue price $49.95)
2015 The History of the Victoria Cross limited edition PNC with 2014 1oz silver proof $5 coin, limited to 150 only issued @ $149.95

2016 50th Anniversary of Decimal Currency $1 PNC (9,000 max issue price $17.95)
2016 50th Anniversary of Decimal Currency $2 PNC (9,000 max issue price $19.95)
2016 Fair Dinkium Aussie alphabet “Q” coloured dollar (for Queensland) issued at $17.95
2016 Fair Dinkium Aussie alphabet “W” coloured dollar (for Western Australia) issued at $17.95
2016 Fair Dinkum Aussie Alphabet “T” coloured dollar. T is for… (7,500 max issued at $17.95) Postmarked Launceston Tas Blue cover
2016 Fair Dinkum Aussie Alphabet “T” coloured dollar. T is for… Melbourne ANDA show issue 200 individually numbered issued at $35 Green cover
2016 Remembrance 100 years of ANZAC dollar PNC (9,000 max issue issue price $17.95)
2016 1968 HK Holden Monaro GTS coloured 50 cent PNC (8,000 max issue price $24.95)
2016 1968 HK Holden Monaro GTS coloured 50 cent ANDA Melbourne Money Expo limited edition PNC indidually numbered max 750 issue price $45
2016 1953 FJ Holden coloured 50 cent PNC max 8,000 issue price $24.95
2016 1953 FJ Holden coloured 50 cent PNC ANDA Melbourne Money Expo individually numbered max 750 issue price $45
2016 Queen Elizabeth II 90th Birthday (Arnold) Machin portrait PNC. 2016 20 cent with young portrait of QEII used in 1966 (9,000 max issue price $17.95)
2016 Queen Elizabeth II 90th Birthday (Raphael) Maklouf portrait PNC. 2016 20 cent with portrait of QEII used in 1985 (9,000 max issue price $17.95)
2016 Queen Elizabeth II 90th Birthday (Ian) Rank-Broadley portrait PNC. 2016 standard 50 cent (9,000 max issue price $17.95)
2016 Queen Elizabeth II 90th Birthday 1966 Machin PNC ANDA Sydney Money Expo Gold Overprint individually numbered max 750
2016 Queen Elizabeth II 90th Birthday 1985 Maklouf PNC ANDA Sydney Money Expo Gold Overprint individually numbered max 750
2016 Queen Elizabeth II 90th Birthday 1998 Rank-Broadley PNC ANDA Sydney Money Expo Gold Overprint individually numbered max 750

2017 Holden HX Sandman Panel Van PNC (released 30 March 2017, issue price $24.95)
2017 Holden LJ Torana 6TR-XU1 PNC (released 30 March 2017, issue price $24.95)
2017 Holden FB PNC (Day 1 release at the Melbourne 2017 Stamp Exhibition, 1,000 issued, issue price $35)
2017 Holden EH PNC (Day 2 release at the Melbourne 2017 Stamp Exhibition, 1,000 issued, issue price $35)
2017 Holden HQ Kingswood PNC (Day 3 release at the Melbourne 2017 Stamp Exhibition, 1,000 issued, issue price $35)
2017 Holden VC Commodore PNC (Day 4 release at the Melbourne 2017 Stamp Exhibition, 1,000 issued, issue price $35)
2017 Ford Cortina MK1 PNC (issue price $24.95)
2017 Ford XY Falcon GTHO PNC (issue price $24.95)
2017 1967 Referendum PNC with Mabo 50c (issue price $17.95, limited to 7,500)
2017 Lest We Forget C mintmark $2 PNC (issue price $19.95, 9,000 issued) incl. Brisbane ANDA overprint (individually numbered 750 mintage)
2017 Trans-Australia railway dollar C mintmark PNC (issue price $17.95)
2017 Fair Dinkum Aussie Alphabet “K” pnc (issue price $17.95, 5,500 issued)
2017 Remembrance Day (Rosemary) C mintmark $2 PNC (issue price $19.95, 8,000 issued) Postmarked 11/11/17
2017 Lest We Forget (Rosemary) C mintmark $2 PNC red foil postmark ballot issue (issue price $49.95, individually numbered, limited to 1,111) Postmarked 11am 11/11/17
2017 25th anniversary of International Day of People with Disability 20c (issue price $17.95, unconfirmed 7,000 issued)
2017 70th Anniversary of the Royal Wedding prestige PNC with fine silver 50c (18.24g not 1oz) blue foil postmark individually numbered ballot issue (issue price $139.95, only 120 produced)

