The Queen with two Aboriginal Australians: on this 2002 Falklands 50 pence, Elizabeth II’s jubilee is told through her bond with Australia.

It is a long-standing bond. In 1954 Elizabeth II became the first reigning monarch to set foot on Australian soil, and around three quarters of the population saw her during that tour. Over her reign she visited Australia sixteen times, including the jubilee year of 2002, when the country hosted the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

The reverse bears the inscription «VISIT TO AUSTRALIA», the obverse Raphael Maklouf’s portrait of the Queen with the legend «QUEEN ELIZABETH II · 2002 · FALKLAND ISLANDS · 50 PENCE». This crown-sized copper-nickel coin was issued for the 50th anniversary of Elizabeth II’s accession (KM# 91).

Grade UNC: the coin has never circulated, shows no wear and keeps its mint lustre. An unconventional subject for a jubilee series and a fine link for a collection about royal visits and the history of the Commonwealth.

If you collect coins by country or by theme, take a look at the VPcoins catalogue: it is a convenient place to find the neighbouring pieces of a series.