Australia 2003 $1 Vietnam Veterans Issue
2003 saw the release of another mitilary themed coin from the Royal Australian Mint. The 2003 Vietnam Veterans $1 coin was released to commemorate Australia's 10 year involvement in the struggle to maintain the independence of the republic of South Vietnam. Australians became involved in the war in 1962 with a small group of advisors. Over the next 10 years more than 50,000 Australians served in the theatre peaking at more than 8,000 in country in 1967. The three services were involved in the conflict, with the Army involved from 1962, the RAAF from 1964 (with 3 squadrons operating) and the Navy worked with the USN patrolling and providing clearance divers. Australia withdrew it's forces in 1972 with South Vietnam being over-run by the forces of North Vietnam in 1975 and the cold war era conflict finally came to an end. Sadly, Australia suffered 519 fatalities in the Vietnam war and nearly 2,400 were wounded in the conflict.
This NCLT aluminium bronze dollar is the standard size and mass, with 57,000 being issued in a special collector folder. The obverse shows the Ian Rank-Broadley portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. The reversed was sculpted by Vladimir Gottwald and depicts the Australia Vietnam Forces Memorial which can be seen on ANZAC Parade in front of the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, Australia.
Posted by mnemtsas at August 31, 2009 12:56 PM
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