1981 Aussie 20 cent

[Triggersmob]

Nothing special about the 20 cent of this year, but look at the condition of this one I found in the till today.

It's almost uncirculated, just a few knocks on it.



Must have been stolen from someones collection.

Also found two 1982 Commonwealth Games 50 cent, in about the same condition.
Found also a 2001 A.C.T 20 cent, 2001 N.S.W. 50 cent and a 1987 N.Z. 20 cent.

[Nevol]

Very nice for a 26 yr old coin! I found a 1995 $1 in aUnc last week.

[TwoShadows]

Why would Canada be minting Aussie coins?

[Humpybong]

Canada and Wales minted a few of our coins.

Happended when we had to many coins to produce at one time and would not have been able to cope.
Also could be caused by machinery breakdowns, servicing and replacing.

Most of the time Australia and UK were able to produce what was needed but when we needed more Canada was used.

At least that is what I have been told, there could be more reasons that I do not know about.

[Nevol]

I believe one of the reasons for Canada & Wales being involved in minting Aussie coins for 1981 was due to the increased demand there would be for change in 1982 resulting from the Commonwealth Games.  I remember reading this somewhere but don't remember where so I can't quote the source, Australia simply couldn't get them all done in time.

[Rusty]

Would anybody have any images (piccies) to let me try and distinguish between the Canberra and Wales coins. I understand that the traditional 3-1/2 claw was minted in Canada. There seems to be some mystery about this year. The hairline at the base of the neck is more "wavy" apparantly??

BTW, Australia had coins minted at various places to help with the demand. Among them are Birmingham, London, Calcutta, San Francisco, Denver, Canada and Wales. Cheers.

[GregK]

That is a nice pick up! I used to find a few nice coins when I exchanged 20 cent pieces with the bank.  Only do $1 now, they are lighter and the best I have found is a nice good EF 1992.  No mules but.

[Triggersmob]

I'm not sure which mint it is. Can you tell me?


I have heard that there was increased demand for 20 cent pieces at this time, because of the Space Invaders craze. The games used 20 cent pieces, so the demand was high. A few years later the craze was over and they destroyed surplus stock of 20 cent pieces.

   

[Muckeye]

G'day,  That is a nice 20 cent coin Steve.

About once a minth I get to go through the float at the local RSL, The mamager's a mate.  On average about $3000.00 each time.
This week a few nice keepers but also a UNC 1984 $1.00???

Sorry to make anyone envious.
regards,

[Humpybong]

Hard to tell from the picture I usually look under 10X magnifier.

However it does not look like a 3.5 claw to me.

Have a read of McDonalds to see what they say then look at the coin under magnification.

[TwoShadows]

I just talked with my friends at the Canadian Mint and they want all the 3 1/2 claws back! Especially if they have collector value and they want them sent to my address! I will handle things from there as thats the least I can do for my friends up North!

[Humpybong]

You might be lucky, but I doubt it.....we like to keep our native animals here in OZ

[GregK]

I'm over 50 now and the eyes really dimming but " I'm not sure which mint it is. Can you tell me?" really looks like a 3.5 claw to me

[Yass]

This week a few nice keepers but also a UNC 1984 $1.00???

Muckeye,
It is not that uncommon to find unc 1984 $1 coins.  As I understand it there was a restrike of the 1984 $1 for the 1992 5 coin set.  I don't know how many extra were made (if indeed they were). If that is the case, then they are still 25 years old and therefore unusual .

[Triggersmob]

I'm over 50 now and the eyes really dimming but " I'm not sure which mint it is. Can you tell me?" really looks like a 3.5 claw to me

Gregk. I have to confess I don't own a Macca's so I don't know how to tell the difference. I usually borrow it out of the Library when I need it.

[Brissyboy]

Okay guys, step aside for the 1981 specialist.  

Firstly, in 1981, the Royal Australian Mint in Canberra contracted the Royal Mint at Llantrisant, Wales to strike Australian coin dated 1981 in the following denominations, 1 cent, 2 cents, 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents and 50 cents (Royal Wedding design), the Royal Canadian Mint at Winnipeg, Canada to strike 5 cents and 20 cents, the Perth Mint at Perth, Western Australia to strike 2 cents and W.A. Stokes (Australasia) Ltd at Melbourne, Victoria, Australia to strike 10,048 of the 1982 $10 Commonwealth Games silver proof coins.

This was necessary because of a 13 week strike at the RAM in the second quarter of 1981.

