Settings Subscribe  

NumisTip

Australia Bradman

1996 Proof Five Dollar

Values

Sales History

Current listings

?

This 1996 five dollar coin commemorates the life of Australian cricketer Donald Bradman. "The Don", Donald Bradman is arguably the best batsman of all time and he remains to be a celebrated and honoured Australian. This particular coin was one of the first of numerous to be issued by the Royal Australian Mint throughout his life and after his death in order to pay tribute to the cricketing legend and sporting hero. Born in 1908, Donald George Bradman, who would later become Sir Donald and referred to widely as "The Don" took an in interest in sports in a very young age. He was born in Cootamundra in New South Wales and as a youth become passionate about cricket even to the extent that he invented his own training technique that allowed him to practice batting by himself. He didn't have a bat so resorted to the use of a cricket stump instead. His solo cricket game required a golf ball that was hit into a curve in the wall of his house and as it deflected at random angles he would attempt to hit it again. Playing this game incessantly as a boy developed his great hand-eye co-ordination, and quick reactions. (Wikipedia, 2013) By the age of 12 he was playing "real" cricket at school and hit his first century of many to come throughout his long career as a test batsman.

Throughout his career that spanned for over 25 years, he achieved a test batting average of 99.84. This incredible statistic not only makes him the highest achieving cricketer of all time but arguably the highest achieving sportsman of any kind too. His career began before World War II when he began to make and break some incredible records, some of which still stand today. He made a dramatic comeback after the war and he captained the Australian cricket team on their record-breaking unbeaten tour of England. This Australian team became known as The Invincible's. He brought in great number of spectators, all hoping for a sight of some amazing and entertaining cricket and during the Great Depression, he helped to shape a nation by providing them with a sporting hero and someone to support and celebrate. His achievements on behalf of the nation soon led to him being considered a sporting hero and he was the subject of constant adulation and admiration everywhere he went. He was described by former captain Bill Woodfull as being "worth three batsman to Australia." He was uncomfortable with the amount of attention he received and in his later life, despite staying involved with cricket and administration he became quite aloof and somewhat of a recluse. After his wife died in 1997, he became even more withdrawn and after being hospitalised with pneumonia, he finally died at home peacefully at the age of 92. His memorial service, held at St Peter's Anglican Cathedral, Adelaide was broadcast live on TV and was seen by almost 1.5 million viewers.

This five dollar bronze proof coin is a Sir Donald Bradman commemorative coin. It was released in 1996 and is one of two coins released in that year paying tribute to the Australian and internationally renowned sporting hero. The other coin is a bi-metallic $5 uncirculated coin. This coin is larger than its bi-metallic counterpart and has a significantly lesser mintage of just 22,500. The reverse was designed by Vladimir Gottwald and features the image of Bradman is one of his signature batting positions. The image of him is framed within a circle and in the outer ring is the legend SIR DONALD BRADMAN curving around the top of the coin and the denomination 5 DOLLARS at the bottom. The obverse features the Maklouf portrait of Queen Elizabeth II and the surrounding legend ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1996. This coin was presented in a black presentation case and packaged in a box featuring a photograph of the The Don in action. Writing on the outer box includes the words 1996 $5 COIN and A SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO SIR DONALD BRADMAN. Included within the box was a certificate of Authenticity and a description card containing a short bio of Sir Donald Bradman. On the side of the box it also states that the use of his image was given approval by Bradman himself on the understanding that ANY ROYALTIES DERIVED FROM THE SALE OF THE COINS WILL BE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BRADMAN FOUNDATION, A CHARITABLE ORGANISATION.