Coin Pièce Australia 50 cents Copper-Nickel Elisabeth II, Reine d'Angleterre et du Commonwealth 2012-2014 Sydney

This lot brings together three Australian 50-cent coins struck between 2012 and 2014, each dedicated to a sign of the Chinese zodiac. These coins were issued by the Sydney Mint, one of the oldest and most respected monetary institutions in Australia.

Each coin is made of copper-nickel, an alloy commonly used in the production of circulating coins due to its durability and resistance to corrosion. The face value of 50 cents grants these coins the status of Australian legal tender.

The obverse of each coin features the portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of England and the Commonwealth, whose effigy is traditionally depicted on the coins of British Commonwealth member countries, of which Australia is a part. This representation is accompanied by the usual inscriptions relating to the face value and the issuing country.

The reverse of each of the three coins is dedicated to an animal from the Chinese lunar calendar, corresponding respectively to the years 2012, 2013 and 2014. In the Chinese astrological tradition, these years are associated with the Dragon (2012), the Snake (2013) and the Horse (2014). The graphic representations unique to each sign adorn the reverse in an illustrative style characteristic of the thematic series issued by the Sydney Mint.

This series reflects the Sydney Mint's interest in Asian cultural themes, highlighting the close historical and economic ties that bind Australia to the countries of Asia. Brought together in a lot of three coins, these three vintages form a coherent sequence within the Chinese zodiac series, which spans a twelve-year cycle.