|
Quantity
|
Out of stock
|
||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
Australia 50 cents 2012 (Year of the Dragon)
A 50 cents coin issued in 2012 by the Royal Australian Mint as part of the Lunar Series II dedicated to the Chinese lunar calendar. This is the first 50-cent coin in the series, minted in honor of the Year of the Dragon.
On the obverse is the fourth portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadley facing right. Around the rim is the inscription with the Queen’s name, the name of the country and the year of issue.
On the reverse is depicted an Eastern dragon in a dynamic pose, on the right is the Chinese character for dragon. At the bottom is the denomination.
The coin reflects the Australian tradition of issuing commemorative coins for the Chinese New Year, popular among collectors due to the combination of Western minting and Eastern symbolism. In Chinese culture, the dragon is considered the most auspicious and powerful sign, symbolizing strength, luck, prosperity and imperial power. The issuance of this coin opened the Lunar Series II for 50-cent denominations, where each animal of the lunar cycle is presented in an artistic composition.