Australian 50c Coins

Issued: 1966 - Present

Not Issued: 1967, 1968

Not Issued For Circulation:
1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1992

This section is dedicated to Tony Jordan who sadly passed away on the 9th of August 2006, without his help, this page would not have been possible.

Australian Fifty cent coins although beginning when Australia converted to Decimal Currency in 1966 are the modern circulating equivalent to the British Half-Crown, apart from the obvious shape differences since 1969. Australian has never issued Half Crowns but did flirt briefly with Crowns in 1937 with the fling ending badly in 1938.
The first Australian 50c piece was round and made from 80% silver much like the extremely popular 1964 United States John F. Kennedy Silver Half-Dollar. After visiting the Old Treasury Building in Melbourne, Australia with the adjoining JFK Memorial Gardens, the influence of the US half-dollar could not be overlooked.
Subsequent changes in the prevailing silver price and some confusion in the general public between it and the 20c piece meant ultimately that it was a single year issue with the decision to no longer release them made in July 1967.
This very nearly lead to the death of 50c coins in Australia, there was considerable feeling that the denomination, since it had no pre-decimal equivalent, was not needed at all and a crown sized $1 coin should be issued instead. There was a great deal of debate during 1967 and 1968 with many rubbishing the coin and although the intrinsic value of the coins was around 57c apparently no-one really liked to use it and preferred instead the 20c.
By 1969 the public had come to accept the "new half-dollars", and welcomed the 12 sided (dodecagonal) copper-nickel issue.
There had been much talk about the "death of silver coinage" worldwide, so using base metal coins had been expected and the silver coins began to be returned to the government at a handsome profit.
Hoarding the round silver fifty cent piece as well as the subsequent copper-nickel commemorative's seems to have become a national pastime, with almost every Australian having a small hoard of commemorative coins stashed somewhere. From sock drawers to shrapnel jars it is almost Un-Australian not to do so.
Collectors soon note that the commemorative coins seem to disappear from circulation quite quickly, as they are all gradually removed from circulation by the public. Pure conjecture, but the sheer number of commemorative 50c may simply be an attempt by the Reserve Bank of Australia to saturate our passion and prevent hoarding. So far though , the "bower-bird" instinct remains strong. Despite the large mintages, it is estimated that less than a quarter of all copper-nickel fifty cents that have been struck are actually in circulation. 1
Prices quoted in catalogues are for the Mint Set or packaged products that are untoned, if coin is from a roll, (bag marked and business strike) or toned reduce price accordingly.
Year The 1966 round, silver 50c coin was issued showing a young profile of Queen Elizabeth which was designed by Arnold Machin Mintage 2
1966 80% Silver - Round 7 36,454,000
Mint Sets 5 105,909
Gold Proof Presentation Set (6 Coin Set) 22 2
Year 12 sided (dodecagonal) Copper-Nickel issue. Mintage
1969 Circulation 14,015,000
Mint Sets 31,176
Specimen Issue
Yarralumla PNC, included in above		 2100 6
1330 3, 4
1970 Captain Cook Bi-Centenary 16,548,000
Mint Sets 40,230
Specimen Issue 554,000
1989 Dated Silver Proof (1989 Masterpieces in Silver) 24,999
1971 Circulation 36,454,000
Mint Sets 28,580
1972 Circulation 5,586,000
Mint Sets 39,068
1973 Circulation 4,009,000
Mint Sets 30,928
1974 Circulation 8,962,000
Mint Sets 25,498
1975 Circulation 19,024,000
Mint Sets 30,121
1976 Circulation 27,280,000
Mint Sets 40,004
1977 Silver Jubilee 25,067,000
Mint Sets 128,010
1989 Dated Silver Proof (1989 Masterpieces in Silver) 24,999
1978 Circulation 25,765,000
Mint Sets 70,000
1979 Circulation 24,886,000
Double Bar Included
Mint Sets 70,000
1980 Circulation 38,681,000
Double Bar Included
Mint Sets 100,000
1981 Circulation 24,168,000
Mint Sets 120,000
1981 Charles & Diana 20,000,000
1989 Dated Silver Proof (1989 Masterpieces in Silver) 24,999
1982 Commonwealth Games, Brisbane 23,287,000
Mint Sets 195,950
1989 Dated Silver Proof (1989 Masterpieces in Silver) 24,999
1983 Circulation 48,923,000
Mint Sets 155,700
1984 Circulation 26,281,000
Mint Sets 150,014


