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Australia 1998 50 Cents Bass Strait

2,964 views · Published 7 November 2018 · 5:42 · Indexed 26 September 2026

Channel: DC Coin World · 2018 · Education

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Bass and Flinders Circumnavigate Tasmania
Country Australia 
Type Circulating commemorative coin
Year 1998
Value 50 Cents
0.50 AUD = 0.36 USD
Metal Copper-nickel
Weight 15.55 g
Diameter 31.5 mm
Thickness 3 mm
Shape Dodecagonal (12-sided)
Orientation Medal alignment ↑↑
References KM# 364, Schön# 376
Commemorative issue
200th Anniversary of the Discovery of Bass Strait

Obverse
3rd portrait of Queen Elizabeth II facing right wearing the King George IV State Diadem

Lettering: 
ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1998
RDM

Engraver: Raphael David Maklouf 

Reverse
Portraits of Bass and Flinders, a map of part of Australia and all of Tasmania and a depiction of the route they took

Lettering: 
GEORGE BASS
MATTHEW FLINDERS
DISCOVERY OF BASS STRAIT 1798-1998
50

Engraver: Vladimir Gottwald

Edge
12 Sided Smooth

Comments
This coin commemorates the Bicentennial of the discovery of Bass strait. This strait sits between Australia and Tasmania. This expedition proved that Tasmania was an island. During the voyage in 1798 in the sailing boat the "Norfolk", Bass and Flinders circumnavigated the island of Tasmania establishing that it was in fact separated from the main part of Australia. George Bass and Matthew Flinders were leading the expedition. The Strait was named after Bass and an island in Bass Strait is named after Flinders.
https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces9557.html

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