Incused Millenium coin

[trout]

The origin of this coin has me stumped.
In my opinion it isn't an error as such but a deliberate design change.
The population estimates suggest this coin was produced from only a single die. ?
Could it be Mint Sport, produced this way as mint mark (like the 1966 coins) or could they even be good forgeries.
No information has been forthcoming from the mint about these coins.
Does anyone know for certain as to how these coins came about?

I have a few of these and the design is identical on all of them so they MUST have come from the same die.
The burning question is WHY that particular die was designed that way?

[Mister T]

I thought the estimated mintage figure came from the mint.
Not sure about its origins but I think it was suggested at least that it was a prototype proof die.

[eccentric]

I contacted the RAM about these coins when they first came out.  Apparently the intention was to use a different format for the 50c in the mint sets and a new die was prepared to strike these coins.  This new die featured the incuse flag.  However, a decision was later made to use the normal circulation strikes for the mint set, and the new die was used for a limited striking of coins.  These coins were put directly into circulation.  The number of coins issued from this die was estimated at 200,000 which accounts for the relative scarcity of this die variation.

[trout]

I thought the estimated mintage figure came from the mint.
Not sure about its origins but I think it was suggested at least that it was a prototype proof die.

I had thoughts that it was something to do with the proof issue as well.
I bought a proof set simply to see if the incused part of the design was to hold the colour in the union jack.
Defiantly not the entire sail is smooth (To allow for the pad printing).
Why can't we get a definitive answer from the mint regarding this coin?

I contacted the RAM about these coins when they first came out.  Apparently the intention was to use a different format for the 50c in the mint sets and a new die was prepared to strike these coins.  This new die featured the incuse flag.  However, a decision was later made to use the normal circulation strikes for the mint set, and the new die was used for a limited striking of coins.  These coins were put directly into circulation.  The number of coins issued from this die was estimated at 200,000 which accounts for the relative scarcity of this die variation.

Thanks for that, That actualy makes sense :good:

[Mister T]

I wonder what the intention was for uncirculated sets.
And I guess there's no incused uncirculated sets then.

[Ozcoins]

Just my own thoughts as I have no inside information.
I think some type of prototype die seems most likely.
I doubt it is a forgery. I am pretty sure that would have been discovered by now.
I have seen the suggestion that the design was changed due to premature failure. That does not seem likely to me as I have not heard of any with damaged die errors.
I wonder if the more common design more closely matches the actual Australian flag?
That would be a valid reason for the change.
However they came about, I think they are interesting and I will keep collecting them!
Posting from my phone was very slow.
Eccentric's explanation sounds right to me!

[eccentric]

No - there are no incused mint set coins.  The RAM confirmed that all incuse coins were put into circulation.  Not sure why this course of action was followed.  However, the difference between the coins is not marked so perhaps the expense of making the new dies simply wasn't justified.  In any case, it did give rise to a very collectable coin.