Year Raphael Maklouf
1985 - 1998		 Mintage
1985 Circulation 1,000,000
Mint Sets 170,000
1986 Mint Set Only 180,000
1987 Mint Set Only 180,000
1988 First Fleet Bicentenary 8,998,800
Mint Sets 250,000
Master Pieces in Silver Proof (4 coin set) 24,970
1989 Dated Silver Proof (1989 Masterpieces in Silver) 24,999
1989 Mint Set Only 150,602
1990 Mint Set Only 106,218
1991 25th Anniversary of Decimal Currency 4,704,400
Mint Sets 169,557
Master Pieces in Silver Proof (8 coin set) 25,000
1992 Mint Set Only 118,145
1993 Circulation 19 982,800
Mint Sets 8 113,068
1994 International Year of the Family 20,830,800
Mint Sets 8 129,032
Wide Date Est: 15-20% of Total
Joint Issue PNC 9, 10 148,393
1995 50th Anniversary End of WW2, Weary Dunlop 15,869,200
Mint Sets 8 129,529
Joint Issue PNC 10 93,915
2003 RAAMC Folder (Re-strikes) 5,002
1996 Circulation 19,296,800
Mint Sets 8 104,072
1997 Circulation 4,337,200
Mint Sets 8 98,443
1998 Bass & Flinders 22,426,000
Mint Sets 8 105,918
Joint Issue PNC 10 85,004


Year Ian Rank-Broadley
1999 -		 Mintage 13
1999 Circulation 20,318,000
Mint Sets 8 105,785
2000 Royal Visit 5,145,000
Silver Proof 18,993
2000 Millennium 16,630,000
Incuse Flag *Included in Above
Mint Sets 8 136,670
2001 100 yrs of Federation 43,149,600
Mint Sets 11 143,316
Gold Proof (6 Coin Set) 650
2001 New South Wales 3,042,000
Mint Sets 12, 21 38,633
2001 Victoria 2,800,000
Mint Sets 12 33,142
2001 Queensland 2,320,000
Mint Sets 12 33,240
2001 Western Australia 2,400,000
Mint Sets 12 17,229
2001 South Australia 2,400,000
Mint Sets 12 17,042
2001 Northern Territory 2,080,000
Mint Sets 12 15,822
2001 Australian Capital Territory 2,000,000
Mint Sets 12 33,262
2001 Tasmania 2,160,000
Mint Sets 12 15,634
2001 Norfolk Island 2,160,000
Mint Sets 12 22,100
2002 50yrs Accession to Throne None For Circulation
Joint Issue PNC 10 32,107 14
Silver Proof 13,500
2002 Year Of Outback 11,507,000
Mint Sets 8 101,231
Specimen (Wedding Set) 3,322
2003 Golden Jubilee None For Circulation
Joint Issue PNC 10 65,00315
Silver Proof 6,967
2003 Australia's Volunteers 13,927,000
Mint Sets 8 118,260
Specimen (Wedding Set) 3,249
Silver Proof (6 coin set) 6,500
2004 Primary School Design Winner 10,577,000
Unc Card 36,902
Silver Proof 8,203
2004 Circulation 17,918,000
Mint Sets 8 90,055
Specimen (Wedding Set) 3,963
Silver Proof (6 coin set) 6,500
2005 Standard CoA None For Circulation
Joint Issue PNC 16 30,000
2005 Rememberance 21,033,000
Mint Sets 17 104,958
Specimen (Wedding Set) 3,627
Silver Proof (6 coin set) 6,200
Gold Proof (6 coin set) 604
2005 Secondary School Design Winner 21,000,00025
Unc Card 21,701*
Silver Proof 4,597*
2006 Circulation 34,000,00025
Mint Sets 8 92,381*
Specimen (Wedding Set) 2,352*
Silver Proof Set (8 coin set)18 4,597*
80% Silver Proof (8 coin set)20 38,579*
Gold Proof (8 coin set)23 300
2006 Commonwealth Games - Badminton 22,270*
2006 Commonwealth Games - Gymnastics 25,574*
2006 Commonwealth Games - Thugby 7's 24,427*
2006 Commonwealth Games - Cycling 22,861*
2006 Commonwealth Games - Basketball 6,494*
2006 Commonwealth Games - Hockey 6,261*
2006 Commonwealth Games - Shooting 5,570*
2006 Commonwealth Games - Weight lifting 6,832*
2006 Commonwealth Games - Athletics 22,457*
2006 Commonwealth Games - Triathalon 22,302*
2006 Commonwealth Games - Nerfball 22,432*
2006 Commonwealth Games - Table Tennis 22,502*
2006 Commonwealth Games - Aquatics 31,702*
2006 Commonwealth Games - Boxing 22,602*
2006 Commonwealth Games - Lawn Bowls 22,602*
2006 The Royal Birthday 28,191*
Selectively Gold Plated Silver Proof (2 Coin Set) 5,761* (7,50024)
2006 The Royal Visit 28,593*
Selectively Gold Plated Silver Proof (2 Coin Set) 5,761* (7,50024)
Australia Post Booklet 00,000
2007 Circulation 00,000,000
Mint Sets 8 000,000
Specimen (Wedding Set) 0,000
Silver Proof Set (6 coin set) 0,000
Gold Proof (6 coin set) 300
* Mintages to June 2006


Nominal Specifications
Denomination: 50 cents
Metal: 75% Copper
25% Nickel
Mass: 15.55 grams
Diameter: 31.51 mm
Revision #57 Mk MMVII Draft No 123 Copy 2A#4-667-6898-GRRR
08 April 07