Description

Remembering 70 years since the start of Japanese air raid attacks on Australia at the beginning of World War II uncirculated 3 coin set (50c and two 20c) released by the Royal Australian Mint. It was not available to purchase separately. Coins have been minted for the collector market (NCLT) and have not been issued into circulation.

It was 19th February 1942 that Darwin first came under attack from the Japanese bombers destroying parts of the town, harbour, military and civil aerodromes, a hospital and the air force base. These attacks continued until November 1943 and by then Australia had been targeted over 100 times.

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 2012
IRB

Reverse

Depicts a map of Australia illustrating the major points of attack on Australian shores.

Engraver's initials are below the 1 of 1942.

Engraver: Wojciech Pietranik

1942
WP 50 CENTS
BOMBING OF AUSTRALIA

Edge
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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