Obverse. Photo © Downies
  • 50 Cents 2011, KM# 1521, Australia, Elizabeth II, 60th Anniversary of Australia's National Service
  • 50 Cents 2011, KM# 1521, Australia, Elizabeth II, 60th Anniversary of Australia's National Service
Description

2011 sees the 60th anniversary of Australia's National Service program which commenced in 1951 before stopping in 1959 and then being adopted again in a different form in 1964 and running through to December 1972. The initial period of National Service (or less euphemistically conscription) required that all Australian males aged 18 to complete nearly 6 months of training followed by five years of service in the Commonwealth Military Forces. The second period of National Service (from 1964) required two years of service in the regular armed forces followed by 3 years in the reserves. During the 18 years of the two programs more than 287,000 "Nasho's" served Australia and 212 of these young men died while on active duty, 2 in Borneo and 210 in the Vietnam Conflict.

On the 8th of September 2010 those who served under the National Service program were invited to parade along Anzac Parade to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra where the National Service Memorial was officially opened. The Royal Australian Mint has taken part in the program with the release of a non circulating cupro-nickel 50c coin, one of which was laid in place under the dedication plaque during the memorial's construction. This coin is available to collectors in a PNC and as a carded issue.

Obverse

Fourth crowned portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II facing right, wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara.

The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara was a wedding present in 1947 from her grandmother, Queen Mary, who received it as a gift from the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland in 1893 on the occasion of her marriage to the Duke of York, later George V. Made by E. Wolfe & Co., it was purchased from Garrard & Co. by a committee organised by Lady Eve Greville. In 1914, Mary adapted the tiara to take 13 diamonds in place of the large oriental pearls surmounting the tiara. At first, Elizabeth wore the tiara without its base and pearls but the base was reattached in 1969. The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara is one of Elizabeth's most recognisable pieces of jewellery due to its widespread use on British banknotes and coinage.

Engraver: Ian Rank-Broadley

ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2011
IRB

Reverse

Depicts the National Service Memorial comprising a square sandstone plinth representing the Army, upon this rests a polished granite slab with the reflection of the sky representing the Air Force, while on this is a bronze bowl filled with water depicting the Navy. Within the bronze bowl is a triangular element which depicts the co-operation of the three armed services and their importance in our society. At the bottom corner of the Memorial is a representation of the National Service Medal which each "Nasho" is entitled to wear.

Engraver: Wojciech Pietranik

DEDICATED TO ALL AUSTRALIAN SERVICEMEN AND IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO DIED·
60TH ANNIVERSARY OF NATIONAL SERVICE
FIFTY CENTS

Edge

50 Cents

4th portrait

60th Anniversary of Australia's National Service

KM# 1521
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Cupronickel
Weight 15.55 g
Diameter 31.5 mm
Thickness 3 mm
Shape polygon
Sides 12
Alignment Medal
Mint
Royal Australian Mint (RAM)

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