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Quiz about Collectable Commemorative Coins
Quiz about Collectable Commemorative Coins

Collectable Commemorative Coins Quiz


Hoarding Australian commemorative fifty-cent coins is almost a national past time, with many homes having a stash somewhere. How much do you know about the designs of these coins, which can trigger a bowerbird reaction in many Aussies?

A multiple-choice quiz by leith90. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
leith90
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
319,686
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
498
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. While all Australian currency has an image of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse side, the reverse side of the fifty-cent coins have a standard issue design and many varied commemorative designs.
What design features on the reverse side of the coin celebrating Australia's 25th anniversary of decimal currency?
Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. A coin commemorating the bicentenary of Captain Cook's landing at Botany Bay was released in 1970. What design features on this coin? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Brisbane played host to a major event in 1982, and this is celebrated with its own coin. What event was it that introduced an oversized Kangaroo to the world? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Tribute is paid to the fiftieth anniversary of the ending of World War Two, with a coin released in 1995. Which hero is depicted on the reverse side of this coin? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. The bicentenary of the arrival of the first fleet was also granted a commemorative coin. Which of these was NOT featured on the coin released in 1988? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. The fifty cent coin celebrating the new millennium featured which design? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. The dodecagon coins with the standard coat of arms have been released most years since 1969. However, some coins have a specific flaw in the design, and this is quite prominent in a few coins from 1979 and 1980. What flaw makes these coins worth collecting? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. To celebrate the centennial anniversary of Australia's federation, a special set of coins was released in 2001. Each state or territory had their own coin with its coat of arms on it. How many coins were released in this collection? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. 1998 saw the release of a coin commemorating the two hundred year anniversary of the discovery of Bass Strait. What design features on this coin? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Most people from "Down Under" remember 1983 and one of the nation's most triumphant sporting victories. 25 years later and the event is immortalised on a commemorative coin. What event was this? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 07 2024 : psnz: 10/10
Feb 16 2024 : DCW2: 10/10

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. While all Australian currency has an image of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse side, the reverse side of the fifty-cent coins have a standard issue design and many varied commemorative designs. What design features on the reverse side of the coin celebrating Australia's 25th anniversary of decimal currency?

Answer: Merino ram's head

Before the introduction of decimal currency in 1966, the one-shilling piece also featured a merino ram's head. The ram is representative of Australia's farming industry, upon which the nation was built.
2. A coin commemorating the bicentenary of Captain Cook's landing at Botany Bay was released in 1970. What design features on this coin?

Answer: Portrait of Captain Cook and Australia's east coast

Captain Cook landed at Botany Bay after he first sighted Australia in 1770. He sailed up the East coast naming bays and mountains until they hit the Great Barrier Reef. Cook was forced to beach his ship in a river he named the Endeavour (of course) until a hole in the hull could be repaired.
3. Brisbane played host to a major event in 1982, and this is celebrated with its own coin. What event was it that introduced an oversized Kangaroo to the world?

Answer: Commonwealth Games

During September and October of 1982, Brisbane hosted athletes from forty-six nations at the XII Commonwealth Games. Matilda, the giant motorised kangaroo, featured in the opening and closing ceremonies. While the officials lauded the idea, many Aussies (me included) cringed when she made her appearance.
4. Tribute is paid to the fiftieth anniversary of the ending of World War Two, with a coin released in 1995. Which hero is depicted on the reverse side of this coin?

Answer: Sir Edward Dunlop

Sir Edward "Weary" Dunlop was chosen to represent the many heroes of the second World War. "Weary" was a doctor who worked with the Australian troops captured by the Japanese in Singapore. While prisoners, the troops were forced to build a railway from Burma to Thailand, and many would have perished in the conditions if not for the tireless work of "Weary" Dunlop.
5. The bicentenary of the arrival of the first fleet was also granted a commemorative coin. Which of these was NOT featured on the coin released in 1988?

Answer: Portrait of Arthur Phillips

The first fleet, commanded by Captain Arthur Phillip, arrived in Botany Bay January 1788. The site was unsuitable so the fleet landed in Port Jackson where Sydney was established.
The coin, designed by Michael Tracey and released in 1988, features a tall ship, a map of Australia, the southern cross and a compass.
6. The fifty cent coin celebrating the new millennium featured which design?

Answer: Stylised Australian flag

This coin has a stylised Australian flag with "Millennium Year" printed to the side. If you are a collector, try to find an incused coin. The incused variety of coins were meant for collector sets, but none were struck. It was later revealed that around 200,000 coins were struck with the incused design and released into general circulation.

These coins therefore have the potential to be a rarity in the future.
7. The dodecagon coins with the standard coat of arms have been released most years since 1969. However, some coins have a specific flaw in the design, and this is quite prominent in a few coins from 1979 and 1980. What flaw makes these coins worth collecting?

Answer: Double bar behind the Emu

The double bar refers to two lines that form part of the reef design behind the emu's head. While the fault is most prominent in the 1979 and 1980 coins, it can also be see very faintly on the 1966 round coin. The lines were thought to cause fractures in the coin, so the lines were ground off the dies and are therefore no longer seen on subsequent mintages. The 1966 coins were minted in London and shipped to Australia.
Coins with the double bar are quite difficult to find, so if you have one, send it to me!
8. To celebrate the centennial anniversary of Australia's federation, a special set of coins was released in 2001. Each state or territory had their own coin with its coat of arms on it. How many coins were released in this collection?

Answer: 10

The set includes a Commonwealth federation coin with the badges of the individual states arranged in the shield. The six states and two territories have coins featuring their coat of arms, as does Norfolk Island, making a total of ten coins in this set.
9. 1998 saw the release of a coin commemorating the two hundred year anniversary of the discovery of Bass Strait. What design features on this coin?

Answer: Bass, Flinders and the strait

When European explorers originally discovered Australia, they thought Tasmania was joined to the mainland. Bass and Flinders travelled through the strait on their ship the "Norfolk" in 1798 and Flinders named the passage "Bass Strait" in honour of his colleague. Bass and Flinders feature on the design along with a small map of Bass Strait.
10. Most people from "Down Under" remember 1983 and one of the nation's most triumphant sporting victories. 25 years later and the event is immortalised on a commemorative coin. What event was this?

Answer: Winning the America's Cup

Who can forget Australia II and its famous winged keel storming home by only 25 seconds to win the Cup? Of course, in Australia it was on quite early, but that didn't stop millions of Aussies rushing bleary eyed to the tellie to share the dream, and to sing along with the crew's self-proclaimed anthem "Land Down Under" one more time.

The coin was released in 2008 as an uncirculated coin only.
Source: Author leith90

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ozzz2002 before going online.
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