May 9, 2011
Stuart Devlin's Platypus Standard Design
The Australian 20c coin is made from 75% copper and 25% nickel (cupro-nickel), is 28.52mm in diameter and weighs 11.31grams. It has a reeded edge. The standard circulation design is the platypus by Stuart Devlin and was first issued in 1966 at Australia's changeover to decimal currency. Below is a list of circulation and commemorative issues of the 20c piece.
Stuart Devlin's standard circulation platypus design:
Coins released into circulation:
1966-1982, 1985-1987, 1994, 1996-2011
Coins released in mint sets only:
1986-1987, 1989-1993, 1995
There is conjecture over 20c coins issued in 1983, 1984 and 1988. Whilst coins were minted for circulation, most of these were melted down. It's unclear how many were actually released.
Commemorative 20c coins
1995 50th Anniversary of the United Nations -circulation
2001 Sir Donald Bradman Tribute -circulation
2001 Centenary of Federation State Series
-New South Wales (NSW) -circulation
-Australian Capital Territory (ACT) -circulation
-Queensland (Qld) -circulation
-Victoria (Vic) -circulation
-Norfolk Island -circulation
-Northern Territory (NT) -circulation
-South Australia (SA) -circulation
-Western Australia (WA) -circulation
-Tasmania -circulation
2003 Volunteers -circulation
2005 60th Anniversary of WWII Coming Home -circulation
2007 Surf Lifesaver -NCLT
2008 Year of Planet Earth -NCLT
2009 Year of Astronomy -NCLT
2009 Australia Remembers Service Nurses -NCLT
2010 Burke and Wills -NCLT
2010 Australia Remembers Fromelles -NCLT
2011 Australian Wool -NCLT
2010 Tax Office -circulation
2011 The Ashes -NCLT
2011 International Womens Day -circulation
2011 Royal Wedding -circulation
2011 Australia Remembers War Historians -NCLT
2011 10th Anniversary of International Year of Volunteers -circulation
2012 Fields of Gold Australian Wheat -NCLT
2012 Bombing of Australia 1942 Lone Sentry (Shores Under Siege 3 coin Set) -NCLT
2012 Bombing of Australia 1942 Air Raid Shelter (Shores Under Siege 3 coin Set) -NCLT
2012 Merchant Navy Australia Remembers Series -NCLT
Articles specific to the 20c piece include the Australian 20c Coins Value Part 1 entry, the Rare Australian Decimal Coins: Part Two- Extreme decimal rarities article which mentions 20c coins struck on a scalloped foreign planchet and a 20c struck on a bi-metal planchet.
All issues of the 20c were struck at the Royal Australian Mint in Canberra with just a few exceptions. In 1966 there are Canberra and London varieties which we've looked at in the entry Australian 1966 20c Mint Marks. One die variety minted in London is the rare 1966 Wavy Baseline 20c. The 1981 20c issues also have coins struck in Canberra, The Royal Mint in Wales and the Royal Canadian Mint.
There are also a number of articles in the Coin Errors and Misstrikes master index with specific examples of error 20c coins.
Split Planchet 20c
Clamshell 20c
Clipped planchet and partial collar 20c
Feeder finger jam 20c
Posted by harrisk at May 9, 2011 12:07 PM
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