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RARE CHANGE / COINS / PLATE 10 · 50C · 1966 · ROYAL AUSTRALIAN MINT

1966 round 50c, and what it's worth

The round Australian fifty cent coin dated 1966 and struck in 80% silver, the only year of the round 50c, not the twelve-sided cupronickel 50c issued from 1969.

Not enough sales to pricen = 0

We don't have a fair price for the 1966 round 50c yet. We show a price only when at least 5 confirmed single-item auction sales in one condition back it, and we have none.

Common coins and notes often sell in bulk lots, which can't be priced one item at a time. The checks below still tell you whether yours is the version collectors look for.

Updated 30 Oct 2026. Prices refresh after every new auction result.

How to check yours

Each letter on the drawing marks where to look. A magnifying glass or your phone's zoom helps.

Front (head side)
ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 1966B
Back
A

  1. Is the coin round with a ridged edge, rather than twelve-sided?

    The edge and outline of the coin
    YES
    A circular coin with fine ridges around the edge.
    NO
    Twelve flat sides and a smooth edge: the later cupronickel 50c.

  2. Does the obverse read 1966?

    Obverse (Queen's side), the date after AUSTRALIA
    YES
    The date 1966 follows AUSTRALIA on the right side of the portrait.
    NO
    Another year, which means it is not the silver round 50c.
Check mine from a photo

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Record

Face value
50c
Year
1966
Mint
Royal Australian Mint
  • The coin is 80% silver and 20% copper and weighs 13.28 g. [1][3]
  • About 36.5 million were made. [1][3]
  • It was issued with decimal currency on 14 February 1966. [1][3]
  • Once the price of silver pushed its metal value above 50 cents it stopped being made, and a twelve-sided 50c replaced it in 1969. [1][3]
  • The Coat of Arms reverse is by Stuart Devlin. [1][3]
  • The portrait of the Queen is by Arnold Machin. [2][3]

Questions

How much is a 1966 round 50c worth?

There aren't yet enough single-item auction sales of the 1966 round 50c to give a fair price. We'll show one as soon as at least 5 sales in one condition back it.

How do I know if my 1966 round 50c is genuine?

Work through the checks above. They cover what genuine examples show and what altered or different versions don't. A photo can't prove a coin or note is genuine, so for a valuable find, ask a professional numismatist or a grading service before you sell.

Should I clean it?

No. Cleaning leaves fine scratches that collectors spot at once, and cleaned coins and notes sell for much less. Keep it as it is, in a paper envelope or a coin holder.

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from at least two independent sources. Prices come from our own record of auction results.

  1. Royal Australian Mint: Fifty Cents, read 29 Oct 2026
  2. Royal Australian Mint: Heads or Tails, read 29 Oct 2026
  3. Australian round fifty-cent coin, read 29 Oct 2026