50 Cents - Elizabeth II 4th Portrait - Australians at War 10 - Tobruk

50 Cents - Elizabeth II (4th Portrait - Australians at War 10 - Tobruk) - obverse50 Cents - Elizabeth II (4th Portrait - Australians at War 10 - Tobruk) - reverse

© Mike Bentley

Features

Issuer Australia
Queen Elizabeth II (1952-date)
Type Non-circulating coin
Year 2015
Value 50 Cents
0.50 AUD = USD 0.35
Currency Dollar (1966-date)
Composition Copper-nickel
Weight 15.55 g
Diameter 31.51 mm
Thickness 3 mm
Shape Dodecagonal (12-sided)
Technique Milled
Orientation Medal alignment ↑↑
Number N# 76370
Numista type number (https://numista.com)

Commemorative issue

Australians at War Series - Tobruk

Obverse

4th portrait of Queen Elizabeth II facing right wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara

Script: Latin

Lettering:
ELIZABETH II
AUSTRALIA 2015
IRB

Designer: Ian Rank-Broadley

Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS is a British sculptor who has produced many acclaimed works, among which are several designs for British coinage.

Reverse

Depiction of two Australian Soldiers manning a machine gun post & another in a trench against a background of the Libyan coastline including Tobruk

Script: Latin

Lettering:
TOBRUK 1941
50

Designer: Bronwyn King

Bronwyn King is a coin designer with the Royal Australian mint.

Edge

12 Sided Smooth

50 Cents - Elizabeth II (4th Portrait - Australians at War 10 - Tobruk) - obverse

© Mike Bentley

Mint

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

Comments

The Royal Australian Mint issued this NCLT 50 cent coin as a tribute to the "Rats of Tobruk" In 1941, Australian and Allied forces sought to defend Egypt and the Suez Canal from the German and Italian Axis forces. To achieve this, it was vital that the Allies hold the fortified port of Tobruk on the Libyan coast. British and Commonwealth forces successfully captured the Tobruk fortress and held it against besieging Axis troops for eight months. With the Allies’ extensive network of trenches and underground tunnels, Nazi propagandist William Joyce tried to discredit them by labelling them as the "Rats of Tobruk." This nickname was reclaimed by the defending soldiers who wore the name with pride.
 
This coin is part of the "Australians at War" 18 coin series being issued individually.  Six coins were issued in 2014, Six in 2015 and the final Six in 2016.

All of the coins were issued in individual credit card sized coincards.
 

See also

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Date Mintage VG F VF XF AU UNC
2015  19 942 $ 11 BU in Coincard

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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