Official Perth Mint

2004 Eureka Stockade $5
2005 Year of the Rooster 50c
2006 Year of the Dog 50c
2006 Queen’s 80th Birthday 50c
2006 Dame Edna Barry Humphries 50c
2007 Year of the Pig 50c
2007 50th Anniversary of the SAS
2008 Year of the Rat $1
2008 World Youth Day $1
2008 Beijing Olympics $1
2008 150 years of Australian Football $1
2008 Remembrance End of WWII $1
2009 Year of the Ox $1
2009 200 Years of Australian Post $1
2009 Stargazing $1
2010 Year of the Tiger
2010 Shanghai World Expo $1
2010 Centenary of Powered Flight $1
2010 Burke and Wills $1
2010 Lachlan Macquarie $1
2011 Queen Elizabeth II 85th Birthday $1
2011 Year of the Rabbit $1
2011 Dame Nellie Melba $1
2011 Royal Australian Navy $1
2011 Centenary of Duntroon RMC $1
2011 Bush Babies Koala $1 (issue 1 of 5)
2011 Bush Babies Dingo $1 (issue 2 of 5)
2011 Bush Babies Kangaroo $1
2011 Bush Babies Bilby $1 (issue 3 of 5)
2011 Bush Babies Sugar Glider $1
2011 Christmas $1
2012 London Olympics 3 coin pnc 1 dollar
2012 The Road to London 1 dollar
2012 London Olympics Gold Medallists PNC Collection (7 pnc’s all with the same 1 dollar coins)
2012 Year of the Dragon 1 dollar
2012 Anzac Day 1 dollar
2012 Merry Christmas $1

2013 Year of the Snake 1 dollar
2013 Bush Babies II Kookaburra 1 dollar
2013 Bush Babies II Possum 1 dollar
2013 Bush Babies II Platypus 1 dollar
2013 Bush Babies II Echidna 1 dollar
2013 Bush Babies II Wombat 1 dollar
2013 Bush Babies PNC Collection Series I (set of 5 PNCs) $159.95
2013 Bush Babies PNC Collection Series II (set of 5 PNCs) $159.95
2013 Royal Baby Birth of a Prince (George) 1 dollar PNC limited to 12,000, $15.95
2013 Royal Baby Birth of a Prince (George) 1 dollar PNC World Stamp Expo Gold Foil Postmark limited to 300
2013 Christmas 1 Dollar PNC
2013 60th Anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation 1oz silver proof coin in PNC (numbered, foil postmark, mintage 100 $149.95)
2013 Ludwig Leichhardt 1813-c.1848 1 Dollar PNC (Australia/Germany Joint Issue)
2014 Centenary of Military 1914-2014 Aviation & Submarines (2 x aluminium bronze dollars) PNC (mintage 10,000 $24.95)
2014 100th Anniversary of the Australian Red Cross PNC (aluminium bronze $1, mintage 10,000 $15.95)
2014 150th Anniversary of A.B “Banjo” Patterson PNC (aluminium bronze $1, $15.95)
2015 Birth of a Princess $1 PNC, limited to 9,000 issued @ $15.95
2015 100th anniversary of lighthouse service $1 PNC ($15.95)
2015 Long May She Reign $1 PNC (9,000 issued, issue price $15.95)
2015 Christmas dollar PNC ($15.95) individually numbered limited to 8,000 issued
2015 Christmas dollar PNC gold foil postmark ($39.95) individually numbered limited to 300 issued
2016 Year of the Monkey $1 PNC issued at $17.95. Also issued gold foil Perth ANDA Money Expo overprint individually numbered 100 issued @ $30 each
2016 On your Wedding Day $1 PNC (individually numbered max 3,500 issued $19.95)

2017 Henry Lawson $1 PNC (7,500 issued, $17.95 each).
2017 Henry Lawson $1 PNC Melbourne ANDA Money Expo issue foil overprint (limited to 500)
2017 The Australian Light Horse $1 PNC (limited to 9,000, issue price $17.95) incl. Brisbane ANDA overprint (individually numbered 500 mintage)
2017 Women in War A Century of Service $1 PNC (limited to 7,500, issue price $17.95).
2017 Women in War A Century of Service $1 PNC Sydney ANDA Money Expo foil overprint individually numbered (750 issued),
2017 Women in War A Century of Service $1 PNC Adelaide Stampex postmark individually numbered (100 each day, 300 total, issue price $35.
2017 Christmas Season’s Greetings $1 PNC (limited to 7,000, $17.95 issue price).
2017 Christmas Season’s Greetings $1 PNC Green foil postmarked individually numbered (300 produced, $39.95 issue price)

Official Joint Perth Mint and Royal Australian Mint

2000 Sydney Olympic Games Swimming $5
2000 Sydney Olympic Games Athletics $5
2013 Centenary of the first Commonwealth Banknote Royal Australian Mint 20 cent and Perth Mint 1 dollar.

Note: Some issues contain standard circulation type coins and some NCLT or Non-Circulating Legal Tender.

