Australian round fifty-cent coin
The round fifty cent coin was the highest-denomination and largest diameter coin of the Australian dollar when it was introduced on 14 February 1966 as part of the transition to decimal currency. It has a nominal value of half an Australian dollar, equivalent to five shillings of the Australian pound that the dollar replaced. Due to the large number minted in 1966, and the rising cost of silver, it was not made in any other year.
Australian round fifty-cent coin
Roke · Public domain
- Field
- coin
- Region
- Australia
- Related practice
- silver · copper
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Documentary summary
The round fifty cent coin was the highest-denomination and largest diameter coin of the Australian dollar when it was introduced on 14 February 1966 as part of the transition to decimal currency. It has a nominal value of half an Australian dollar, equivalent to five shillings of the Australian pound that the dollar replaced. Due to the large number minted in 1966, and the rising cost of silver, it was not made in any other year.
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wikidata · Q4825161 · wikipedia · Australian round fifty-cent coin
In this article
Overview
Overview
It was replaced by a twelve-sided 50 cent coin in 1969, which retained its reverse of the Australian coat of arms. The round fifty cent coin contained 80% silver and 20% copper but, because the value of silver quickly increased after the coins were issued, their bullion value became higher than their face value, so they were withdrawn from circulation. A total of 36.45 million coins were minted, with 14 million being put into circulation. Round 50 cent coins are still legal tender, but they are rarely used as means of payment as their precious metal value greatly exceeds their face value.
Australian 1966 round silver coin. Queen Elizabeth II
Paul Templeton
Key facts
Key facts
• Country — Australia • Denomination — Fifty cents • Value — 0.50 • Unit — AUD • Mass — 13.28 • Diameter — 31.51 • Thickness — 2.00 • Edge — milled • Composition — 80% silver, 20% copper • Years Of Minting — 1966 • Obverse Design — Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia • Obverse Designer — Arnold Machin • Obverse Design Date — 1966 • Reverse Design — Coat of arms of Australia • Reverse Designer — Stuart Devlin • Reverse Design Date — 1965
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- Australia
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Australian round fifty-cent coin is recorded as made of silver and copper. Associated with Australia.
Coin weight, late 3rd cent
Supplementum Epigraphicum Graecum
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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