The Australian Coin Collecting Blog

The Complete Guide to the Australian 20 Cent (20c)

Posted on May 9, 2011 by msn

Stuart Devlin’s Platypus Standard Design

The Australian 20c coin is made from 75% copper and 25% nickel (cupro-nickel), is 28.52mm in diameter and weighs 11.31grams. It has a reeded edge. The standard circulation design is the platypus by Stuart Devlin and was first issued in 1966 at Australia’s changeover to decimal currency. Below is a list of circulation and commemorative issues of the 20c piece.

Stuart Devlin’s platypus 20c standard circulation design:
Coins released into circulation:
1966-1982, 1985-1987, 1994, 1996-2011
Coins released in mint sets only:
1986-1987, 1989-1993, 1995
There is conjecture over 20c coins issued in 1983, 1984 and 1988. Whilst coins were minted for circulation, most of these were melted down. It’s unclear how many were actually released.

Commemorative Coins
1995 50th Anniversary of the United Nations 20c -circulation
2001 Sir Donald Bradman Tribute 20c -circulation
2001 Centenary of Federation State Series 20c
–New South Wales (NSW) 20c -circulation
–Australian Capital Territory (ACT) 20c -circulation
–Queensland (Qld) 20c -circulation
–Victoria (Vic) 20c -circulation
–Norfolk Island 20c -circulation
–Northern Territory (NT) 20c -circulation
–South Australia (SA) 20c -circulation
–Western Australia (WA) 20c -circulation
–Tasmania 20c -circulation
2003 Volunteers 20c -circulation
2005 60th Anniversary of WWII Coming Home 20c -circulation
2007 Surf Lifesaver 20c -NCLT
2008 Year of Planet Earth 20c -NCLT
2009 Year of Astronomy 20c -NCLT
2009 Australia Remembers Service Nurses 20c -NCLT
2010 Burke and Wills -NCLT
2010 Australia Remembers Fromelles 20c -NCLT
2011 Australian Wool 20c -NCLT
2010 Tax Office 20c -circulation
2011 The Ashes 20c -NCLT
2011 International Womens Day 20c -circulation
2011 Royal Wedding 20c -circulation
2011 Australia Remembers War Historians 20c -NCLT
2011 10th Anniversary of International Year of Volunteers 20c -circulation
2012 Fields of Gold Australian Wheat 20c -NCLT
2012 Bombing of Australia 1942 Lone Sentry (Shores Under Siege 3 coin Set) 20c -NCLT
2012 Bombing of Australia 1942 Air Raid Shelter (Shores Under Siege 3 coin Set) 20c -NCLT
2012 Merchant Navy Australia Remembers Series 20c -NCLT
2013 Australian Mining 20c (2 coin set)-NCLT
2013 Platypus Selectively gold plated proof 20c (2013 Proof Set)
2013 Platypus Hyper-metallic colour printed uncirculated 20c (2013 Mint Set)
2013 Canberra Centenary 20c -circulation
2013 25th Anniversary of Parliament House -NCLT
2013 Army Chaplains Australia Remembers Series 20c -NCLT
2013 Centenary of Australian Banknotes 20 cent (2 different coins in 3 coin set)
2013 The Ashes 20 cent -NCLT
2014 Australian Comforts Fund Australia Remembers Series -NCLT

2015 ICC Cricket World Cup 20 cent -NCLT mintage capped at 50,000 issue price $12
2015 200th anniversary of the birth of Sir Henry Parkes -NCLT mintage capped at 30,000, issue price $8
2015 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta -NCLT mintage capped at 30,000, issue price $8
2015 Netball World Cup -NCLT mintage capped at 30,000, issue price $12
2015 14 coin 20 cent collection from News Corp ANZACS Remembered
WWI 1914-1918, Mateship, Light Horsemen, Home front, Royal Australian Navy, Remembrance Day, Nurses, Wartime Animals, The Last Post, War Correspondents, Australian Flying Corps, Australian Imperial Force, The Unknown Soldier and Gallipoli Landing.
2015 Coo-ee March. Australia Remembers Series 20c (issue price $10, mintage 30,000)

