50 Australian dollars is a series of gold investment and commemorative coins, popular among collectors around the world. Each of them is minted from gold with a fineness of 999.9 by Proof or Brilliant Uncirculated technology. All of them are made in the country’s oldest mints, the Mint of Perth and the Royal Australian Mint. The most valuable coins are Australian gold coins of the Kangaroo series. Their cost is high due to the rarity and changing design. The circulation is minted in a limited number (no more than 7,000 copies per year).
History
The first and most popular collection, which became famous all over the world, is the Australian gold coins of the Kangaroo series. Animal of the fifth continent is familiar to many as the endemic of this country. The marsupial animal is found on collectible and investment coins with a face value of 15, 25 and 100 dollars. You can find all 15 Dollars, 25 Dollars and 100 Dollars Australian gold coins in our catalog. Each coin is different from the others in design. This makes series like that unique and valuable.
The symbol of the Kangaroo for the coins has been chosen for a reason. The animal does not know how to move back, because of the structure of its legs and tail it can only move forward. These features symbolize the dignity of Australia, a country that never takes a step back and always moves forward. Even though the animal was considered a pest since 1908 its image has been present everywhere: on the coat of arms, pictures, emblems, logos, and coins from the collectible precious metals. Also, the word is included in the geographical names of the country. A river, a suburb, a valley, a reservoir of Australia is named after kangaroo.
Do you know? In October 2011, the Mint of Perth created a gold coin weighing one ton, breaking the record of the largest and most valuable coin previously owned by the Royal Mint of Canada. The coin has a diameter of about 80 centimeters (31 inches) and a thickness of 12 centimeters (4.7 inches). On the front side of the coin there is a red kangaroo, and on the reverse side, there is a portrait of the Queen. Its face value is 1 million dollars, but it was estimated in Australia in 53 million dollars at the time of the minting.
The first 50 dollars coin from the Kangaroo series was issued in 1992, and then in 2004, 2007, 2012 and 2018. The image changed on each copy and became noticeably more sophisticated. The picture has more volume, and the surface more mirrored and smooth. The coin of 1992 replaced the legendary collection, Australian coins of the series Golden Nugget. Large nuggets were depicted on the reverse before, but since they looked more like meteorites, it was decided to replace it with an engraving of a kangaroo.
Gold Australian coins of the Lunar series are known around the whole world. They are also represented in coins of $ 15, $ 25, $ 50, and $ 100. The rareness explains their popularity. The mint of Perth issues each coin in a limited number up to 4,000 copies. Each image corresponds to the year of minting. For example, a collectible coin with a mouse engraving was issued in 2008, with a dragon in 2012, and with a snake in 2013. The last version of the coin of the series “Lunar-2” will be issued in 2019.
Do you know? The Chinese Lunar Calendar is a twelve-year recurring calendar dating back to ancient times. Each year is assigned to an animal that reflects the qualities of people born this year. Australian gold coins of the “Lunar” series are issued in honor of these animals. They were minted every year since 1996, and since the lunar calendar was renewed in 2008, Perth Mint released the second Lunar series, raising the interest of collectors to their ideas even more. Some fans of this series have reserved coins in advance, and this caused even greater excitement about the collection.
Australian animals are on many collectible coins, including 50 dollars with the image of a whale shark, a sea giant living near the coast of the country. All 50 Dollars Australian gold coins in our catalog. The engravers skillfully transferred the image, even distinctive patterns on the back – bright spots and streaks arranged in a checkerboard pattern. Unlike other types of sharks, the whale shark is apathetic and slow. Scuba divers use this to take pictures next to it.
Do you know? Queen Elizabeth II is depicted on all coins listed here. The author of the portrait was a brilliant medal artist Jan Rank Broadley. In 1997, after winning the Royal Australian Mint competition, he was able to reproduce the fourth portrait for the entire period of her reign. Ian twice met the queen to confirm her portrait after the victory. The peculiarity of his work is restraint. It was difficult enough for the author to bring out recognizable facial features within the framework of small coins.
Design
Australian red kangaroo of 1992
Metal: gold
Weight: 15.5017 g
Diameter: 23 mm
Obverse: portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain; legend: «ELIZABETH II», «AUSTRALIA», «50 DOLLARS».
Reverse: kangaroo; inscription «GOLD AUSTRALIAN NUGGET», «1/2 OZ. 9999 GOLD», «1992».
Lunar Year of the Mouse
Metal: gold
Weight: 15.594 g
Diameter: 25.1 mm
Obverse: portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain; legend: «ELIZABETH II», «1/2OZ 9999», 2008, «AUSTRALIA», «50 DOLLARS».
Reverse: mouse; Chinese hieroglyph; inscription «Year of the Mouse».
Lunar Year of the Dragon
Metal: gold
Weight: 15.551 g
Diameter: 30.6 mm
Obverse: portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain; legend: «ELIZABETH II», «1/2OZ 9999», 2012, «AUSTRALIA», «50 DOLLARS».
Reverse: dragon; Chinese hieroglyph; inscription «Year of the Dragon».
Lunar Year of the Snake
Metal: gold
Weight: 15.551 g
Diameter: 30.6 mm
Obverse: portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain; legend: «ELIZABETH II», «1/2OZ 9999», 2013, «AUSTRALIA», «50 DOLLARS».
Reverse: snake; Chinese hieroglyph; inscription «Year of the Snake».
Kangaroo of 2008
Metal: gold
Weight: 15.551 g
Diameter: 25.1mm
Obverse: portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain; legend: «ELIZABETH II», 2009, «AUSTRALIA», «50 DOLLARS».
Reverse: Kangaroo with a little kangaroo in a bag surrounded by 6 stars; inscriptions «AUSTRALIAN KANGAROO», «1/2 oz 9999», GOLD.
Kangaroo of 2012
Metal: gold
Weight: 15.55 g
Diameter: 25.6 mm
Obverse: portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain; legend: «ELIZABETH II», «AUSTRALIA», «50 DOLLARS».
Reverse: Kangaroo during the jump in the habitat; inscriptions «DISCOVER AUSTRALIA», 2012, «RED KANGAROO», «1/2 oz 9999», GOLD.
Whale shark
Metal: gold
Weight: 15.55 g
Diameter: 25.6 mm
Obverse: portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain; legend: «ELIZABETH II», «AUSTRALIA», «50 DOLLARS».
Reverse: Whale shark in the habitat; inscriptions «DISCOVER AUSTRALIA», 2012, «WHALE SHARK», «1/2 oz 9999», GOLD.
You can find all Australian gold coins in our catalog.
Circulation
- Australian red kangaroo of 1992 – 100,000 copies
- lunar year of the mouse– 7,000 copies
- lunar year of the dragon – 7,000 copies
- lunar year of the snake – 7,000 copies
- kangaroo of 2008– 3,425 copies
- kangaroo of 2012 – 500 copies
- whale shark – 500 copies
Cost
The price for a Kangaroo coin varies depending on the year:
- 1992 – 590 $;
- 2008– 650 $;
- 2012 – 800 $.
Australian coins of the “Lunar” series with a face value of 50 dollars cost $ 320 regardless of the symbol of the year.
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