2016-06-11 Sat

Commemorative coins celebrate various events and personalities; this one, issued by The Royal Australian Mint, interestingly celebrates coinage itself in a way. Australia’s first 2016 5-cent circulating commemorative coin celebrates the 50th anniversary of decimalization.

The reverses have the same designs that have been used since decimalization began. The obverses depict a mini version of the current portrait of the queen, a similar image of the reverse design that was used before decimalization began and an inscription stating the details about the anniversary.

The four fractional denominations are made of copper-nickel and feature standard reverses as per 1966 releases: echidna (5-cent coin), lyre bird (10-cent piece), platypus (20-cent coin), and coat-of-arms (50-cent coin).

The obverses feature the regular Queen Elizabeth II portrait but in a smaller size along with the miniature depictions of the reverses. The anniversary is also indicated through an inscription on the obverse.

5,000 rolls of each fractional denomination have been released. The 5- and 10-cent coin rolls have 40 coins each, and the 20- and 50-cent coin rolls have 20 coins each.