Posted in Collecting Coins

1981 Australian $200 Charles and Diana Gold Coin

1981 Charles and Diana $200 Gold Coin

1981 Charles and Diana $200 Gold Coin

Following on from the $200 gold coin program started in 1980 with the Koala Reverse $200 gold coin was the Charles and Diana Royal Wedding $200 gold coin issued in 1981. Struck to brilliant uncirculated standard only it was minted from 10.0 grams of 0.9167 fine gold (22 carat) which converts to 0.2948 ounces of gold. At the time of writing the gold content of this coin was worth about US$400 but you can check todays value using our Gold Coin Calculator. The reverse of the coin depicts the famous royal couple, Chuck and Di, using the same design which we talked about in this Chuck and Di 50c coin entry. This design was the one officially endorsed by the Royal Family and used on many coins around the world to celebrate what was arguably the most popular wedding of the 20th Century. Perhaps the wedding of the couple’s son Prince William, will be as popular and as well represented on the proposed new RAM Wills and Kate coin.

Minted only in 1981 the Royal Wedding $200 gold coin has the Arnold Machin portrait of the Prince’s mother. The Reverse was designed by Stuart Devlin. 77,890 of the coins were minted with an initial issue price of $240.

Through a little bit of internet magic the current bullion value (live price today at the time you view this page!) for the Australian $200 Charles and Diana 200 dollar gold coin is AUD $1,498.58. This value is updated every hour or so using the current gold price and exchange rates from Currency Layer.

Posted in Collecting Coins Tagged with: ,

Australian 50 Cent Coins : 2004 Student Design 50c

Australia 2004 Student Design 50c -circulation coin

Australia 2004 Student Design 50c -circulation coin


The 2004 student design 50c coin shown above was released by the Royal Australian Mint into general circulation.

This 50c is the standard 31.51mm dodecagonal coin with plain edging. It is copper nickel weighing 15.55g. The obverse is the standard Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Queen Elizabeth II. The reverse was designed by 12 year old John Serrano, a year 5 student at St Peter’s Primary School in East Keilor Victoria. Vladimir Gottwald took John’s design and sculpted into the 3 dimensional design which was used on the dies to strike this coin.

John was the winner of the Mint’s Primary School Student Coin Design Competition of which there were just under 2,600 entries. The theme for the design was “Australia”. It was the public who determined the winner by voting on the RAM website. John won $10,000 for his school in the competition. It was held following the success of a similar competition in which school children designed the state series of 20c pieces in 2001. His design features a koala, wombat, lorikeet and the initials JS.

The design was originally just for a collector piece but it was later decided to release it into circulation

10,200,000 of these coins were issued into circulation.
36,902 uncirculated coins were issued in an informative card.
8,203 proof coins were struck in 99.9% fine silver.

2004 Student Design Uncirculated with Card (image courtesy www.ramint.gov.au)

2004 Student Design Uncirculated with Card (image courtesy www.ramint.gov.au)

Posted in Collecting Coins

2002 Year of the Outback 50 cent

Australia 2002 Year of the Outback 50c - found in change

Australia 2002 Year of the Outback 50c – found in change

The 2002 Year of the Outback 50 cent coin shown above is a circulation 50c released by the Royal Australian Mint and can be found in your change.

It commemorates 2002 as ‘Year of the Outback’ promoting the vast expanses of barren land the Australian Outback. It raised community awareness of the land and our heritage bringing together Australians and their powerful national spirit. Many events were held and school children studied the Australian landscape and features promoting awareness of the country.

This 50c is the standard 31.51mm dodecagonal coin with plain edging. It is copper nickel weighing 15.55g. In 2002 other coins were issued promoting the Year of the Outback including a one dollar and a $5 silver proof.

The reverse design by Wojciech Pietranik features a windmill. This iconic outback feature that stands guard over our precious water supplies can be likened to the Hills Hoist that can be found in every Australian backyard. The obverse of this coin is the standard Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Queen Elizabeth II.

11,507,000 of these coins were issued into circulation. 68,752 Mint Sets were produced which included this coin in uncirculated condition. 39,514 proof coins can be found in the proof year sets.

Posted in Collecting Coins

2001 Centenary of Federation 50 Cent Coin

Australia 2001 Centenary of Federation 50c - found in change

Australia 2001 Centenary of Federation 50c – found in change

The Centenary of Federation 50c coin shown above is a circulation 50c coin in the 2001 series commemorating 100 years of Federation released by the Royal Australian Mint and can be found in your change.

The reverse design features the Australian Coat of Arms. This Coat of Arms consists of a shield depicting the badges of the six Australian States. Aside the shield are a Red Kangaroo and Emu. These animals symbolise a nation moving forward. Above the shield is a seven pointed star on a wreath, each point representing the 6 States and one for the Territories. Below are sprays of Golden Wattle and ‘Australia’ in a scroll.

