1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games 50c Coin
The 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games 50c is a circulating 50c coin with 49.6 million made. Value band: face value. Here is how to recognize it, what makes one worth more and what to check on yours.
- Year
- 1982
- Circulation mintage
- 49,600,000
- Value band
- Face value
- Composition
- Cupronickel (75% copper, 25% nickel)
Original illustration of the coin's shape and metal. Tap to flip. Not a picture of the actual design.
Face value · Small premium · Collector premium · Significant rarity. We use bands because prices change daily.
What is a 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games 50c worth?
49.6 million were made, so the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games 50c is easy to find. A circulated one is worth face value; collectors pay a little more only for uncirculated coins.
What would make yours worth more:
- Uncirculated condition with no bag marks
- An original mint roll or set
- A recognized variety or genuine error
For market prices, look at recent sold results for the same coin in the same condition, not asking prices.
Quick answers
- Is the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games 50c rare?
- No. 49.6 million were made, so circulated examples are worth face value.
- How many 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games 50c coins were made?
- 49,600,000 were struck for circulation.
- What is the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games 50c made of?
- Cupronickel (75% copper, 25% nickel). It weighs 15.55 g and measures 31.65 mm, with a 12-sided shape.
- Is the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games 50c still legal tender?
- Yes. Every 50c coin, commemoratives included, is legal tender in Australia.
Why the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games 50c was made
Brisbane hosted the XII Commonwealth Games from 30 September to 9 October 1982. The Games brought athletes from across the Commonwealth to the city and left it with new venues and a mascot, a kangaroo called Matilda, that many Australians still remember. To mark the occasion the Royal Australian Mint gave the 50c a sporting design for the first time.
The Mint went big on this one. The circulation mintage was 49,600,000, the highest of any commemorative 50c to date and roughly double the figure for most earlier issues. That flood of coins means the Games 50c is one of the easiest commemoratives to find in old change. It's also a coin many people remember spending as children, which gives it a nostalgic pull even though it is very common. For anyone starting a collection of Australian commemoratives, it's an ideal first coin: easy to find, clearly designed and tied to a well loved event. Sporting themes returned to the 50c in 2005 with a student designed coin for the Melbourne Commonwealth Games.
How to recognize it
Stuart Devlin designed the reverse: the Games logo over a map of Australia, ringed by small athletes for twelve of the sports, from boxing and cycling to lawn bowls. The lettering reads XII COMMONWEALTH GAMES BRISBANE, so the design is easy to confirm even on a worn coin. The obverse carries Arnold Machin's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II with 1982 in the legend. Like every 50c since 1969, it is 12-sided, 31.65 mm across the flats and 15.55 g of cupronickel with a plain edge. If yours shows the coat of arms, it's a regular 1982 50c. The little athletes are the finest detail on the coin, so they are the first thing to soften with wear.
1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games 50c by the numbers
In mintage terms the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games 50c is the most common of 32 circulating 50c coins with a published mintage. The next scarcer is the 2001 Centenary of Federation 50c (43.1 million).
It was the only circulating commemorative 50c coin dated 1982.
What to check on your 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games 50c
- Confirm the design and date: Brisbane Commonwealth Games dated 1982.
- Check the shape and size: the 50c is 12-sided, 31.65 mm across and weighs 15.55 g.
- Look at the surfaces under a light. Coins from mint rolls or sets have unbroken luster; change-worn coins show scuffs on the high points.
- Never clean it. Polishing leaves fine scratches and an unnatural shine that collectors avoid.
With nearly 50 million coins in circulation, this is the most plentiful commemorative 50c of all and circulated examples are face value. Only exceptional coins attract interest: full luster, no scratches across the open fields and clean rims. Those can earn a small premium from collectors who want a matched set of Australian commemoratives. Because the coin is so common, there's no reason to settle for a damaged one. Keep looking until you find a clean example and spend the rest.
Mintage chart
Specifications
| Country | Australia |
|---|---|
| Denomination | 50 cents |
| Issuer | Royal Australian Mint |
| Year | 1982 |
| Circulation mintage | 49,600,000 |
| Composition | Cupronickel (75% copper, 25% nickel) |
| Weight | 15.55 g |
| Diameter | 31.65 mm |
| Shape | 12-sided |
| Edge | Plain |
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1982 Commonwealth Games 50c rare?
No. Its circulation mintage of 49,600,000 is the highest of any commemorative 50c, so it is one of the most common. Worn coins are face value, while a pristine one may bring a small premium.
What does the design on the 1982 50c mean?
It puts the Brisbane Games logo over a map of Australia, surrounded by figures for twelve of the sports on the program. The lettering names the XII Commonwealth Games and Brisbane, which hosted them in 1982.
Mintage figures: Australian fifty-cent coin (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0), compiled from Royal Australian Mint figures. How we build these pages.