Largest Coin in my collection

 

 AUSTRALIA - 50 CENT

As I sifted through my collection, first task was to categorise them in any particular order.

The most obvious choice was to sort them according to their country. As easy as that may sound, this task too had it’s challenges.

Quite a few antique looking coins had inscription in languages which I nor my friends could decipher.

However, I finally managed to organise a substantial portion of the collection  according to their country of origin.

Presently, the largest coins in my collection are the Australian 50 cents coins.

They are interesting in many way – not only are they the largest but they are the only 12 sided coins in my collection i.e. regular dodecagonal coins (although there are other countries also which have issued dodecagonal coins, for example Tasmania).

(A regular Dodecagon is a 12 sided polygon with all sides equal).

As expected , the obverse of Australian coins consistently features the  image of Queen Elizabeth facing to the right (There are 5 different versions of the Queen's image since 1966).

The reverse  features the Australian coat of arms. 

However, the design on the reverse has seen numerous changes especially with the issuance of commemorative coins.

Interestingly it is mostly the 50 cent coins in which the design on the reverse has  been changed to mark certain landmark events.

I too am a proud owner of  four 50 cent coins of which three are commemorative coins.

50 cent commemorative coins in my collection

This coin was minted in 1977 to celebrate the ascension of Queen Elizabeth II.

Wattle blossom design in the centre symbolises the spirit of resilience of the Australian people and is surrounded by 25 overlapping crowns.

This coin was minted in 1982 by the Royal Australian mint to commemorate the 12th Commonwealth games in Brisbane

This coin was minted by the Royal Australian mint in 2000 to celebrate the birth of the new millennium.

Originally, the 50 cent coin was circular in shape(13.28grams & 31.65 millimetre)  and was  made of  alloy with 80% Silver and 20% Copper. 

But soon the price of Silver increased and it was no more feasible to use the same alloy for the 50 cent coins. Their shape and size was also similar to the 20 cent coins which caused confusion.

Keeping both the factors in mind, minting of 50 cent coins was stopped. In fact, for 2 years, (1967 & 1968) 50 cent coins were not minted.

 Then in 1969, dodecagonal 50 cent coins were introduced. Now, not only were their shape different from the 20 cent coins but they were  heavier and costed less than the earlier 50 cent coins as they were made now made of an alloy with 75% copper and 25% Nickel.

Present day 50 cent coin weighs 15.55gms and has a diameter of 31.65mm (across flats).

𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘𐩘