2019 50c CuNi Uncirculated Carded Coin - ASIO

Description

In 2019, the Royal Australia Mint commemorates the 70 anniversary of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) with the release of Spies and Spooks-70 years of ASIO. Evoking a bygone era of cold war espionage, the design of this uncirculated 50c coin is filled with secret symbols to discover and coded messages to break.

Founded in 1949, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) has been an integral part of Australia's landscape, committed to protecting the country, citizens and interests from those who wish it harm. ASIO has always been at the forefront of Australia's national security, albeit quietly and 'in the shadows', throughout the most important decades of Australia's contemporary history.

From the Petrov Affair and the Cold War era to the digital security and surveillance of today, ASIO has always evoked images of spies and espionage, which have in turn ignited the imagination of writers and been intriguing inspiration for classic literature and popular culture. However, beyond the novels, movies and stories it has always been necessary for ASIO to keep and protect Australia's secrets.

• Presented in a card showing both vintage and contemporary ASIO images
  
• Coin's reverse features the representation of a vintage 'one-time' pad grouping of random letters similar to those used by ASIO operatives to send coded messages
  
• Coin's obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II designed by lan Rank-Broadley
  
• Australian legal tender

The ASIO 70th Anniversary 2019 50c Uncirculated Coin gives retail customers an exclusive opportunity to win the only PROOF version of this coin produced. All retail customers need to do is purchase one of these coins from the Royal Australian Mint to receive the key to crack the secret message encrypted on the coin and register for the competition at www.coincryption.com.au. Competition opens 9 September and closes 4 November 2019.

NOMINAL SPECIFICATIONS
Denomination 50c
Year 2019
Metal content CuNi
Mass 15.55 g
Diameter 31.51 mm
Finish Uncirculated
Maximum mintage 20 000
Packaging Coin in card
Obverse designer lan Rank-Broadley
Reverse designer Adam Ball