Australia 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games Sports Collection Series -Basketball 50c
For the first time at a Commonwealth Games the sport of Basketball was played at the Melbourne Games in 2006. Australia won gold medals in both the mens and womens team games played in regional Victoria with the finals taking place at Melbourne Park. Australia's women's Opals made a convincing win over New Zealand in the final and the men's Boomers played a tight jaw-clenching game to take out the gold against New Zealand.
To celebrate popular sporting events held during the Melbourne Commonwealth Games a series of 16 50c coins were released by the Royal Australian Mint as well as a student designed 50c, a one dollar, $5 and $10 coins. The Mint was one of the sponsors of the Games and also designed and produced the winners' medals.
One of the first coins to be released in this 50 cent coin collection was the coin depicting Basketball. It was released as a collector coin and not issued for circulation. It was issued in a capsule in an informative card by itself and for inclusion in the Melbourne Commonwealth Games Sports Collection series. The individual 50c coins in the series were sold for issue price of $4.95.
The coin design is by RAM designer Wojciech Pietranik and depicts the sport in action and the Melbourne 2006 logo. The obverse is the standard portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, who officially opened the Games, by Ian Rank-Broadley. It is the standard dodecagonal shape 31.51mm in size and weighs 15.55g. It is made from cupro nickel which is 75% copper and 25% nickel. The card also features a sticker of 'Karak', a red-tailed black cockatoo and Games mascot indicating it is an official licensed product.
21,994 of these coins uncirculated were issued to collectors which includes 15,500 issued for inclusion in the complete collection folder.
Posted by harrisk at November 29, 2010 7:11 AM
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