The United Nations twenty cent was issued in 1995 to commemorate 50 years since the formation of the United Nations (UN).
The organisation replaced the League of Nations and intended to provide a platform for communication between nations in an
attempt to avoid further warfare.
The reverse was designed by Horst Hahne and shows the United Nations
emblem with the
legend
"UNITED NATIONS FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY", and the denomination 20 cents. The
obverse features the traditional Raphael Maklouf portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II, right-facing, crowned, with
necklace and earrings. It features the
legend
"ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1995".Almost 5 million pieces were struck making it slightly scarcer than typical issues of the
era but certainly still readily obtainable in mint state. The Royal Australian Mint did not produce a
proof
or
specimen
strike instead opting for the regular issue for mint and proof sets, making it somewhat scarce in the higher mint state grades.
The United Nations was formed in 1945 and has become a symbol for human rights, humanitarian aid and peace. Since starting
in 1945 it has grown from just 51 members to 193 today. Each time a conflict or natural disaster occurs it is common to see
the distinctive white UN vehicles in attendance. In the event of interstate conflict the UN is often looked upon to act as
the neutral mediator. The first Secretary-General of the UN was Trygve Lie from Norway. There are many different departments
within the UN including UNESCO, which covers heritage sites; and UNICEF, which focuses on child welfare
(United Nations, 2013)
.
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