This Five Dollar silver
proof
coin is the second of six that make up the 2001 Masterpieces in Silver Set, commemorating the Federation. As 2001 marked
100 years since the joining together of the individual British colonies to form the federation of Australia, the Royal Australian
Mint celebrated with a number of specially designed coin collections and series to pay tribute to the historical event. This
particular series focuses on the men and women that paid a significant contribution to the movement to Federation and therefore
helped to shape the national constitution. The reverse of each of the
coins bears up to three portraits of some of the influential people stuck onto pure silver. The high quality finish that
is achieved on these
commemorative
silver coins makes them made them a popular addition to any sized collection. This series has a limited
mintage
of just 10,000. The Centenary of Federation issues from the RAM were finished off with a special Finale Hologram Coin.
The reverse of the coin was designed by Wojciech Pietranik and along
with five of the coins from the set features the portraits of important figures involved with the movement. A flower makes
up the background and sitting on top within their own individual circular frames are the portraits of the three women; Catherine
Spence, Elizabeth Nichols and Maybanke Anderson. There names taking their first initial and whole surname are written around
the inner edge of the circles. At the bottom of the coin is the denomination 5 DOLLARS. The
obverse of the coin features the Ian-Rank Broadley portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and surrounding the
iconic image of the monarch is the
legend
ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2001 and the denomination 5 DOLLARS. The series was packaged in an attractive blue outer box with
a metallic silver presentation case, which housed all 6 coins. Also included was a Certificate of Authenticity and an interesting
booklet containing information pertaining to the Federation and each of the influential men and women, to whom this set pays
tribute.
Before the continent that we know today as the Commonwealth of Australia formed to become one nation, it consisted of
individual self-governing British colonies. During the mid-late 19th century the idea of a Federation to unify the colonies
was considered but it wasn't 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. The three women to whom this coin pays tribute were all heavily
involved with numerous movements during the late 19th and early 20th centuries and each of them played important roles in
the lead up to, during and after the Federation. They were leaders of various women's leagues and organisations and are credited
for contributing to the fast progression of Women's roles in politics and rights in general throughout Australian history.
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