Australia 2016 Proof Coin Set 50th Anniversary Changeover to Decimal Currency

Australia 2016 Proof Coin Set 50th Anniversary Changeover to Decimal Currency

Obverse: Elizabeth II to right, legend around

Reverse: Circulating coin designs

Mintage: 19,720

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Interest in this set has sky-rocketed in recent months.

2016 marked a truly special occasion in Australia's coinage history - it marks half a century since we switched to the decimal system, and struck our own coins at our national mint in Canberra.

The introduction of our first decimal coins was a major event in a number of ways:

• We switched away from the Imperial currency system (of pounds shillings and pence), which for many people at the time felt like a change from the old to the new;

• The decimal coins featured new designs, sizes and colours.

A major public advertising and publicity campaign was launched leading into the formal changeover date of February 14th 1966, the jingle used in the radio and television commercials is one that a lot of Baby Boomers can remember instantly today.

The 2016 Proof coin set is a great opportunity to remind the younger members of the family that we haven't always had dollars and cents, and that the changeover was a major event for the whole country.

This was the first RAM Proof set to feature unique designs on the obverse of every coin - no more than 50,000 of these proof sets were released, which is a tiny mintage given the importance of the occasion.

 

SKU

19742