This 50c is the standard 31.51mm dodecagonal coin with plain edging. It is copper nickel weighing 15.55g. In 2001 there were many coins released into circulation commemorating the Centenary of Federation including a one dollar coin, 50c and 20c issues. This is just one in a series which includes 9 fifty cent coins depicting each state and territory of Australia that were joined together in 1901 at Australia’s Federation.

The obverse of this coin is the standard Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Queen Elizabeth II.

43,149,600 of these coins were issued into circulation.

Mintages of this coin in other sets can be seen below:

21,040 uncirculated coins were released included in incomplete 20 coin sets
13,000 proof coins were released in incomplete 20 coin sets
These sets were released with the Centenary of Federation one dollar and the 20c for NSW and 50c National Issue and for NSW. It was up to collectors to purchase each other State’s coin to compete the sets.

The proof version found in the 2001 Australian Proof sets was a coloured coin and there were 59,569 of these sets produced.

90,822 Mint Sets were also produced which included this coin in uncirculated condition.

Posted in Collecting Coins

Australian 50 Cent Coins : 2006 50c The Round 50c of 1966 Revisited

Australia 2006 Round Silver 50c in Proof Set.

Australia 2006 Round Silver 50c in Proof Set (IRB Mature obverse)

When Australia changed to decimal currency in 1966 the 50c was originally round in shape, was made of 80% silver and depicted a young Queen Elizabeth II her portrait designed by Arnold Machin. It was quickly withdrawn from circulation as the value of the silver content exceeded it’s face value. In 1969 the new 50c piece had changed it’s shape to the 12 sided dodecahedron that we see in our change today.

To mark the 40th anniversary (in 2006) of our transition to decimalisation in Australia the Royal Australian Mint has revisited our original 50c in shape and composition. Included in the Eight Coin Proof Sets issued for 2006 was this 31.51mm round 50 cent made from 80% silver and 20% copper. It weighs slightly less than it’s dodecagonal cousins at 13.28grams. This proof set also included 2006 strikes of the 1c and 2c pieces that were also removed from circulation. 45,373 of these sets were minted.

This 2006 round silver 50c features the original standard Coat of Arms depicted by Stuart Devlin. The obverse features the standard 2006 obverse by Ian Rank-Broadley.

The Proof Fine Silver Set (5,829 minted) for 2006 also included this round design in 99.9% pure silver but the obverse portrayed the Queen in her younger days, the Arnold Machin portrait of her used in 1966.

Posted in Collecting Coins Tagged with: ,

1998 Bass and Flinders 50 Cent Coin

Australia 1998 Bass and Flinders 50c - found in circulation

Australia 1998 Bass and Flinders 50c – found in circulation

1998 commemorated 200 years since the voyage of George Bass and Matthew Flinders which proved that Tasmania was an island. This voyage in 1798 in the sailing boat the “Norfolk”, Bass and Flinders circumnavigated the island of Van Diemen’s Land (which became Tasmania in 1856) establishing that it was in fact separated from the main part of Australia by a strait of water.  Flinders recommended to the Governor of the colony of New South Wales in 1800 that the strait be named after George Bass as “Bass’s Strait” which it was duly named and later known more simply as Bass Strait.

The 1998 50 cent is the normal  50 cent size and shape, dodecagonal (12 sided) 31.51mm copper (75%) nickel (25%) weighing in at 15.55 grams with a plain edge. The reverse design consists of portraits of Bass and Flinders, a map and a depiction of the route they took around Tasmania. It was designed by Royal Australian Mint designer Vladimir Gottwald. The standard obverse features the Raphael Maklouf portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.

22,426,000 of these coins were issued into circulation. It was included in the Mint set for 1998 of which 74,108 were issued and the proof set with a mintage of 32,225. The commemorative issue was also included in the baby mint set (31,810 produced) and baby proof sets (5,269 produced) for 1998.

It was also released in specimen quality in a PNC jointly with Australia Post of which there was a mintage of 85,004. 3,000 of these were released at the Sydney ANDA show Oct 30, 31 and Nov 1 (1,000 each day) with a differing postmark.

Posted in Collecting Coins

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Current Coin Values, Bullion Prices and Exchange Rates

AUD $18.93
Australian 1966 Round 50c
AUD $1,197.08
Gold Sovereign
AUD $1,498.58
Australian $200 Gold Coin
AUD $55.42
Silver Price (per Oz)
AUD $5,084.86
Gold Price (per Oz)
USD $0.6512
Australian Dollar

 
These values are updated hourly using New York market prices. Coin values are purely the value of the gold or silver they contain and do not account for any numismatic value.
Prices Last Updated: 04:04 10 Jun 2025

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