2016 Dirk Hartog Landfall (400th Anniversary) 20 cent (issue price $10, mintage 20,000)
2016 ANZAC to Afghanistan Set includes 10 x 20c coins.
Fromelles, Rats of Tobruk, Darmin bombing, Bomber command, Thai-Burma railway, Korean war, Peacekeeping, Special forces, Dogs at war and Afghanistan.

2017 75th Anniversary of the Sinking of the SS Vyner Brooke 20c (issue price $10, mintage max 20,000)
2017 Bananas in Pyjamas 25th anniversary coloured 20 cent (issue price in 2 coin set $30, mintage capped at 30,000)
2017 International Day of People with Disability 20c

Articles specific to the 20c piece include the Australian 20c Coins Value Part 1 entry, the Rare Australian Decimal Coins: Part Two- Extreme decimal rarities article which mentions 20c coins struck on a scalloped foreign planchet and a 20c struck on a bi-metal planchet.

All issues of the 20c were struck at the Royal Australian Mint in Canberra with just a few exceptions. In 1966 there are Canberra and London varieties which we’ve looked at in the entry Australian 1966 20c Mint Marks. One die variety minted in London is the rare 1966 Wavy Baseline 20c. The 1981 20c issues also have coins struck in Canberra, The Royal Mint in Wales and the Royal Canadian Mint.

There are also a number of articles in the Coin Errors and Misstrikes master index with specific examples of error 20c coins.
Split Planchet 20c
Clamshell 20c
Clipped planchet and partial collar 20c
Feeder finger jam 20c

Posted in Collecting Coins

How We Take Our Coin Photos

Posted on April 30, 2011 by msn

Our Camera Setup

We’ve spent years striving to perfect the art of taking quality coin images. Over the years we’ve upgraded parts of our setup and we’re finally at that point where we’re happy with the images we take and happy that they portray the coins as they are without the need for photoshop or artificial manipulation. We use 2 different methods of coin photography. The first is to use a Dinolite Microscope for extreme closeup shots which we’ve discussed previously in the entry Dino-Lite USB Microscopes and Coins. We also have a digital SLR for images of entire coins not requiring magnified close-up. The Dinolite won’t image an entire coin unless it’s threepence size and the built in lighting is very poor for imaging an entire coin.

Our digital SLR is a Nikon D7100 ~~D60~~ with 24 ~~10.2~~ megapixel resolution. We mostly use a Tamron 90mm fixed length macro lens for coins but interchange it with one of it’s original lenses, a Nikon 18-55mm lens. This lens is used for shots of larger items such as PNC’s and mintsets. The camera sits on a copystand we picked up secondhand from a camera shop and is movable up and down. Clipped on either side of the copystand are 2 lights with swivel arms and shrouds to direct the light. Using 2 PAR 30 100w halogen spotlights the serious light is serious enough to fry an egg! We control the camera from a PC running the free DSLR controlling digiCamControl~~Nikon’s nifty Camera Control 2~~ software. So what it comes down to now is place the coin under the camera and click via the keyboard!

Update 27 November 2015 – updated the article to include the details of our current DSLR body and the software we use to control the camera these days.

Posted in Numismatic Photography

Foreign Planchet Error Coins

Posted on April 28, 2011 by kdh

1944s Shilling on Foreign Planchet

This 1944s Australian shilling was struck in San Francisco USA (note the S mintmark) on an underweight planchet of 4.95g. Some Australian silver during WWII was struck in both San Francisco and Denver in the USA as demand for coinage outran the capabilities of our Mint’s at that time. Because of this shillings undersized planchet it hasn’t completely pressed out in the collar die to receive it’s edge milling and denticles around the top half of the coin. An interesting coin with a different patina to it’s other shilling ram friends.

