Coins and Australia - Twenty-five cent 2016 - Australian coins price guide and values

Twenty-five cent 2016 - Peace

Geographically isolated and fighting a seemingly unstoppable enemy that had bombed Darwin, attacked Sydney Harbour and marched towards securing Port Moresby in New Guinea, Australians faced an uncertain future during the Second World War. But when Japan surrendered to Allied Forces in the Pacific on August 15, 1945, the nation erupted into celebration as four long years of war finally came to an end.

Throughout 1945, with Australian airmen flying operations over Europe and the Pacitif, sailors patrolling the waters all around the globe and soldiers involved in heavy fighting in New Guinea and Solomon Islands, Australian forces were more heavily committed than at any other time during the conflict. When Japan announced its surrender on August 15, 1945, spontaneous rejoicing broke out with wild scenes of celebration in cities across Australia, the mood of which is captured by the dancing man. By then, nearly a million Australians had served during the Second World War: 39,600 had died, 23,500 had been wounded and more than 28,000 had been taken prisoner.

• Alloy and composition: 89% copper, 5% aluminum, 5% zinc and 1% tin
• Magnetism: Non-magnetic
• Weight: 12.04 g
• Diameter: 32.6 mm
• Edge: Milled
• Finish(es) (types):
  • Uncirculated
• Legend (lettering):
  • Obverse: ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2016
  • Reverse: 25 PEACE
• Design(s):
  • Obverse: Bust of Queen Elizabeth II wearing a crown.
• Designer(s):
  • Obverse: Ian Rank-Broadley

Twenty-five cent 2016 - Battle of Long Tan

On the afternoon of August 18, 1966, in a rubber plantation near Long Tan, South Vietnam, a battle between Australian troops and the Viet Cong raged for four hours. In heavy monsoonal rain, the Australians fought in defensive positions and called in artillery to prevent the enemy from overwhelming them. At 7pm, a relief force arrived and as evening fell, the enemy withdrew. 18 Australians had been killed and 24 wounded.

In the early hours of August 17, 1966, the Australian base at Nui Dat was hit by mortar and rifle fire. Company-sized patrols located the firing positions and at midday, the following day, D Company 6RAR began searching for the enemy in the Long Tan area. After brief contact, the Australians advanced into a rubber plantation and it was here that a fierce battle ensued. The larger enemy forces tried several times to overrun the positions, but the Australian soldiers held their ground. Close artillery support was used to break up these attacks and ammunition was flown in to D Company as they ran short.

• Alloy and composition: 89% copper, 5% aluminum, 5% zinc and 1% tin
• Magnetism: Non-magnetic
• Weight: 12.04 g
• Diameter: 32.6 mm
• Edge: Milled
• Finish(es) (types):
  • Uncirculated
• Legend (lettering):
  • Obverse: ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2016
  • Reverse: 25 BATTLE OF LONG TAN
• Design(s):
  • Obverse: Bust of Queen Elizabeth II wearing a crown.
• Designer(s):
  • Obverse: Ian Rank-Broadley

Twenty-five cent 2016 - Our Legends

The Victoria Cross is our highest military honour, bestowed on soldiers for acts of extreme bravery during wartime. Few Australians have been awarded the Victoria Cross since it was first presented to lieutenant Neville Howse during the Boer War. Since the soldiers of all different ranks, serving in countries such as Kenya, France and Vietnam, have been awarded the coveted medal.

The first act of valour by an Australian to be recognised with a Victoria Cross occurred at Vredefort, South Africa on July 24, 1900. After a trumpeter's horse was shot from beneath him Lieutenant Neville Howse rescued the wounded an and carried him to safety under heavy rifle fire. One of the most recent Victoria Cross medals was awarded to Corporal Cameron Baird of the 2nd Commando Regiment, who received it posthumously.

Having already been awarded the Medal of Gallantry for an earlier action in Afghanistan, Baird participated in a raid on a Taliban stronghold in Urzgan province in June 2013 after his platoon came under intense enemy fire. Leading his section into the stronghold, Baird charged an enemy-occupied building where he exposed his position to the insurgents in order to draw fire away from the rest of his team.

• Alloy and composition: 89% copper, 5% aluminum, 5% zinc and 1% tin
• Magnetism: Non-magnetic
• Weight: 12.04 g
• Diameter: 32.6 mm
• Edge: Milled
• Finish(es) (types):
  • Uncirculated
• Legend (lettering):
  • Obverse: ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2016
  • Reverse: 25 OUR LEGENDS
• Design(s):
  • Obverse: Bust of Queen Elizabeth II wearing a crown.
• Designer(s):
  • Obverse: Ian Rank-Broadley

Twenty-five cent 2016 - Kokoda

Fighting in dense jungle, amid short supplies and tropical diseases, Kokoda was one of Australia's hardest fought battles of the Second World War. In July 1942, Japanese forces landed on the norther coast of New Guinea with the objective of making their way overland along the 96 km jungle path known as the Kokoda Track, then capturing Port Moresby on the southern coast. This would have given Japanese a base from which to attack Australia.

The Japanese assault on Port Moresby was initially successful. Despite winning battles in the early stages of the campaign, Australian troops were forced to retreat. Virtually all ammunition, equipment and supplies were carried over the mountainous jungle path by hand. Native carriers, known to the troops as Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels helped carry and care for the wounded. By September, the Japanese were within 50 km of Port Moresby. They too had to contend with the terrain and ultimately advanced beyond the limits of their supply line. The situation worsened for them once American troops occupied Guadalcanal, attacking Japanese ships.

Following the Japanese decision to withdraw, Australian and American troops followed the Japanese until they reached their coastal bases at Buna and Gona. While a victory for the Allies, the Kokoda campaign resulted in more than 600 Australian dead, 1,600 wounded and more than 4,000 other casualties. The fighting in New Guinea continued until August 1945.

• Alloy and composition: 89% copper, 5% aluminum, 5% zinc and 1% tin
• Magnetism: Non-magnetic
• Weight: 12.04 g
• Diameter: 32.6 mm
• Edge: Milled
• Finish(es) (types):
  • Uncirculated
• Legend (lettering):
  • Obverse: ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2016
  • Reverse: 25 KOKODA
• Design(s):
  • Obverse: Bust of Queen Elizabeth II wearing a crown.
• Designer(s):
  • Obverse: Ian Rank-Broadley