| Coin | Two Dollars 2016 Changeover |
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On the 50th anniversary of Australian decimal currency, the Royal Australian Mint released a special series of coins commemorating the earlier, pre-decimal currency of the country. The modern circulating designs were joined by depictions of Australia's pre decimal coins on the obverse.
The story of Australian currency runs parallel with the nation's history of progression. As early European settlers improvised a monetary system, international coins, promissory notes and the infamous rum trade were all visible in the early 1800s. The first coins "minted" in Australia were created by removing a piece from the centre of a Spanish dollar, forming two separate coins known as the Holey Dollar and Dump.
The gold rush of the mid-19th Century resulted in many unofficial tokens and ingots until the Sydney Mint opened in 1855, producing sovereigns which were largely identical to their British counterparts. This English influence remained strong and the new national currency of 1910 inevitably emulated English pounds, shillings and pence.
On 14 February 1966, the changeover to decimal currency transformed the nation, as Australia joined a worldwide currency trend. The uniquely Australian images of the decimal coins are still cherished on their 50th anniversary.
As a tribute to Australia's coin history, each coin of the Changeover series features depictions of coin designs from years past. The two dollar coin shows a Crown design (coins of the Crown denomination were only issued in Australia in 1937 and 1938).
Unlike other commemorative two dollar coins, the commemorative design is on the obverse, while the reverse has the traditional Aboriginal Elder design. |
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| Obverse | |
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Crowned mature head of Queen Elizabeth II facing right (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 tiny letters below the head, the artist's initials IRB (for Ian Rank-Broadley). The effigy is much smaller than on regular coins.
Below the effigy, a stylised depiction of an Australian one crown coin, showing the Imperial Crown. Around, COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA. The artist's initials K.G (for [George] Kruger Gray) are in small letters in the field at the bottom right of the crown. Denomination and date not depicted.
Around above, the monarch's legend and the date: ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2016. Around below, FIFTY YEARS. |
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| Reverse | |
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The reverse design includes a representation of the head and shoulders of a traditional Australian Aboriginal, a representation of the Southern Cross and a representation of Australian flora. In two lines, the value and denomination 2 DOLLARS. |
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| Reverse Inscription |
2 DOLLARS |
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| Edge | Milled interrupted (20 notches in 4 sections) | Edge Inscription | None |
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| Notes | Total mintage is comprised of:
2,795,000 circulation coins minted during the 2015/2016 financial year.
87,000 circulation coins minted during the 2016/2017 financial year.
61,468 + 1,250 brilliant uncirculated coins minted during the 2015/2016 financial year (in two different sets).
9,227 brilliant uncirculated coins in Postal Numismatic Cover, minted during the 2015/2016 financial year.
2,103 brilliant uncirculated coins minted during the 2016/2017 financial year.
20,852 proof coins minted during the 2015/2016 financial year.
4,988 proof coins minted during the 2016/2017 financial year.
Source of original information
Coins struck during 2015/2016 financial year (RAM Item Codes (none), 210414, 310668, 310980, 510901):
Royal Australian Mint (2016). 2015-2016 Annual Report, p96, p99, p104, p107. Retrieved from https://www.ramint.gov.au/annual-reports (PDF)
Coins struck during 2016/2017 financial year (RAM Item Codes (none), 210414, 310668):
Royal Australian Mint (2017). 2016-2017 Annual Report, p98, p101. Retrieved from https://www.ramint.gov.au/annual-reports (PDF) |
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