Why is the Australian 50 cent coin 12 sided?

What is the shape of an Australian 50 cent coin?

Other than the initial Australian 1966 50 cent coin which was round, all subsequent Australian 50 cent coins from 1969 have been dodecagonal or 12 sided. Because they are of a similar size to the 20 cent coin, they were made 12 sided so that vision impaired people could feel the difference.

Can you shape an Australian coin?

No. Australian coins, with the exception of the 50 cent coin which is 12 sided or dodecagonal, come in the regulation shape of "round".

How many times did they produce round fifty cent coins?

Presumably, you refer to the Australian 50 cent coin. The round Australian 50 cent coin was only ever minted for 1966. All subsequent Australian 50 cent coins are dodecagonal or 12 sided.

What does an Australian 50 cent coin look like?

Other than the 1966 coin, the only round 50 cent coin ever issued, the Australian 50 cent coin is a cupro/nickel dodecagonal (12 sided) coin of silvery appearance and is often used as a commemorative.See the link below.

Is there such a coin as a 12 sided 50p?

According to the good book, all British general circulation 50 Pence coins are heptagonal or 7 sided. There might be the occasional round bullion 50 Pence coin. The Australian 50 cent coin has 12 sides.

When did the Australian 50 cent piece change from being round to having straight edges?

The first and only round Australian 50 cent coin was minted in 1966 and was withdrawn shortly afterwards due to the steep rise in the price of silver. The 1966 round 50 cent coin had an 80% silver content. The next Australian 50 cent coin to be issued was in 1969. It was dodecagonal (12 sided) and made from a copper-nickel alloy.

How many different Australian 10 cent coins are there?

The Australian 50 cent coin is often used as a commemorative.The original 1966 was round and had an 80% silver content. Somebody figured out that the silver in the coin was worth more than 50 cents, so the coin was discontinued. All subsequent 50 cent coins were 12 sided and had no silver in them at all. The silvery appearance is due to a 25% nickel content.These are the different varieties of Australian 50 cent coin that were minted for general circulation including commemoratives and non-commemoratives.1966 - round QEII and Australian Coat of Arms1969-1984 - 12 sided QEII and Australian Coat of Arms1985-1998 - 12 sided QEII and Australian Coat of Arms1999-current - 12 sided QEII and Australian Coat of Arms1970 - 12 sided QEII and Bicentenary - Cook1977 - 12 sided QEII and Silver Jubilee of QEII1981 - 12 sided QEII and Royal Wedding1982 - 12 sided QEII and XII Commonwealth Gamnes Brisbane1988 - 12 sided QEII and Australia's Bicentenary1991 - 12 sided QEII and 25th Anniv of Decimal Currency1994 - 12 sided QEII and Year of the Family1995 - 12 sided QEII and 50th Anniv End of WW21998 - 12 sided QEII and Anniv Bass and Flinders2000 - 12 sided QEII and Royal Visit 20002000 - 12 sided QEII and Millenium Year2001 - 12 sided QEII and Centenary of Federation2001 - 12 sided QEII and Qld Coat of Arms2001 - 12 sided QEII and ACT Coat of Arms2001 - 12 sided QEII and NSW Coat of Arms2001 - 12 sided QEII and SA Coat of Arms2001 - 12 sided QEII and WA Coat of Arms2001 - 12 sided QEII and Tas Coat of Arms2001 - 12 sided QEII and Vic Coat of Arms2001 - 12 sided QEII and NT Coat of Arms2001 - 12 sided QEII and Norfolk Island Coat of Arms2002 - 12 sided QEII and Year of the Outback2003 - 12 sided QEII and Australia's Volunteers2004 - 12 sided QEII and Student Design2005 - 12 sided QEII and 60th Anniv End of WW22006 - 12 sided QEII and Commonwealth Games Melbourne2010 - 12 sided QEII and Commemorating Australia DayPlus there are a great many Non-Circulating Legal Tender (NCLT) 50 cent coins that were not for general circulation.

When did the first Australian 50 cent coin come out?

The first Australian 50 cent coin was issued on the 14th of February, 1966, along with the rest of the initial release of Australian decimal coins and banknotes. The original 1966 50 cent coin was round and had an 80% silver content. Due to steep increases in the proce of silver, somebody figured out that the silver was worth more than 50 cents, so the coin was discontinued. All subsequent 50 cent coins were 12 sided and had no silver in them at all.

When was the last round Australian 50 cent coin made?

The first, last and only year the round Australian 50 cent coin was issued was in 1966. They were made with an 80% silver content. The price of silver skyrocketed around this time and the silver was worth more than the coin, so they were withdrawn from circulation in 1967. The next Australian 50 cent coin was issued in 1969. It was dodecagonal (12 sided) and made from the more commonplace and cheaper copper-nickel alloy.

Why isn't the Australian 50 cent coin round anymore?

The round Australian 50 cent coin was only ever issued once, in 1966. Three of these 50 cent coins contained one ounce of silver and, as the price of silver increased, the silver content was worth much more than the face value of the coin. The round 50 cent coin at 31.5 mm was also considered to be too similar in size to the 20 cent coin at 28.52 mm. The replacement 12 sided (dodecahedronal) 50 cent coin first issued in 1969 is still 31.5 mm, but its distinctive shape makes it stand out in appearance and feel from other Australian coins.

What does the 1971 Australian 50 cent coin look like?

Apart from the 1966 round 50 cent coin, all Australian 50 cent coins are pretty much the same. The are 12 sided (or dodecagonal) and are made made from 75% copper and 25% nickel giving them a silvery appearance. The edge is plain, they are 31.51mm in diameter and weigh 15.55 grams. All Australian coins have the reigning Monarch on the obverse, currently Queen Elizabeth II, and the Australian Coat of Arms featuring a kangaroo and emu on the reverse. The Australian 50 cent coin is often used as a commemorative coin and the reverse will have a different design. See the link below.

Is a 1966 Australian round 50 cent coin rare?

No, they are not especially rare. There were 36.252 million issued. They have the dubious distinction of being the most hoarded Australian coin, since they were removed from circulation in 1967 after the price of silver skyrocketed. The next 50 cent coin issued in 1969, was made from cupro-nickel and had 12 sides, as have all Australian 50 cent coins since then.