| Coin | Fifty Cents 2001 Centenary of Federation - Australian Capital Territory |
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In 2001, Australia released a series of coins to commemorate the Centenary of Federation (100 years since the separate states federated and formed the Commonwealth of Australia). There were ten different designs for fifty cent coins which marked the occasion - a common "Australia" design plus one each for the six states (New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia), the two territories (Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory) and for Norfolk Island.
A parallel series was issued in the 20 Cents denomination.
These coins have now been in circulation for 24 years.
No regular fifty cent coins (with the usual Coat of Arms design by Stuart Devlin) were made in 2001. |
| Mint | Royal Australian Mint |
Mint Mark | No mint mark |
Total Mintage |
2,085,539 (2.1 million)
, Rarity: N (Normal) |
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| Obverse | |
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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.
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| Reverse | |
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The reverse design features the Coat of Arms of the City of Canberra (the Australian Capital Territory itself has no Coat of Arms) granted by King George V in 1928, representing one of 9 states and territories that make up Australia.
This Coat of Arms features a castle representing the National Capital with the sword of justice and mace of the Australian Parliament intersecting above, inside the shield. Below the shield is the Rose of York commemorating the role the Duke of York played in the opening of Parliament on 1 May 1927. Above the shield sits a gate and crown representing the heritage from the Westminster system of government. Behind the gate is a gum tree representing the growth of the "bush capital". Beside the shield stands a pair of swans, one black and the other white representing Aboriginal and European people. Below, the city's motto appears in a banner Pro Rege, Lege et Grege ("For the King/Queen, the Law and the People").
Flanking the Coat of Arms are the dates 1901 and 2001. Around above, CENTENARY OF FEDERATION. Below the Coat of Arms in two lines, AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY. Around below, the denomination and value FIFTY CENTS. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
CENTENARY OF FEDERATION 1901 2001 AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY FIFTY CENTS |
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| Edge | Plain | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Mintage figure includes:
2,000,000 circulation coins dated 2001, minted in the 2001/2002 financial year (ending 30 June)
54,283 brilliant uncirculated coins in sets, minted 2000/2001
2,496 brilliant uncirculated coins in sets, minted 2001/2002
23,469 proofs, minted 2000/2001
5,291 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 53-56. Retrieved from https://www.ramint.gov.au/annual-reports (PDF) |
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