Fifty Cents 2025 Dorothea Mackellar - The Colours of Light, 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, 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 final coin, inspired by The Colours of Light, is a vivid tribute to Mackellar’s lyrical mastery of colour and movement. Featuring a dazzling peacock, radiant flowers, and lush plants, this design reflects her poetic celebration of nature’s vibrancy. Mackellar has been described as a “lyricist of light,” and this coin embodies her ability to paint the Australian landscape with words. These coins are more than exquisite works of art; they are a tangible connection to Mackellar’s legacy. Available as a three-coin collection or individually, they offer poetry lovers and collectors a chance to hold a piece of Australia’s cultural heritage. This series ensures that Mackellar’s vision endures for generations to come.