5 Dollars - Elizabeth II 3rd Portrait - Colonel William Light - Masterpieces in Silver

5 Dollars - Elizabeth II (3rd Portrait - Colonel William Light - Masterpieces in Silver) - obverse5 Dollars - Elizabeth II (3rd Portrait - Colonel William Light - Masterpieces in Silver) - reverse

© Richard Thomas

Features

Issuer Australia
Queen Elizabeth II (1952-2022)
Type Non-circulating coin
Year 1995
Value 5 Dollars
5 AUD = USD 3.25
Currency Dollar (1966-date)
Composition Silver (.925)
Weight 35.79 g
Diameter 38.9 mm
Thickness 3.5 mm
Shape Round
Technique Milled
Orientation Medal alignment ↑↑
Number
N#
196725
References KM# 306
Tracy L. Schmidt (editor); 2019. Standard Catalog of World Coins / 2001-Date (14th edition). Krause Publications, Stevens Point, Wisconsin, United States.
And 5 more volumes.

Commemorative issue

Colonial Australia - Masterpieces in Silver

Series: Colonial Australia

Obverse

3rd portrait of Queen Elizabeth II facing right wearing the King George IV State Diadem

Script: Latin

Lettering:
ELIZABETH II
AUSTRALIA 1995
RDM

Designer: Raphael David Maklouf

Reverse

Head of Colonel William Light in front of grid diagram plan of early Adelaide.

Script: Latin

Lettering:
COL. WILLIAM LIGHT 1786 • 1839
5 DOLLARS
WP

Designer: Wojciech Pietranik

Edge

Reeded

5 Dollars - Elizabeth II (3rd Portrait - Colonel William Light - Masterpieces in Silver) -  obverse

© Mike Bentley (CC BY-NC)

Mint

Royal Australian Mint, Canberra, Australia (1965-date)

Comments

The Royal Australian Mint issued in 1995 a Colonial Australia Masterpieces in Silver Proof $5 Dollars, Five Coin Set with reverse designs celebrating Australia's primary industries, communications, transport and economy. This particular coin celebrated the achievements of William Light, the man who surveyed and planned the city of Adelaide.

The beautiful city of Adelaide is a living memorial to the energy and vision of Colonel Light. He was by turns soldier, sailor, artist, mercenary, explorer and surveyor – a crowded lifetime of experience proving to be the preparation of his final magnificent work. He was appointed the Surveyor-General of South Australia in 1836, his task to establish the site of the colony's capital. He chose a site a little inland from the eastern shore of the Gulf of St Vincent which explorer Collet Barker has admired from atop Mount Lofty five years earlier.

His choice was bitterly disputed. Light, however, presented a safe and sheltered anchorage, a good water supply, and ample space for the settlement on the Adelaide plain. By March 1837, he had his well known grid plan for the city, including surrounding parklands. Colonel Light named the city, Adelaide, after the Queen. After initial setbacks, South Australia made quick progress with the development of agriculture and the discovery of minerals. From carefully planned beginnings, Adelaide grew to become the bustling centre for commerce and culture it is today.

See also

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Date Mintage VG F VF XF AU UNC
1995  14 000 $ 32 Proof in Masterpieces in Silver Set

Values in the table above are expressed in USD. They are based on evaluations by Numista users and sales realized on Internet platforms. They serve as an indication only; they are not intended to be relied upon for buying, selling or exchanging. Numista does not buy or sell coins or banknotes.

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Numista Rarity index: 85 Search tips
This index is based on the data of Numista members collections. It ranges from 0 to 100, 0 meaning a very common coin or banknote and 100 meaning a rare coin or banknote among Numista members.

Bullion value: USD 26.27 Search tips
This value is given for information purpose only. It is based on a price of silver at 794 USD/kg. Numista does not buy or sell coins or metal.

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