Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 20 Cents 2001, KM# 589, Australia, Elizabeth II, Don Bradman
  • 20 Cents 2001, KM# 589, Australia, Elizabeth II, Don Bradman
Description

Sir Donald George Bradman, known as "The Don" (1908–2001), was an Australian cricket legend, widely regarded as the greatest batsman ever. Shane Warne and others have hailed him as the "greatest sportsperson" in history. His remarkable Test batting average of 99.94 is considered one of the greatest achievements in any major sport. Despite Bradman's reported aversion to fame, his iconic status made him Australia's first celebrity.

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 2001
IRB

Reverse

Depicts an image of Sir Donald Bradman unleashing a cover drive holding a cricket bat, and wearing cricket gear in front of cricket stumps.

Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players. The field has a 22-yard pitch with a wicket at each end, consisting of three stumps and two bails. The batting team scores runs by hitting the ball and running between the wickets, while the bowling and fielding team aims to prevent this and dismiss batters. Dismissal methods include being bowled, caught, or getting out by hitting the wicket. After ten dismissals, the innings end, and teams switch roles. Two umpires officiate, supported by a third umpire and match referee in international matches, with off-field scorers recording statistical information.

Engraver: Vladimir Gottwald

1908 SIR DONALD BRADMAN 2001
20 CENTS

Edge
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Circulating)
Material Cupronickel
Weight 11.31 g
Diameter 28.52 mm
Thickness 2 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Royal Australian Mint (RAM)

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