Australia 50-Cents (KM694)¶
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Reverse: Koala Bear, Wombat, Lorikeet
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Obverse: Queen Elizabeth II
- Composition
- Copper-nickel clad copper
- Country
- Australia
- Approx. Size
- 31.5mm
- Area
- Oceania/Australia
- Animal Class
- Mammals
- Species
- Koala Bear, Wombat
- KM#
- 694
It's debatable whether Australians actually use 50-cent pieces, but I hear the answer is "yes." Since the mammals on this coin outnumber the birds two-to-one, I decided to file it under Mammals.
On the reverse of this piece we see a lorikeet on the back of a somewhat surprised wombat, while a koala bear makes good his escape on a eucalyptus tree. Along with the denomination are the initials "JS" for the designer, John Serrano. John was a primary school student in 2003 when his coin design was selected from 2,500 entries submitted by students from across Australia.
Australia¶
- Area
- Oceania/Australia
As the age of mammals got underway, the land mass that is mostly Australia was pretty much on its own. This isolation has led to the evolution of some very unique animals, many of which are featured on Australian coins. Great Britain first laid claim to eastern Australia in 1770. In 1942 Australia's autonomy was officially established, although the Aussies had already been running the show themselves for years.
