Australian Trial 50 cents

[<k>]

Australia, 50 cents trial.

Here is a 50 cents trial minted by Australia some years ago. It is quite an attractive piece.

The Australians were apparently thinking of reducing the size of their actual 50 cent piece.

It is still way too big and heavy compared to its minimal spending power.

Well, the years have gone by, and those Aussies have done nothing.


Meanwhile the Kiwis have got down to it, modernising the New Zealand coinage.

They reformed its specifications over one short period in 2006.

What are you waiting for, Australia?

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[Figleaf]

What is the lion holding

Peter

[<k>]

I'm not technically inclined, and no explanation came with the image.

I imagine it's some implement that will allow him to mint coins, in a manner similar to the way hammered coins were produced.

[Figleaf]

Yes, maybe that made sense as a logo. Best I can make of it is two great seals. Round handles are not too good for hands when hammering coins. Glad it's not for emasculating.

Peter

[translateltd]

I assumed they were stylised dies - presumably not meant to be a faithful representation of actual items.

[malj1]

I think perhaps the lion is using a Defibrillator 

[Prosit]

Two pawns in a chess game?

[<k>]

Australia: 50 cents trials of 1967.

See this link - it will take a few seconds to load:

Australian 50c trials

The poor Australians could not cope with the large round 50c coin that was issued in 1966, and they kept confusing it with the smaller 20c. To placate the population, a 12-sided version was produced to replace it. However, we see now that 7-sided and even 16-sided versions were contemplated. The heptagon was a British invention, a product of the Royal Mint, so perhaps the Australians wanted to avoid the heptagon and thereby imply a more independent attitude.