? This commemorative fifty cent coin is one piece from the 2003 issue of the Royal Australian Mint's six coin year sets. This particular set was entitled Australia's Volunteers - Making a Difference and as the name suggests the series pays tribute to the unsung heroes who do in fact form the backbone of Australian Society. When the set was released in 2003 there were a recorded number of over 4 millions people who volunteered their valuable time for the sake of the community. This coin ...
? In 1907 the one dollar coin was reduced in size and the design simplified. The reverse still features a scroll ornament with the Chinese characters YAT YUEN in the top and bottom quadrants and the Malay characters SATU RINGGIT from left to right . The reverse legend reads STRAITS SETTLEMENTS ONE DOLLAR followed by the date. The obverse features a crowned bust of King Edward VII with the legend, EDWARD VII KING & EMPEROR by Royal Mint engraver, George W. De Saules.The issue was struck ...
? Following the discovery of gold in Sydney, sovereigns were minted at the Sydney Mint from 1855 and continued until 1916. Prior to the discovery of gold, Australian colonies were reliant upon coins minted in Great Britain as these were the only coins recognised as having legal tender status . The 1850s Gold Rush affected not only the mintage of coins but also sudden population growth, particularly in Victoria. In turn, this demanded sudden developments in government administration ...
? The 1917 Florin was the second year that Florins had been produced at the Melbourne Mint. The total mintage for the year was 4,305,000 which was the largest of the series to date and would not be exceeded until 1940. As a result of the large mintage the issue is relatively easy to obtain with PCGS population reports showing quite good numbers in mint-state. The cost of obtaining this year is still substantially higher than the later years in the George V Florin ...
? The Type II two dollar coin was first issued in 1988 to replace the two dollar note and continued to be issued until 1998. It features the Maklouf portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse . As this was the second type for all other circulating coin denominations for clarity and uniformity this type is also referred to as Type II on the two dollar coin. The reverse was designed by Horst Hahne and depicts an Aboriginal Elder, the Southern Cross constellation, and a grass tree. ...