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Pattern - 1 Dollar - Elizabeth II 2nd Portrait, Obverse Trial
| Issuer | Royal Australian Mint |
|---|---|
| Year | 1966 |
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| Value | 1 Dollar (1 AUD) |
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| Obverse description | Effigy of Queen Elizabeth II facing right, representing the second portrait by Arnold Machin, with the Queen depicted wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara. The legend reads ELIZABETH II 1966 AUSTRALIA, arranged around the periphery of the obverse field. This is an obverse trial piece produced in connection with the introduction of decimal coinage in Australia. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Additional information |
Australia's decimal changeover on 14 February 1966 was one of the most compressed currency transitions in the country's history, and the RAM produced a significant number of trial and pattern pieces in the lead-up to finalising specifications. This obverse trial in sterling silver predates the decision to issue the circulating dollar in aluminium bronze — a composition change driven largely by cost and the practical demands of vending machine compatibility.
The silver dollar was never adopted for general circulation. Pieces like this one document the testing phase, not the outcome.