2000 MILLENNIUM YEAR 50 cents question

[djluster]

I know there are two different 2000 millennium 50 cents. I wanted to know the difference. if any one post a picture that would really help or explain it very well that would help to but I think a picture would help me more. I am woking on a Australian type set and wanted to include both of them.

[tyjulie]

if you look at the cross in the flag u will see it incused.

[tyjulie]

this one is not a incused cross +

[Topher]

Ahh!!! The CROSS is incused.  I was wondering what was different.  I didn't know which part was incused.  Thanks for the pics.  That clears it up quite well.  I still have a lot to learn about Aussie coin varieties. 

[TwoShadows]

So where these two varieties planned or how did this happen

[Triggersmob]

You can also tell the difference by looking at the big star. If I remember correectly, the incuse version has a smooth bottom inside the star, wereas the non incuse has a rough bottom. Maybe someone can confirm that I have this the right way round. I don't have an incuse to check. 

[Nevol]

It's as you said, triggersmob. The largest star on the Incuse variety also seems to be slightly larger than on the regular coin. All the stars on the incuse have smooth inners as do the 4 inner 'arms' of the diagonal cross in the flag. 

[TwoShadows]

So I still have the same question! Were these coins meant to be or was one or the other for a proof or mint set only? Or was this just a major mint boo-boo?

[Nevol]

Twoshadows, It's believed by some that the Incuse might have originally been intended for either mint/proof sets, but the dies somehow got mixed up & some 'escaped'.  Actual numbers of escapees is unknown. They're hunted down & captured wherever & whenever possible. Quite ofted held to ransom on Ebay!

The Proof coin theory sort of makes sense to me, as the 50¢ proofs had a coloured flag, so it's possible that was why the cross was incused. However, the  proof coins actually have a slightly smaller flag , so if the incused was meant to be used for proofs, it didn't actually happen. I doubt that anyone knows the REAL story behind them, but I could be wrong. 

[TwoShadows]

So am I to assume the "incused" design is bringing a Kings Ransom? Very interesting variety and mystery to go along with it! Couldn't have one without the other so it would be a desirable set!

[CoinCrusader42]

Anybody know what the rare version is currently selling for?

 

[Rusty]

Hi CC,
The incused Millenium coins are selling on Aussie Ebay for $20 to $100 depending on condition.
A couple of links for you to check.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/50-cent-2000-INCUSED-millennium-coin-VERY-SCARCE_W0QQitemZ200170493861QQihZ010QQcategoryZ41108QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Aus-2000-Incused-millenium-50c-coin-Scarce-rare-A637_W0QQitemZ170164769338QQihZ007QQcategoryZ3372QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Australia-RARE-2000-INCUSED-Variety-50-Cent-Coin_W0QQitemZ110190958934QQihZ001QQcategoryZ3372QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The third one has an excellent close up of the flag. Best of luck and cheers.

Edit to fix fat fingers type spelling error. LOL.

[CoinCrusader42]

Looks affordable.

Thanks for the links.

 

[Brissyboy]

So I still have the same question! Were these coins meant to be or was one or the other for a proof or mint set only? Or was this just a major mint boo-boo?

Hi Twoshadows, the incused flag variety die was suppose to be used for the Mint Set 50 cent coin but for some reason it was never used for that and the dies found their way into producing less than 200,000 circulation 50 cent coins. One might even consider them mules    because the incised die was suppose to be used for all circulation coins. And when you consider less than 200,000 coins out of 16,630,000 is a mighty small mintage. Mint/Baby Mint sets totalled 133,512 50 cent coins and to date only the incised flag has been found.

The coin in the Proof and Baby Proof sets used a different die again. As the coin has a coloured pad printed flag, the actual surface under the colour is totally smooth and flat - no incused or incised lines and no stars at all. It was all painted on to the flat flag surface.

Wayne