Twenty Cents 2012 Bombing of Darwin, Coin from Australia - detailed information

Twenty Cents 2012 Bombing of Darwin, Coin from Australia
CoinTwenty Cents 2012 Bombing of Darwin

The Australian 20 cent coin was first introduced with decimalisation on 14 February 1966 when it replaced the pre-decimal Australian florin, to which it is equal in size and mass. The original reverse design by Stuart Devlin has not been changed since its introduction.

The denomination is occasionally used by both the Royal Australian Mint and the Perth Mint to issue collector coins, which are legal tender in Australia - such as this one.

This coin commemorates 70 years since the bombing of Darwin.

The Bombing of Darwin, also known as the Battle of Darwin, on 19 February 1942 was the largest single attack ever mounted by a foreign power on Australia. On that day, 242 Japanese aircraft, in two separate raids, attacked the town, ships in Darwin's harbour and the town's two airfields in an attempt to prevent the Allies from using them as bases to contest the invasion of Timor and Java during World War II.

Darwin was lightly defended relative to the size of the attack, and the Japanese inflicted heavy losses upon Allied forces at little cost to themselves. The urban areas of Darwin also suffered some damage from the raids and there were a number of civilian casualties. More than half of Darwin's civilian population left the area permanently, before or immediately after the attack.

The two Japanese air raids were the first, and largest, of more than 100 air raids against Australia during 1942 - 1943. The event happened just four days after the Fall of Singapore, when a combined Commonwealth force surrendered to the Japanese, the largest surrender in British history.

No coins of this type were issued into circulation.

MintRoyal Australian Mint Mint MarkNo mint mark Mintageunknown
Obverse
Australia / Twenty Cents 2012 Bombing of Darwin - obverse photo

The obverse shows the crowned mature head of Queen Elizabeth II facing right (her effigy known as the "Fourth Portrait"). 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 Machin and the Gottwald portraits.

In small letters below the head, the artist's initials IRB (for Ian Rank-Broadley).

Around the effigy is the monarch's legend and the date: ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2012.

Obverse Inscription ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2012
Reverse
Australia / Twenty Cents 2012 Bombing of Darwin - reverse photo

The reverse of the coin depicts the outline of a soldier looking at the skies through binoculars, with two naval guns in the background.

Above right, the value 20 [cents].

Around below, the inscription BOMBING OF AUSTRALIA 1942.

Reverse Inscription 20 BOMBING OF AUSTRALIA 1942
EdgeMilledEdge InscriptionNone
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Twenty Cents 2012 Bombing of Darwin: Details
CountryAustralia
CurrencyAustralian Dollar
Coin TypeTwenty Cents, NCLT
Issued2012
MonarchQueen Elizabeth II
EffigyQueen Elizabeth II - Fourth Portrait, by Ian Rank-Broadley
Face Value20 (x Cent)
Mintageunknown
CurrentYes
MaterialCuproNickel
TechnologyMilled (machine-made)
ShapeRound
OrientationMedal Alignment (Axis 0)
Size28.6500 mm
Thickness2.5200 mm
Mass11.3000 g
OCC IDRNAZ-EGWC-NVZL-EXJL
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Twenty Cents 2012 Bombing of Darwin: Photos
ImageDetails
Twenty Cents 2012 Bombing of Darwin: Photo 2012 20 cents Bombing of Darwin / thumbnail 2012 20 cents Bombing of Darwin
Copyright: Downies
Source
Twenty Cents 2012 Bombing of Darwin: Photo 2012 20 cents Bombing of Darwin / thumbnail 2012 20 cents Bombing of Darwin
Copyright: Downies
Source