Represented on eBay as being struck on an underweight planchet the above coin sold for a BIN of $300. An underweight planchet yes, but a more interesting answer fits. This coin was struck in the USA where a war nickel at that time was made from 5 grams of 35% silver, 56% copper, 9% manganese. The Australian 1944s shilling should weigh 5.65 grams made from 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. It’s most likely this coin was struck on a foreign planchet, that of a USA 5c! The weight fits and the unusual patina is derived from the lower silver and higher copper percentage. What a rare occurance for a misplaced USA nickel blank to find it’s way into the hopper of blanks to be struck as Australian Shillings, for it to be struck by the press and pass quality checking to be shipped back to Australia as circulating currency.

The way to prove this theory beyond doubt is to send this coin off to PCGS or NGS for non-invasive compositional testing and it to be slabbed as an Australian shilling struck on a USA war nickel planchet – spectacular error coin.

A similar coin (in it’s raw state) dated 1943s and accurately identified sold for an $1,100 knock down bid (+ buyers premium) at IAG auction 73 (lot 487 March 2011). Another 1943s sold for $1320 (+ buyers premium) at IAG auction 71 (lot 460 March 2010).

Other interesting foreign planchet error coins are an Australian $2 coin struck on a Euro 10c planchet or the Australian Mob of Roos One Dollar Struck on Venezuelan Bi-metal Planchet.

Posted in Error Coins

The Clamshell Coin Error

Posted on March 30, 2011 by kdh

Australian 1950 Threepence Clam or Hinged Planchet Error

You often see flaws in the metal blanks used to strike coins but rarely do you see coins so obviously wrong as the clamshell error. These planchets contain lamination problems deep inside the metal which splits the 2 sides apart with only a hinge holding the coin together. While not always possible to store these in a 2×2 holder I have seen these stored in flip top coin boxes as they are very much 3 dimensional objects.

The Australian threepence seen above has probably seen some human involvement to prise the 2 sides apart, but never the less an interesting example of this type of planchet defect error. The lamination flaw, weakness or impurity ran through the centre of the coin allowing it to split open. The flaw may have been caused by the alloy not being mixed properly when the blanks were being prepared or a foreign material or gas being trapped inside the blank as the sheet metal was being rolled.

If the weakness ran through the entire body of the coin and each side of the coin became separated it would end up looking like a complete split planchet coin.

Click image to enlarge

Posted in Error Coins

Sydney 2000 Olympic $5 Coin Athletics

Posted on March 23, 2011 by kdh

Athletics $5 Coin

The above coin was issued in October 1997 in the first release of coins in a set of 28 in commemoration of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. These 28 five dollar coins were part of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Coin Program released jointly between the Royal Australian Mint and the Perth Mints.

The Athletics coin features the Maklouf portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II and is Australian legal tender for $5. It celebrates the heroes of nations that are made on the track and in the field of the Olympic Games. This includes the marathon which is considered the event that best encapsulates the Olympic spirit both ancient and modern.

Issued for $8.95 it is not certain how many of these coins were struck however it is likely in excess of 203,000 of the Athletics coin were minted. Struck in an alloy of copper, tin, aluminium and bronze more information of this coin and the other 27 in the series can be found in the master article Sydney 2000 Olympic Games $5 Coin Collection.

$5 Coin Obverse -Maklouf Portrait

Posted in Collecting Coins

1966 Mint Set The Fastbuck Wallet

Posted on March 21, 2011 by kdh

Inside the very rare Fastbuck Wallet

“Operation Fastbuck” was the name used for the safe delivery of decimal currency to the banks during the changeover from £/s/d to dollars and cents on February 14th 1966. 70 drivers were involved in the transfer of the new money in preparation for C-Day, the day Australia would start using the new currency.

