20 cents (Australian)

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20 Cent Piece (Australia)
Value: 0.20 AUD
Mass: 11.3 g
Diameter: 28.52 mm
Thickness: 2.50 mm
Edge: milled
Composition: 75%Copper,
25% Ni
Years of Minting: 1966–present
Catalog Number: -
Obverse
Obverse
Design: Queen Elizabeth II, Australia's Queen
Designer: Ian Rank-Broadley
Design Date: 1994
Reverse
Reverse
Design: Platypus
Designer: Stuart Devlin
Design Date: 1966

The 20 cent coin of the Australian decimal currency system was issued with conversion to decimal currency on 14 February 1966.

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.

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.

For the Broadley head there are 3 issues: 1999 with thicker lettering, 2000-2003 slightly reduced lettering by 0.01 mm, 2004 reduced head all around by 2 mm and A's with flat top and thicker lettering, 2005 a reversion to 2000 series.

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[edit] See also

[edit] References

Preceded by:
Florin (Australian)
Twenty Cents (Australian)
1966–present
Succeeded by:
Present