1998 Bass and Flinders 50c Coin
The 1998 Bass and Flinders 50c is a circulating 50c coin with 22.4 million made. Value band: face value. Here is how to recognize it, what makes one worth more and what to check on yours.
- Year
- 1998
- Circulation mintage
- 22,400,000
- 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 1998 Bass and Flinders 50c worth?
22.4 million were made, so the 1998 Bass and Flinders 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 1998 Bass and Flinders 50c rare?
- No. 22.4 million were made, so circulated examples are worth face value.
- How many 1998 Bass and Flinders 50c coins were made?
- 22,400,000 were struck for circulation.
- What is the 1998 Bass and Flinders 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 1998 Bass and Flinders 50c still legal tender?
- Yes. Every 50c coin, commemoratives included, is legal tender in Australia.
Why the 1998 Bass and Flinders 50c was made
In 1798 George Bass and Matthew Flinders sailed the sloop Norfolk right around Van Diemen's Land, proving it was an island separated from the mainland by open water. Flinders later suggested the strait be named after Bass, which is how Bass Strait got its name. The voyage was one of a series by the two young naval men that filled in the map of southeastern Australia. Flinders went on to circumnavigate the whole continent and popularize the name Australia.
The Royal Australian Mint marked the bicentenary of the voyage with a commemorative 50c in 1998. The coin was struck in quantity, with 22,400,000 released into circulation. It also appeared in the 1998 mint and proof sets. A coin cover was issued as well. Because of the large mintage, this is one of the most frequently found commemorative 50c coins from the 1990s. It suits anyone who enjoys maritime history or the story of exploration. It pairs naturally with the 1970 Captain Cook coin, which tells an earlier chapter in the charting of Australia's coast.
How to recognize it
The reverse was designed at the Royal Australian Mint. It shows portraits of Bass and Flinders together with a map tracing their route around Tasmania. Lettering refers to the discovery of Bass Strait and the years 1798 and 1998 while naming both explorers, so the subject is clear even on a worn coin. The obverse carries Raphael Maklouf's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II with 1998 in the legend, the final year that portrait appeared on circulating coins. Specifications are standard: 12 sides, 31.65 mm across the flats, 15.55 g of cupronickel and a plain edge. Two faces on the reverse plus the Queen on the obverse make this an easy coin to pick out.
1998 Bass and Flinders 50c by the numbers
In mintage terms the 1998 Bass and Flinders 50c ranks 28th lowest of 32 circulating 50c coins with a published mintage. The next scarcer is the 1994 International Year of the Family 50c (21.3 million); the next more common is the 1977 Silver Jubilee 50c (25 million).
For scale, the most common is the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games 50c with 49.6 million, about 2.2 times as many. The scarcest is the 2017 1967 Referendum and Mabo 50c with 1.4 million, 16 times fewer than this one.
It was the only circulating commemorative 50c coin dated 1998.
What to check on your 1998 Bass and Flinders 50c
- Confirm the design and date: Bass and Flinders dated 1998.
- 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 22.4 million in circulation, this coin is common and worn examples are face value. The two portraits and the fine map lines are the first places wear shows. Uncirculated coins from the 1998 mint sets keep full detail and can bring a small premium. If you're building a set of 1990s commemoratives, this one is easy to upgrade, so it pays to wait for a clean example. A coin with heavy scratches or a damaged rim isn't worth keeping for anything but sentiment.
Mintage chart
Specifications
| Country | Australia |
|---|---|
| Denomination | 50 cents |
| Issuer | Royal Australian Mint |
| Year | 1998 |
| Circulation mintage | 22,400,000 |
| Composition | Cupronickel (75% copper, 25% nickel) |
| Weight | 15.55 g |
| Diameter | 31.65 mm |
| Shape | 12-sided |
| Edge | Plain |
Frequently asked questions
What does the 1998 Bass and Flinders 50c commemorate?
It marks 200 years since George Bass and Matthew Flinders sailed around Van Diemen's Land in 1798. Their voyage in the sloop Norfolk proved Tasmania was an island and led to the naming of Bass Strait.
How many 1998 Bass and Flinders 50c coins were made?
The circulation mintage was 22,400,000, which makes it a common coin. It was also included in the 1998 mint and proof sets, which is where you'll find the best preserved examples today.
Mintage figures: Australian fifty-cent coin (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0), compiled from Royal Australian Mint figures. How we build these pages.