Australian 20 cent coin
| Australia | |
| Value | 0.20 AUD |
|---|---|
| Mass | 11.3 g |
| Diameter | 28.65 mm |
| Thickness | 2.50 mm |
| Edge | milled |
| Composition | 75% Copper, 25% Nickel |
| Years of minting | 1966–present |
| Catalog number | — |
| Obverse | |
 |
|
| Design | Queen Elizabeth II, Australia's Queen |
| Designer | Ian Rank-Broadley |
| Design date | 1999 |
| Reverse | |
 |
|
| Design | Platypus |
| Designer | Stuart Devlin |
| Design date | 1966 |
The twenty-cent coin of the Australian decimal currency system was issued with conversion to decimal currency on 14 February 1966, replacing the florin, worth two shillings or a tenth of a pound (the Australian pound was converted to two Australian dollars.)
Three different obverses have so far been used; 1966 to 1984 the head of Queen Elizabeth II by Arnold Machin; between 1985 and 1998 the head by Raphael Maklouf; and since 1999 the head by Ian Rank-Broadley. Inscription of AUSTRALIA on the right hand side and ELIZABETH II on the left hand side.
There have been various commemorative reverses:
Excepting commemorative varieties, there have been a number of varieties of regular issue coins identified by collectors, of both the obverse and reverse. The first of these seen is a highly prized variety of the 1966 issue, with a "wave" on the top of the bottom stroke of the 2 in "20". These coins are now sold for over $200, depending on condition. Other varieties sited of the obverse generally revolve around the length and number of the claws of the platypus. These are prone to changing if incorrect stamping pressure is used in creation of dies for the coins. Consequentially, these are often seen in coins produced at foreign mints.
For the Broadley head Reverse there are three issues: 1999 with thicker lettering, 2000–2003 slightly reduced lettering by 0.01 mm. The 2004 issue had two forms, a reduced head all around by 2 mm and As with flat top and thicker lettering, and the issue of 2000–03. Both were issued for circulation, but only the later in mint packs. 2005 and subsequent issues have seen a reversion to the 2000 series Reverse.
There are also some commemorative 20-cent coins.
In 1981, a large number of 20-cent coins were required, far over the capacity of the Royal Australian Mint facility in Canberra, leading to some coins being minted by other Commonwealth Mints, such as the Royal Mint in London, and the Royal Canadian Mint. In Australian Coin Collecting circles, the Canadian impression of the 20-cent coin is known as the "Ottawa Mint" version, which may be misleading, as post 1976, the Ottawa Mint only produced precious metal commemorative coins, like the Perth Mint, meaning the coins may have been produced at the Royal Canadian Mint's Winnipeg facilities.
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