Fifty Cents 2001 Centenary of Federation - Queensland, 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 Queensland Coat of Arms (the oldest in Australia, granted by Queen Victoria in 1893), representing one of 9 states and territories that make up Australia. The Coat of Arms symbolises the Queen's constitutional authority in the state. This Coat of Arms comprises of a shield featuring a sheaf of wheat, the heads of a bull and ram (representing primary industry) and a column of gold on a mound of quartz representing mining. Supporting the shield are a Brolga (the State bird -representing native-born Queenslanders) and a Red Deer (symbolising the contributions of migrants from the UK and Europe). Atop of the shield sits a helmet and (for reasons unknown) the Maltese Cross super-imposed with the Royal Crown of St Edward framed by two stalks of sugar cane.

Flanking the Coat of Arms are the dates 1901 and 2001. Around above, CENTENARY OF FEDERATION. Below the Coat of Arms, QUEENSLAND. Around below, the denomination and value FIFTY CENTS.

Mintage figure includes:
2,320,000 circulation coins dated 2001, minted in the 2001/2002 financial year (ending 30 June)
51,746 brilliant uncirculated coins in sets, minted 2000/2001
2,534 brilliant uncirculated coins in sets, minted 2001/2002
23,506 proofs, minted 2000/2001
5,404 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)