Australian 20 cent coin

Infobox Coin
Country = Australia
Denomination = 20 Cent Piece
Value = 0.20
Unit = AUD
Mass = 11.3
Diameter = 28.52
Thickness = 2.50
Edge = milled
Composition = 75%Copper,
25% Ni
Years of Minting = 1966–present
Catalog Number = -
Obverse = Australian 20 cent piece Obv.jpg
Obverse Design = Queen Elizabeth II, Australia's Queen
Obverse Designer = Ian Rank-Broadley
Obverse Design Date = 1994
Reverse = Oz20cent.jpg
Reverse Design = Platypus
Reverse Designer = Stuart Devlin
Reverse Design Date = 1966
The 20 cent coin of the Australian decimal currency system was issued with conversion to decimal currency on 14 February 1966, replacing the florin, or two shillings(the Australian pound automatically became worth two Australian dollars.)

There have been various reverses:
*1966-current: A Platypus in water with the number 20 top right hand corner, designed by Stuart Devlin. Some of the coins from the initial 1966 mint are still in circulation.
*1995: 50 years of the United Nations with the UN emblem.
*2001: 100 years of Australian Federation, set of nine coins; six for the states, 2 for the territories and Norfolk Island.
*2001: Donald Bradman's death.
*2003: Commemorating Volunteers.
*2005: 60 years since the end of the Second World War, with "WORLD WAR 1939-1945 COMING HOME" lettering.
*2007: Year of the Surf Lifesaver

Three different obverses have so far been used; 1966 to 1984 the head of Queen Elizabeth II by Arnold Machin; between 1985 and 1998 the head by Raphael Maklouf; and since 1999 the head by Ian Rank-Broadley. Inscription of AUSTRALIA on the right hand side and ELIZABETH II on the left hand side.

Varieties

Excepting commemorative varieties, there have have been a number of varieties of regular issue coins identified by collectors, of both the obverse and reverse. The first of these seen is a highly prized variety of the 1966 issue, with a "wave" on the top of the bottom stroke of the 2 in "20". These coins are now sold for over AUD$200, depending on condition. Other varieties sited of the obverse generally revolve around the length and number of the claws of the platypus. These are prone to changing if incorrect stamping pressure is used in creation of dies for the coins. Consequentially, these are often seen in coins produced at foreign mints.

For the Broadley head Reverse there are 3 issues: 1999 with thicker lettering, 2000-2003 slightly reduced lettering by 0.01 mm. The 2004 issue had 2 forms, a reduced head all around by 2 mm and A's with flat top and thicker lettering, and the issue of 2000-03. Both were issued for circulation, but only the later in mint packs. 2005 and subsequent issues have seen a reversion to the 2000 series Reverse. There are also some commemorative 20 cent coins.

1981 Mintings

In 1981, a large number of 20 cent coins were required, far over the capacity of the Royal Australian Mint facility in Canberra, leading to some coins being minted by other Commonwealth Mints, such as the Royal Mint in London, and the Royal Canadian Mint. In Australian Coin Collecting circles, the Canadian impression of the 20 cent coin is known as the "Ottawa Mint" version, which may be misleading, as post 1976, the Ottawa Mint only produced precious metal commemorative coins, like the Perth Mint, meaning the coins may have been produced at the Royal Canadian Mint's Winnipeg facilities.

Due to differences in the milling and annealing process, the Canadian variety of the 1981-20 cent coin is distinctive to attentive collectors and even cash handlers. The top and bottom edges of the milling is rounded over, not squared like the Australian and London varieties, and despite being in circulation for well over 25 years, even when well worn, the fields remain shiny, and not dulled like those produced at other mints. These qualities are also observed in Canadian coinage of similar ages.

The quantity of 1981 and 1982 mintages of the 20 cent coin was sufficient to not require many coins released for circulation until 1990. The 1983 and 1984 versions were struck for circulation, but never released, later being resmelted by the Royal Australian Mint, leaving the coins relatively rare. Significant premiums have been paid for a small number of mint rolls from these years that have shown up in auctions.

Mintages

For certain years there were substantial mintages that weren't released. As was the case of the 1983 and 1984 issues, with a mintage of 55.11 million and 27.82 million coins respectively but these were melted down as they were not required. Also there is a reported issue of 2.7 million coins for the 1985 issue, and 1.49 for the 1993 issue (Renniks 2000 p. 82).

References

*Reserve Bank of Australia
*

External links

* [http://www.australianstamp.com/Coin-web/aust/decimal.htm Australian Decimal Currency]