The RAM did manage in the second half of 1981 to produce coin for circulation in 1c, 2c, 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c (Coat of Arms design) as well as the 6 coin collector uncirculated and proof sets, $200 gold uncirculated Royal Wedding and the 1982 $10 silver and $200 gold uncirculated and proof Commonwealth Games coins (1981-82 financial year).

With the circulation coins, mint of origin differences can be detected if coins are in reasonable quality and if one knows what to look for. Coins struck by the RCM are the easiest with the 5 cent having a distinctive obverse (two wavy lines to the lowest hair curl at the back of the neck) and the 20 cents having the very clear three and half claws reverse and flat text to the legend on the obverse. The platypus also has large nostrils similar to the 20 cents from the RAM.

Continued next message.

[Brissyboy]

The coins from the Royal Mint are a lot more difficult to detect from those produced by the RAM. If you can, get a set of RAM coins from Royal Australian Mint marked rolls or from the mint uncirculated set and use these to compare other coins with. Differences for the 1 cent and 2 cent seems to be the distance of the legend on the obverse from the rim. The Perth Mint 2 cent coins may also have a slighly different coppery colour and like in 1966-68 have the claw on the reverse shorter than that of Canberra but not as blunt as in 66-68. The 5 cents and 10 cents are quite difficult and the best way to get these coins from the Royal Mint is in Reserve Bank of Australia marked rolls. Mind you the RCM 5c also comes in RBA rolls too. As for the 20 cents, I have found the Queen on the obverse lacks detail to her eyebrow hair lines and the nostrils of the Platypus on the reverse are quite small. The left claw under the 2 which on the RCM coin is the half claw, on some of the RM coins can appear to be a half claw but under magnification and rotating the coin to the light, the claw tappers up instead of being a blunt half claw. The letters of the obverse legend are much more rounded than flat like the with the RCM coins. The 20c from the RAM has 4 claws, large nostrils to platypus, distinct eyebrow hair lines to Queen. The distances of the obverse text from the rim may also be a feature in discerning between mints.

 

I try and post some pics over the weekend.

The 50 cents is easy to tell in that all Coat of Arms were struck by the RAM and all Royal Wedding were struck by the RM in Wales.

Wayne 

[Muckeye]

Crikey, you know how to 'make life difficult' Wayne.
It's hard enuf to get the varities in Macca's without you butting in!
regards,

[Rusty]

Okay guys, step aside for the 1981 specialist.  

Firstly, in 1981, the Royal Australian Mint in Canberra contracted the Royal Mint at Llantrisant, Wales to strike Australian coin dated 1981 in the following denominations, 1 cent, 2 cents, 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents and 50 cents (Royal Wedding design), the Royal Canadian Mint at Winnipeg, Canada to strike 5 cents and 20 cents, the Perth Mint at Perth, Western Australia to strike 2 cents and W.A. Stokes (Australasia) Ltd at Melbourne, Victoria, Australia to strike 10,048 of the 1982 $10 Commonwealth Games silver proof coins.

This was necessary because of a 13 week strike at the RAM in the second quarter of 1981.

The RAM did manage in the second half of 1981 to produce coin for circulation in 1c, 2c, 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c (Coat of Arms design) as well as the 6 coin collector uncirculated and proof sets, $200 gold uncirculated Royal Wedding and the 1982 $10 silver and $200 gold uncirculated and proof Commonwealth Games coins (1981-82 financial year).

With the circulation coins, mint of origin differences can be detected if coins are in reasonable quality and if one knows what to look for. Coins struck by the RCM are the easiest with the 5 cent having a distinctive obverse (two wavy lines to the lowest hair curl at the back of the neck) and the 20 cents having the very clear three and half claws reverse and flat text to the legend on the obverse. The platypus also has large nostrils similar to the 20 cents from the RAM.

Continued next message.

Hi Brissyboy,
The obverse lettering for the 3-1/2 claw coin, as I have an UNC one and every circulated one I have checked today (about 10) seem to be curved at the base of the lettering, and flat across the text. In fact when I saw the curved base I knew it would be a 3-1/2 even before I turned it over to confirm it. How about finding a way to tell the other 2 apart eh.    Cheers.

[Brissyboy]

Rusty, If you read what I wrote above, you should be able to tell the RM 20c from the RAM 20c if they are of reasonable to high quality. Much harder to tell with very circulated coins.

[Brissyboy]

Rusty,

Perhaps you will be able to tell from looking at the reeding on the 20c issues.




Wayne

[NumisMatty]

Do you think it was broken out of a proof set?
I found a 1992 10p piece the other day which i believe is actually a proof, has very mirror-like fields to me and slight cameo..

[Triggersmob]

Matt,

No, this is definately not proof finish. May have come from a mint set though.