2019 50c CuNi Uncirculated Coin - 70th Anniversary of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO)

2019 50c CuNi Uncirculated Coin - 70th Anniversary of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO)

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 Ian Rank-Broadley

• Australian legal tender