2005 End of World War II 60th 50c Coin
The 2005 End of World War II 60th 50c is a circulating 50c coin with 26.6 million made. Value band: face value. Here is how to recognize it, what makes one worth more and what to check on yours.
- Year
- 2005
- Circulation mintage
- 26,600,000
- 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 2005 End of World War II 60th 50c worth?
26.6 million were made, so the 2005 End of World War II 60th 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 2005 End of World War II 60th 50c rare?
- No. 26.6 million were made, so circulated examples are worth face value.
- How many 2005 End of World War II 60th 50c coins were made?
- 26,600,000 were struck for circulation.
- What is the 2005 End of World War II 60th 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 2005 End of World War II 60th 50c still legal tender?
- Yes. Every 50c coin, commemoratives included, is legal tender in Australia.
Why the 2005 End of World War II 60th 50c was made
The Second World War ended in 1945, with Victory in the Pacific Day on 15 August bringing celebrations across Australia. Nearly a million Australians served during the war and around 40,000 died. Sixty years later, in 2005, the Royal Australian Mint marked the anniversary with a commemorative 50c and a $1, each taking a different approach. The $1 recalled the joy of victory, while the 50c chose remembrance.
The 50c had a circulation mintage of 26,600,000, one of the higher figures for a commemorative 50c, so it reached a very wide audience. The image was inspired by a photograph in the Australian War Memorial collection showing a burial at El Alamein in Egypt in 1942, where Australian troops fought in the desert campaign against German and Italian forces in some of the hardest battles of the war. Choosing a scene of mourning rather than triumph gave the coin a serious, reflective tone. It was released in a year when the remaining veterans of the war were honored at ceremonies across the country.
How to recognize it
Wojciech Pietranik designed and sculpted the reverse. It shows a burial scene in a war cemetery, with a soldier, a priest and mourners standing beside a grave. The lettering reads WORLD WAR with the years 1939 and 1945, along with REMEMBRANCE and FIFTY CENTS. The obverse carries Ian Rank-Broadley's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II with 2005 in the legend. Specifications are standard: 12 sides, 31.65 mm across the flats and 15.55 g of cupronickel with a plain edge. The silhouetted figures make this coin easy to recognize. It is also quite different from the 1995 Weary Dunlop 50c, which also marked the end of the war.
2005 End of World War II 60th 50c by the numbers
By the numbers, the 2005 End of World War II 60th 50c ranks 30th lowest of 32 circulating 50c coins with a published mintage. The next scarcer is the 1977 Silver Jubilee 50c (25 million); the next more common is the 2001 Centenary of Federation 50c (43.1 million).
For scale, the most common is the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games 50c with 49.6 million, about 1.9 times as many. The scarcest is the 2017 1967 Referendum and Mabo 50c with 1.4 million, 19 times fewer than this one.
It shared 2005 with 1 other circulating 50c coin design: the Commonwealth Games Student Design (20.5 million). The 2005 End of World War II 60th 50c was the most plentiful of the year.
What to check on your 2005 End of World War II 60th 50c
- Confirm the design and date: End of World War II 60th dated 2005.
- 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 26.6 million in circulation, this is one of the most common commemorative 50c coins of the 2000s and worn examples are face value. Its value is in its meaning. Uncirculated coins can carry a small premium, especially from mint sets, while the circulating coin is easy to find in change. The figures are small and lose detail quickly, so look for clean outlines. This coin pairs naturally with the 1995 Weary Dunlop 50c and the 2005 Dancing Man $1 in a wartime theme collection.
Mintage chart
Specifications
| Country | Australia |
|---|---|
| Denomination | 50 cents |
| Issuer | Royal Australian Mint |
| Year | 2005 |
| Circulation mintage | 26,600,000 |
| Composition | Cupronickel (75% copper, 25% nickel) |
| Weight | 15.55 g |
| Diameter | 31.65 mm |
| Shape | 12-sided |
| Edge | Plain |
Other 2005 50c coins
| Coin | Circulation mintage | Value band |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 Commonwealth Games Student Design 50c Coin | 20,500,000 | Face value |
Frequently asked questions
What is the scene on the 2005 50c coin?
It shows a burial at El Alamein in 1942, based on a photograph in the Australian War Memorial collection. A soldier, a priest and mourners stand by a grave, marking 60 years since the end of the Second World War.
Is the 2005 WWII remembrance 50c rare?
No. 26,600,000 were struck for circulation, one of the higher figures for a commemorative 50c. Worn examples are face value, while uncirculated coins from mint sets can bring a small premium.
Mintage figures: Australian fifty-cent coin (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0), compiled from Royal Australian Mint figures. How we build these pages.