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 a three-coin mini series dedicated to Australian poet and writer Dorothea Mackellar (1885 - 1968).
The mint says about it:
Dorothea Mackellar’s words are woven into the fabric of Australia’s cultural identity. Her poetry, rich with emotion, captures the beauty, harshness and spirit of the land she so adored. Born in 1885, Mackellar remains a literary icon, her works reflecting a profound connection to the landscapes and contrasts of her “opal-hearted country.”
Now, her timeless verses are beautifully brought to life in a set of 50 cent coins, each designed to honour her most celebrated poems.
The second coin brings to life Mackellar’s most iconic poem, My Country, a love letter to the land she described as “a wilful, lavish land” of both beauty and extremes. The design is a sweeping portrait of Australia’s diverse landscapes - sunlit beaches, green forests, fertile farmlands and rugged plains; it pays homage to the country’s dramatic contrasts. Mackellar’s famous words, “I love a sunburnt country,” echo through the design, reminding us of her ability to celebrate the land’s splendour while embracing its challenges. | 
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