These 70 drivers were presented with this special wallet embossed with their name as a thank you for their participation in the event. This is the rarest of the 1966 mint sets and is highly sought after by collectors. They very rarely come up for sale.

The pvc wallet is a dark green colour on the outside with the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) logo. Inside the 1966 uncirculated coins are housed in a hard plastic rectangular insert which is removable. The inscription on the black pvc folder reads “Presented by the Reserve Bank of Australia to L. Scorey as a memento of his participation in “Operation Fastbuck” Nov 1965- Feb 1966.

This particular wallet was issued to Les Scorey who has sinced passed away but his family have fond memories of these hard times when Mr Scorey was away from home for long periods tending to this most important event.

RIP Les, we salute your involvement in such a historical event in Australia’s history.

Green Cover of the very rare Fastbuck Wallet

Posted in Australian Decimal Changeover

Your One Stop Guide to the Australian 50c

Posted on February 14, 2011 by msn

We’ve been endeavouring to write an entry on all circulation legal tender which extends itself also to NCLT releases of standard circulation types. As I wipe my brow I am pleased to say that “The Complete Guide to Australian 50c Coins” entry is now completely up to date with all coins issued.

For collectors of the 50c, and the 50c design is very popular, this master entry will be a godsend with images, coin features, designer and mintage information. Each link in the master entry will take you to a unique entry for each coin released, an easy way to figure out if your collection is complete!

Posted in Collecting Coins

Australian Coin Portraits of Queen Elizabeth II

Posted on February 5, 2011 by kdh

Portraits of Queen Elizabeth II (on Australian Coins), from left Gillick, Machin, Maklouf, Gottwald and Rank-Broadley

Princess Elizabeth was just 25 when she took to the throne to be Queen of England and the Commonwealth after the sudden untimely passing of her father King George VI. After her coronation in 1952 Australian coins began to bear her effigy from 1953. All obverse (or heads side) designs feature HM facing to the right as per Royal tradition.

There have been 4 standard portraits and one special design (by an Australian designer Gottwald) used on Australian legal tender currency and we have written detailed articles about each coin obverse.

The Mary Gillick Portrait 1953-1964

The Arnold Machin Portrait 1966-1984

The Raphael Maklouf Portrait 1985-1998

The Vladimir Gottwald Portrait 2000 and 2010 (Gold NCLT issue)

The Ian Rank-Broadley Portrait 1998-present

Posted in Collecting Coins

C-Day 14th February 1966 From Pounds to Dollars Decimal Changeover Day

Posted on December 17, 2010 by kdh

Competition Prize Conducted at the Changeover in 1966

It was excitement and deep interest as consumers deliberately spent money to obtain the new dollars and cents on C-day Monday February 14th 1966. Banks had been closed since the previous Wednesday to allow the transition to decimal accountancy and reopened for C-day to hustle and bustle.

Shops showed some confusion with shortages of dollar notes and silver coins but plenty of copper 1c and 2c, most giving change in a mixture of both pounds, shillings and pence along with dollars and cents. Under the new currency a box of matches cost 1 1/2 cents so as there was no half-cents shopkeepers wanted to sell 2 boxes for 3c. The old half-penny didn’t fair in the conversion so these had been removed from shop pricing prior to the last Christmas.

Customers purchasing a middy of beer handed over 2 shillings to receive the thirst quencher and change of a sixpence and 1c. Some shopkeepers were just happy to continue trading with £.s.d and chalked the day up to “just another of Menzies’ fads” referring to the Prime Minister of the time, but they would come round.

Sydney Harbour Bridge toll collectors continued to hand out shillings to disappointed drivers hoping for 10c pieces as change for their florins. The Decimal Currency Board chairman Sir Walter Scott travelled to work by train on this day watching clerks at the booking offices eyeing off the transition and it’s affect on commuters “just going like clockwork this morning” he said.

The Sydney Stock Exchange transitioned easily with smooth, but slightly slower trading and investor confidence in the market appeared unaffected.

