This twenty cent piece was released by the Royal Australian Mint
in 2001 as part of their extensive program celebrating the Centenary of Federation. The piece commemorates the inclusion
of Western Australia in the Australian federation. The reverse was designed by Joseph Neve, from Bellington High School in
New South Wales. The design is minimalist, featuring an outline of New South Wales and, within that, the State's floral emblem,
the waratah. The dates 1901 - 2001 can be seen at the very top and below is the
legend
CENTENARY OF FEDERATION and the denomination 20. The obverse features
the Ian Rank-Broadley portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II with the
legend
ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2001.
Initials of designer Joseph Neve (JKN) on the 2001 Proof (New South Wales) Twenty Cent.
The coin was included in two sets issued throughout the year - the New South Wales three coin set, and the twenty coin
Centenary of Federation collection. Each set was issued in both proof and uncirculated varieties.
New South Wales was the first Australian colony with its original borders including what is now Victoria, Tasmania, South
Australia, and Queensland.
(Museum of Australian Democracy, 2017)
Each of these areas would become separate colonies at some stage but NSW remained the most populous colony. The governance
of NSW was at first through a British governor before, in 1855, the colony was provided with a constitution and parliament.
After many years of debate the colony held a vote in 1898 to determine if they would accept an Australian Constitution -
creating the Australian federation. The first vote failed with the required quota failing before, in 1899, a second vote
was successful. On the 1st of January 1901 the new Australian federation was established - with New South Wales as a key
member.
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