Fifty Cents 2006 (Silver, Second Portrait), Coin from Australia - detailed information

The Australian 50 cent denomination was first introduced as a silver coin with decimalisation on 14 February 1966, but was changed in 1969 to its current specifications: a large dodecagonal (12-sided) copper-nickel coin; apart from the usual design featuring the Australian Coat of Arms (by Stuart Devlin) which has not been changed since its introduction, the denomination is also often used to issue circulating commemorative coins with various reverses. It is one of the heaviest coins in regular circulation in the world.

Apart from the circulating coinage, the Royal Australian Mint has an extensive program issuing 50 cent coins for collectors (Non-Circulating Legal Tender, or NCLT). Some of them - such as this one - are round, as reference to the original format of the denomination.

In 2006, the Royal Australian Mint produced some for mint sets (brilliant uncirculated coins and proofs), celebrating the 40th anniversary of the decimal currency. The silver proofs (only) have Her Majesty's "Second Portrait" (by Arnold Machin), which was last used in Australia in 1984.

The 8-coin Fine Silver Proof 2006 Year Set contains 1 cent, 2 cents, 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents (round), $1 and $2 coins - all with the Queen's Second Portrait by Arnold Machin, as the initial decimal coins released in 1966.

This 50 cent coin is a re-issue of the original 1966 issue - not only in that it has the same effigy of the Queen, but also because it has the round shape of the original.

The coins were made of 99.9% silver. No coins of this type were released into circulation.