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Australia Millennium

2000 Proof Fifty Cent

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The Millennium celebrations were of a magnitude that world had never seen before. To commemorate this remarkable event, the RAM issued a commemorative fifty cent coin. During that year the Royal Australian mint issued two commemorative fifty cent pieces. One commemorating HM Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Australia, and the second, this coin commemorating the year 2000. The piece was issued as a coloured proof strike with the flag painted on a flat surface and as a regularly business strike with an engraved flag.

The reverse was designed by Stuart Devlin and shows the Australian flag along with the legend MILLENIUM YEAR 50 CENTS. The obverse features an Ian Rank-Broadley portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, right-facing with tiara along with the legend ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2000.

The Millenium celebrations in the year 2000 were the largest the world has ever seen. The transition from the second to the third millennium was celebrated in spectacular fashion throughout every walk of life. Whether it was just a family in their back garden or a nationally organised event, everyone got involved in this momentous occasion. It is thought that the millions of people watching around Sydney Harbour saw one of the worlds most impressive fireworks displays in history. In contrast, in South Africa, Nelson Mandela re-visited his prison cell and passed a single lighted candle to a young child which was to mark the country looking forward to a brighter future.

Due to the international time line, Australia and New Zealand were the first populated land masses to see in the new Millenium. The first Millenium baby is said to be from Auckland. The boy was born at 12.01am at Waitakere Hospital (Go Australia, 2013) . The revellers in Australia and New Zealand were probably feeling a little tired before America even began its celebrations. The focus was at Disneyworld in Florida. Seeing in the the new millennium was a significant event, taking a look back at our achievements in the past centuries and considering our future too.