Australia | |
| Value | 0.50 AUD |
|---|---|
| Mass | 13.28 g |
| Diameter | 31.51 mm |
| Thickness | 2.00 mm |
| Edge | milled |
| Composition | 80% silver, 20% copper |
| Years of minting | 1966 |
| Catalog number | — |
| Obverse | |
 | |
| Design | Queen Elizabeth II, Australia's Queen |
| Designer | Arnold Machin |
| Design date | 1966 |
| Reverse | |
 | |
| Design | Coat of Arms of Australia |
| Designer | Stuart Devlin |
| Design date | 1965 |
The round fifty cent coin was the highest-denomination and largest diameter coin of the Australian decimal coins, introduced in 1966. Due to the large number minted in 1966, and the rising cost of silver, it was not made in any other year. It was replaced by a dodecagonal 50 cent coin in 1969, which retained its reverse of the Australian Coat of Arms.
The round fifty cent coin contained 80% silver and 20% copper but, because the value of silver quickly increased after the coins were issued, their bullion value became higher than their face value, so they were withdrawn from circulation. A total of 36.45 million coins were minted, with 14 million being put into circulation.
References[edit]
- Ian W. Pitt, ed. (2000). Renniks Australian Coin and Banknote Values (19th ed.). Chippendale, NSW: Renniks Publications. ISBN 0-9585574-4-6.
