| Coin | Ten Dollars Silver 1982 XII Commonwealth Games |
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The regular circulating coinage of Australia includes coins from 5 cents up to two dollars. Apart from those, the Royal Australian Mint also issues non-circulating coins for collectors, some of which are made of silver and denominated as $10 (ten dollars). These are not bullion, since they are sold at prices much higher than the intrinsic value of the precious metal they contain.
This is the first silver ten-dollar coin issued by Australia; it commemorates the XII Commonwealth Games held in Brisbane, Australia, from 30 September to 9 October 1982.
The 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane were opened by the Duke of Edinburgh, closed by Queen Elizabeth II and took place at both the QEII Stadium in Nathan Brisbane and the Sleeman Sports Complex in Chandler. 45 Commonwealth nations and territories participated in the Games and sports contested included athletics, boxing, cycling, weightlifting and wrestling. During the Games Australia came out on top in terms of the number of both gold and silver medals won but England beat them in the total number of medals won throughout the competition.
The 1982 Commonwealth Games Logo was designed by Hugh Edwards, who was the winner of a nationwide competition held in 1978. The symbol is derived from the form of a bounding kangaroo. The three bands, forming stylized A's (for Australia), are in red, white ans blue - colours which are common to flags of many Commonwealth countries. |
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| Obverse | |
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The obverse of the coin shows the crowned and draped young bust of Queen Elizabeth II facing right (her effigy known as the "Second Portrait", by Arnold Machin).
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 Rank-Broadley and the Gottwald portraits.
Around, the monarch's legend and the date of issue: ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1982.
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| Reverse | |
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At centre, the design features the XII Commonwealth Games resembling three letters A rotated at 120 degrees, superimposed on the map of Australia. Surrounding this are twelve shields carrying representations of athletes competing in twelve games sports: Lawn Bowls, Shooting, Table Tennis, Badminton, Athletics, Archery, Australian Rules Football, Wrestling, Swimming, Boxing, Cycling and Weightlifting. In the background, rays radiating from the centre.
Around above, the inscription XII COMMONWEALTH GAMES BRISBANE; around below, the face value : 10 DOLLARS :. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
XII COMMONWEALTH GAMES BRISBANE : 10 DOLLARS : |
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| Edge | Plain | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | The coin is made of sterling silver (92.5%).
Mintage includes 125,700 Brilliant Uncirculated coins distributed in a red vinyl wallet, and 85,142 proofs issued in a presentation box with a Certificate of Authenticity. Of the latter, 75,094 are in Royal Australian Mint boxes, and 10,048 in boxes branded with the name of "Stokes & Son of Melbourne" - a medal making company (founded 1856) which was subcontracted by the mint to strike some of the proofs due to industrial action limiting the capacity of the mint at the time; the coins themselves are identical, the only difference is in the text on the box. |
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