Interestingly, housewives of the time noted some price rises in household essentials in the leadup to changeover day. The conversions not always favourable so the prices just went up. An expert of the time, Professor N.R Wills (head of the School of Business Administration at the University of NSW) said the changeover would cost consumers no more than 5c (or 6d) a week extra.

“I think the advantage people will find in keeping a check on their money, and not be short-changed over the counter, will make up for this. Even morons can count up to 10”.

Experts said that the positives and negative pricing costs would even out and no one would be worse off for the event.

Shopkeepers who changed their pricing over on the weekend took advantage of the fractions that didn’t convert well. 2 pennies converted to 2c, but so did a threepence! The drought had been blamed for fresh food increases over the past 9 months anyway increasing the cost of living by 1-2 pounds ($2-4) per week.

Back in 1966 common household items cost:

postage stamp 4c
newspaper 5c
a pint of milk (600ml) 10c
mens haircut 70c

Department stores such as David Jones and Mark Foy’s (responsible for the issue of the Foy Bags containing the 1934/5 Melbourne Centenary Florin collectors will have heard of) hired experts who were on hand to answer customer questions and staff had been training for the conversion for between 4 months to 2 years. Along with these expert staff, conversion tables and charts hung from the ceilings with charts at each register allowing customers to accurately assess their dollar and cents change. Mark Foys implemented the change with a “big dollar bargains day” with ladies swimsuits at $1.50 and cardigans for $2 to shift the idea that their prices would increase with the changeover.

Special service staff “Dollar Guides” on hand to help consumers at department store “Farmers” in Sydney

Posted in Australian Decimal Changeover

1982 Australian $200 Brisbane Commonwealth Games Gold Coin

Posted on December 10, 2010 by msn

Australia 1982 $200 Commonwealth Games Coin – Proof

Commemorating the Brisbane Commonwealth Games in 1982 a gold $200 coin was struck by the Royal Australian Mint. The XII Commonwealth Games logo can be seen on the commemorative 50c coin released into circulation. The 200 dollar gold issue features this logo and an athlete on the reverse with “XII Commonwealth Games Brisbane 200 Dollars” in the legends. The obverse features the Arnold Machin portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.

A series of gold $200 coins were released with the Koala reverse and yearly issues commemorating special occasions and events such as Charles and Diana’s Wedding, the First Fleet and Australian native fauna.

This Commonwealth Games issue was struck in uncirculated and proof finish and is Australian legal tender for two hundred dollars. They are 24mm in diameter and have full edge reeding. Each weigh 10 grams of 91.67% gold and 8.33% copper which is 22 carat equating to 0.2948 ounces of gold. The value of this coin is reflected in the trade of gold bullion, so if you have one of these coins check out the Australian Gold Coin Calculator to find out what it is worth today.

There were 77,206 uncirculated coins released at $210 and 30,032 proof coins released at $350. These issues continue to trend with gold bullion pricing.

If you are looking to pick one of these up I’d recommend paying the premium for the proof coin. Apart from the obvious higher quality coin, the proofs were issued in a capsule in a box in an outer cardboard box with a certificate of authenticity. The uncirculated versions were simply slid into a soft pvc sleeve which could lead to pvc damage, fingerprints and environmental problems. The pvc tends not to damage the coin surface because of the gold composition but over time will leave an icky sticky residue on the coin.

The Complete Guide to the Australian 20 Cent (20c)

How We Take Our Coin Photos

Foreign Planchet Error Coins

The Clamshell Coin Error

Sydney 2000 Olympic $5 Coin Athletics

1966 Mint Set The Fastbuck Wallet

Your One Stop Guide to the Australian 50c

Australian Coin Portraits of Queen Elizabeth II

C-Day 14th February 1966 From Pounds to Dollars Decimal Changeover Day

1982 Australian $200 Brisbane Commonwealth Games Gold Coin

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