Australian round fifty-cent coin

The round fifty cent coin was the highest-denomination and largest diameter coin of the Australian dollar's decimal coins, introduced in 1966. Due to large amounts made 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.

Fifty cents
Australia
Value0.50 AUD
Mass13.28 g
Diameter31.51 mm
Thickness2.00 mm
Edgemilled
Composition80% silver, 20% copper
Years of minting1966
Catalog number
Obverse
DesignQueen Elizabeth II, Australia's Queen
DesignerArnold Machin
Design date1966
Reverse
DesignCoat of Arms of Australia
DesignerStuart Devlin
Design date1965

It was made of 80% silver and 20% copper, but as the value of a free-floating silver piece grew higher, the coins' bullion value became higher than their face value and so were withdrawn from circulation. A total of 36.45 million coins were minted with 14 million put into circulation.

References

  • Ian W. Pitt, ed. (2000). Renniks Australian Coin and Banknote Values (19th ed.). Chippendale, NSW: Renniks Publications. ISBN 0-9585574-4-6.
Preceded by
No modern predecessor
Fifty Cents (Australian)
1966
Succeeded by
Fifty cent coin (Australian)
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