Fifty Cents 2001 Centenary of Federation - Australia, Coin from Australia - detailed information

The obverse shows the crowned mature head of Queen Elizabeth II facing right (her effigy known as the "Fourth Portrait"). The Queen wears the "Girls of Great Britain and Ireland" diamond tiara, a wedding gift from Queen Mary (Her Majesty's grandmother) in 1947 - which she also has on the Machin and the Gottwald portraits.

In small letters below the head, the artist's initials IRB (for Ian Rank-Broadley).

Around the effigy is the monarch's legend and the date: ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2001.

The reverse design features the Australian 1912 Commonwealth Coat of Arms granted by King George V. 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 the name AUSTRALIA in a scroll.

Below, the denomination 50 [cents].

On proof coins, there is a matt background over a highly polished exergue containing the denomination numeral 50. On regular circulation coins they are not separated and the whole background is the same. The Coat of Arms is multi-coloured on proof coins.

Mintage figure includes:
3,525,000 circulation coins dated 2001, minted in the 2000/2001 financial year (ending 30 June)
39,544,000 circulation coins dated 2001, minted 2001/2002
123,430 brilliant uncirculated coins in sets, minted 2000/2001
20,926 brilliant uncirculated coins in sets, minted 2001/2002
75,825 proofs, minted 2000/2001
11,755 proofs, minted 2001/2002

Sources of original information:

Royal Australian Mint, Annual Report 2000 - 2001 (2001), pp 53, 55. Retrieved from https://www.ramint.gov.au/annual-reports (PDF)
Royal Australian Mint, Annual Report 2001 - 2002 (2002), pp 53, 55. Retrieved from https://www.ramint.gov.au/annual-reports (PDF)

The 2001 report lists 3,525 mln "Standard" 50 cent coins dated 2001. Since no "Coat of Arms" coins were minted this year, presumably this type is meant.