Australia 2003 Korean War Dollar
The 27th of July 2003 was the 50th anniversary of the negotiated truce that saw the end of the war on the Korean peninsula that had begun in June 1950 when a North Korean army poured into South Korea. Within just a few short days of the invasion the United Nations called for member countries to send forces to Korea to halt the advance. Australia answered the call by sending a squadron of attack aircraft from the RAAF and the 1st Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR) which was stationed in Japan as part of the post WW2 occupation forces. By the time that Australian troops arrived in September 1950 the North Korean advance had been halted and a UN offensive had thrown the North Korean Army into full retreat. The communist Chinese Government warned UN forces not to advance past the North Korean border, despite this the UN drove the North Koreans back almost to the North Korean border with China. The Chinese launched an offensive with 18 divisions and drove the UN back southward past the South Korean Capital of Seoul which fell for the second time during the war. In February 1951 the Chinese advance was halted and turned, with the Chinese falling back to the 38th parallel longitude where resistance stiffened and fixed lines of resistance formed. From this time until the end of the war the conflict was essentially fought in place with artilllery and localised attacks. Finally in July 1953 a truce was negotiated but not after more than 300 Australians had died during the conflict. A state of hostilities exists to this day between the countries of North and South Korea, the 38th parallel being one of the most heavily militarised regions in the entire world.
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of the Korean war the Royal Australian Mint released an NCLT aluminium bronze dollar with C, S, B, and M mintmarks.
- 93,752 C mintmark coins minted -includes RAM Gallery press coins
- 36,091 S mintmark coins minted -includes portable press coins
- 34,949 B mintmark coins minted -includes portable press coins
- 36,142 M mintmark coins minted -includes portable press coins
It was also minted in 0.999 silver to proof standards. The raised C mintmark was struck in an incuse circle on the MYO press at the RAM and also available via dealer allocations struck on the normal presses. The S, B, and M mintmarks were similar and struck on portable presses at the respective ANDA shows and on the normal production presses. The exact split between portable press and normal press production is unknown. The AlBr coins were available in collector folders while the silver coins were available in individual presentation cases.
Seen above the obverse of the coin depicts the Ian Rank-Broadley portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. The reverse is sculpted by Vladimir Gottwald. It shows the dove of peace with the national floral symbols of Australia and South Korea on each side against a background of vertical lines. These lines echo vertical stainless steel poles found outside the Australian War Memorial that represent the Australians who died in the Korean conflict.
Posted by mnemtsas at August 23, 2009 4:41 PM
Subscribe to our Newsletter
