This
commemorative
fifty cent coin was issued for generalcirculation as well as a
proof
coin and uncirculated coin included in the 2001 issue of
the Royal Australian Mint's six coin year sets. This particular set
was entitled Centenary of Federation and pays tribute to 100 years since the individual colonies of Australia came together
to form the federation and to become known collectively as the States of the Commonwealth of Australia. This fifty cent coin
is joined by an additional five coins each of different denominations with the 1 dollar and 50 cent coins featuring special
designs representing the Federation.
As well as being produced for general circulation and included in the set, this fifty cent dollar coin was also produced
as a coloured proof and as an uncirculated coin to be included in another set issued for the Centenary of the Federation.
This set was a 20 coin collection which celebrated each State and Territory of the Federation. Also included in the 20 coin
collection and the additional sets celebrated for this important event in Australian history was the one Dollar Centenary
of Federation coin.
The reverse of this coin was designed by Wojciech Pietranik. In the
centre is the Coat of Arms of Australia and below is the denomination "50". The initial coat of arms was granted to Australia
in 1908 but it was updated in 1912 to the design featured in this coin. It incorporates the badges of the six individual
colonies that came together, the commonwealth star, an emu, a red kangaroo and the golden wattle tree. The
obverse of the coin bears Ian Rank-Broadley's portrait of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and surrounding this is the
legend
"ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2001".
Before the Commonwealth of Australia was formed there existed six individual British colonies. These were the states of
New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia. During the mid-late 19th century
the idea of a Federation to unify the colonies was considered but it was not until 1900 that the Commonwealth of Australia
Constitution Act was passed and given Royal Assent by Queen Victoria.
(Wikipedia, 2013)
On the 1st January 1901 Sir Edmond Barton was signed in as the interim Prime Minister of Australia and collectively the
colonies became the states of the Commonwealth of Australia.
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