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, the denomination is also extensively used to issue circulating commemorative coins with various reverses. It is one of the heaviest coins in regular circulation in the world.
Apart from circulating coins, the Royal Australian Mint has a range of Non-Circulating Legal Tender (NCLT) 50 cent coins issued for collectors, such as this one.
This coin is part of the Australian Antarctic Territory Series, and features the Emperor Penguin.
The Australian Antarctic Territory (AAT) is a part of East Antarctica claimed by Australia as an external territory. The territory's history dates to a claim on Enderby Land made by the United Kingdom in 1841, which was subsequently expanded and eventually transferred to Australia in 1933. It is the largest territory of Antarctica claimed by any nation by area.
Named in honour of naturalist Johann Forster, who travelled with Captain James Cook on his second voyage of discovery (1772 - 1775), the Emperor Penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) is the largest of all penguins, growing to around a metre tall. Emperors are endemic to Antarctica, including the Australian Antarctic Territory. They are well adapted to the frigid southern continent and alone among penguins, are capable of breeding during the icy winter.
Once regarded as a species of least concern, Emperor Penguins are now classed as near threatened, due to reduction of their food source from commercial fishing and climate change induced loss of sea ice. | 
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