Sorry! This Australia 1988 Fifty Cent Pattern Die Trial - ACT Coat of Arms / Parliament House PCGS SP65 has sold.
Australia 1988 Fifty Cent Pattern Die Trial - ACT Coat of Arms / Parliament House PCGS SP65
An enigmatic and desirable Australian decimal pattern.
| We Last Sold This Item For: | $7,000.00 |
|---|---|
| Last Sold On: | 23/4/2020 |
| # Sold In Past 12 Months: | 0 |
Recent Sales in this Category
Australia 2001 Set of 9 50 Cent Coins Centenary of Federation Average Circulated
Last sold on: 20/12/2024
$25.00
2015 Coloured 50 Cent in Presentation Card 50th Anniversary of the RAM
Last sold on: 11/12/2024
$60.00
Australia 1988 Fifty Cent Pattern Die Trial - ACT Coat of Arms / Parliament House PCGS SP65
Obverse: Coat of Arms of the Australian Capital Territory
Reverse: "New" Australian Parliament House
Shape: Dodecagon
Diameter: 31.65mm
Thickness: 2.80mm
Weight: 15.55g
Alloy: 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
An enigmatic and desirable Australian decimal pattern.
This intriguing decimal pattern first came to light in the early 1990s, when a small number of them "...turned up in a box of junk in England."
Everyone agrees that these patterns have been struck on Australian copper-nickel 50 cent planchets - just where and why they were struck remains a subject of intellectual numismatic debate.
The first pattern discovered was described as being an "Australia Pattern 50c dodecagonal in cupro-nickel obverse Parliament House with the flag raised reverse Coat of Arms over "FOR THE QUEEN, THE LAW AND THE PEOPLE", EF as yet unlisted and extremely rare."
Struck With Official Designs
A direct enquiry with staff at the Royal Australian Mint has determined that "...there are no records of this piece having been struck." This is quite remarkable for a pattern that has clearly been struck with official designs, to the same standard of our circulating coinage!
Research by the respected numismatist Jon Saxton has shown that the depiction of the ACT Coat of Arms is exactly the same as that seen on the 1993 $10 silver commemorative coin, which indicates that even if these patterns were not struck on the RAM's premises, they must have been struck by a mint that had a direct commercial relationship with the Royal Australian Mint.
Struck on A Correct Planchet
The Australian Commonwealth Government understandably controls the blank planchets used in the production of our national coinage very tightly - they are not the type of item that is sensibly allowed to fall into the hands of the wrong people. This indicates to me that these patterns have some official status - if they were illicitly produced the Federal Police would surely have been involved long ago.
First Discovered in the United Kingdom
For my mind, it is telling that the first batch of these patterns turned up in the United Kingdom - a nation that has provided minting technology to central banks and national governments around the world for more than two centuries.
Given the information that has come to light to date (official designs on an official planchet; first discovered in the United Kingdom), I believe these patterns are the product of a British Mint (perhaps the Birmingham Mint), and were struck as one stage of a tendering process for raw materials; equipment or technology being considered in the production of Australia's circulating coinage.
They have captured the imagination of collectors of Australian decimal coins for several decades now, any further information on their purpose that comes to light in future can only enhance their standing and appeal.
Past sales figures via auction and private treaty have ranged up to $20,000.
This particular example has been well preserved - several minor marks are scattered across either side, it remains devoid of wear, damage or tone. PCGS have assessed just 5 examples, this particular pattern is tied as the equal finest known.
It is a bold example of this scarce and intriguing decimal pattern.
Click the PCGS icon below to verify the certificate details for this coin directly on the PCGS website.
PCGS Certificate Number: 38851181
SKU: 206565
Browse our catalog of Australian 50 Cent Coins below:
Related Articles
Others Also Bought
More From This Category
I've taken my coins to Andrew a few times. Him and his staff are very nice people. Andrew is honest and down to earth. 👍
I have purchased several bulk lots of world coins from Sterling & Currency over the last few years. Read more...
I live on East Coast but prefer dealing with Andrew on the West due to his integrity, knowledge and prices, Read more...
Just purchased a 1966 blue case decimal mint set. Andrew gave me a ring to ensure it had arrived and provided Read more...
.jpg)
About the Sterling & Currency Team
The team at Sterling & Currency is a family affair – small but growing. Andrew Crellin is the main dealer in the business, click here to read this credentials and how he started with the Perth Mint; spent a decade in Sydney working with two leading dealers and relocated back to Perth in 2006.
Jo is our budding Numismatist, Chief Event officer, Photographer and Packing Extraordinaire. Natalie is our media creator and photographer. Nicole manages the accounts and is part of the Packing Team. A myriad of important duties are carried out by the team that include photography, website updates, office admin, and chocolate eating.
Ruby the Ridgeback quite frankly has learned nothing about coins, however contributes by barking at anyone wearing hi-viz.
We're Always Buying!
We need to buy tens of thousands of dollars worth of coins and notes each and every week of the year.
If you'd like to turn all or part of your collection into cash, get in touch with our expert staff and we'll be happy to start working on a deal with you.
Australian Gold Coins
We have extensive experience in handling all Australian gold soveriegns and halves, from the Adelaide Pounds of 1852 right through to the last coins of George V of 1931. All of the Australian gold coins in our online shop are described in detail with high resolution images.
Coins
At Sterling & Currency, we specialize in handling Australian coins dating from our nation's settlement in 1788 through to the introduction of decimal currency in 1966. We have an extensive range in our online store of Australian gold, copper and silver coins.
Decimal Coins
The Australian proof and UNC coins struck by the Perth Mint and the Royal Australian Mint are the most accessible coins available to collectors today. If you're not able to find a particular coin that you're keen to add to your collection, let us know and we'll be contact you when it becomes available.