Fifty Cents Coat of Arms, Coin Type from Australia (showing photos)

Fifty Cents Coat of Arms, Coin Type from Australia (issued 1969 - )

Coin Type	Fifty Cents Coat of Arms

The 50 cent coin was first introduced with decimalisation on 14 February 1966. This original design featured the Commonwealth Coat of Arms struck on an 80 per cent silver coin. Silver prices rose above the face value of the coin in 1967 and striking of the coin was suspended in March 1968. Although it was rumoured that the Royal Australian Mint had lost money on striking these coins, all metal used in the manufacture of the 36.5 million coins produced was purchased before the price rises.

Apart from the uneconomic cost of continuing the issue of the silver 50 cents, significant negative comment arose from confusion of the circular coin with the 20 cents. The decision to reissue a 50 cent coin considered not only a change to materials but also different shapes to help solve confusion with the 20 cents. A new shape and alloy was reintroduced into circulation in September 1969. These new dodecagonal (12-sided) coins have been used since. Their composition is 75% copper and 25% nickel; their size is 31.65 millimetres (across flats).

Obverse

The obverse of the coin depicts the portrait of the ruling monarch.

The inclusion of an effigy of the monarch on the obverse of Australia's coinage is mandated by Regulation 4 (c) of the Currency Regulations made under the Currency Act 1965. Portraits of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II have all faced to the right in line with a convention, said to have commenced with Charles II (1660-1685), that the new Monarch's portrait would face in a direction opposite to that of their predecessor. Consequently, the portrait of King Charles III faces left.

Obverse Inscription	Legend of the ruling monarch, date

Reverse

The reverse of the coin depicts the Arms of the Commonwealth of Australia, based on those authorised by Royal Warrant 19 September 1912 - composed of a shield divided into six parts, each containing a representation of the badge of a State. The shield is supported by a kangaroo and an emu.

The shield sits on the denomination numerals, 50 [cents]; above the shield is the Federation star. The entire design is set above a field of stylized wattle leaves.

The artist's initials SD (for Stuart Devlin) in (very) tiny letters are in the field below the numerals.

Reverse Inscription	50

Edge	Plain	Edge Inscription	None

Notes	If you keep your coins in 2x2 cardboard holders, the best size for regular fifty cent coins is 35mm.

Advertising

Buy Silver Coins Online

Coin Type: Fifty Cents Coat of Arms - (50) Coins

Coin Name	Reverse	Obverse	Details
Fifty Cents 1969			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 14,028,000
Fifty Cents 1971			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 21,066,000
Fifty Cents 1972			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 5,596,000
Fifty Cents 1973			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 4,019,000
Fifty Cents 1974			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 8,973,000
Fifty Cents 1975			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 19,048,000
Fifty Cents 1976			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 27,301,000
Fifty Cents 1977 Coat of Arms			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: unknown
Fifty Cents 1978			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 25,804,000
Fifty Cents 1978 Fiji Mule			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: unknown
Fifty Cents 1979			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 24,922,000
Fifty Cents 1980			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 38,749,000
Fifty Cents 1981			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 24,254,000
Fifty Cents 1983			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 49,003,000
Fifty Cents 1984			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 26,342,000
Fifty Cents 1985			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 1,075,000
Fifty Cents 1986 (mint sets only)			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 247,000
Fifty Cents 1987 (mint sets only)			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 270,000
Fifty Cents 1988 Coat of Arms			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: unknown
Fifty Cents 1989 (mint sets only)			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: unknown
Fifty Cents 1990 (mint sets only)			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: unknown
Fifty Cents 1992 (mint sets only)			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: unknown
Fifty Cents 1993			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 1,000,000
Fifty Cents 1996			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 19,297,000
Fifty Cents 1997			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 4,340,000
Fifty Cents 1999			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 20,346,000
Fifty Cents 2004			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 17,918,000
Fifty Cents 2005 (PNC only)			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 30,000
Fifty Cents 2006			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 59,300,000
Fifty Cents 2007			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 19,900,000
Fifty Cents 2008			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 33,000,000
Fifty Cents 2009			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 19,000,000
Fifty Cents 2010			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 22,200,000
Fifty Cents 2011			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 14,400,000
Fifty Cents 2012			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 17,600,000
Fifty Cents 2013			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 18,800,000
Fifty Cents 2014			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 17,700,000
Fifty Cents 2015			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 19,400,000
Fifty Cents 2016			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 25,500,000
Fifty Cents 2017			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 8,200,000
Fifty Cents 2018			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 4,660,000
Fifty Cents 2019 (Fourth Portrait)			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 1,050,000
Fifty Cents 2019 (Fifth Portrait)			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 870,000
Fifty Cents 2020			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 720,000
Fifty Cents 2021			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: 1,440,000
Fifty Cents 2022			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: unknown
Fifty Cents 2023			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: unknown
Fifty Cents 2023 Memorial Obverse			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: unknown
Fifty Cents 2024			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: unknown
Fifty Cents 2025			Material: CuproNickel Mint: Royal Australian Mint Mintage: unknown

Advertising

Royal Mint

Fifty Cents Coat of Arms: Details

Country	Australia
Currency	Australian Dollar
Sub-type of	Fifty Cents
From	1969
Face Value	50 (x Cent)
Current	Yes
Material	CuproNickel
Designer	Stuart Devlin
Technology	Milled (machine-made)
Shape	Dodecagon - twelve sides
Orientation	Coin Alignment (Axis 6)
Size	31.6500 mm
Mass	15.5500 g

Advertising

Coins of England and the United Kingdom 2024 Pre-decimal Issues

Fifty Cents Coat of Arms: Photos

Image	Details
	Cn 50 cent, Canberra Copyright: American Numismatic Society / CC BY NC Notes: Proof. Source
	Cn 50 cent, Canberra Copyright: American Numismatic Society / CC BY NC Notes: Proof. Source

Relevant Links

Fifty Cents | Royal Australian Mint

Australian Coin Collecting Blog - The Australian Coat of Arms 50c

Fifty Cents Coat of Arms, Coin Type from Australia - detailed information