Uncirculated Aluminium Bronze

The 2009 coin is struck by The Perth Mint from aluminium bronze in uncirculated quality.

Southern Cross Reverse Feature

The coin’s reverse portrays stylised representations of an adult and child on Earth gazing upwards at the Southern Cross constellation.  The design, which includes The Perth Mint’s ‘P’ mintmark, also includes the inscription INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF ASTRONOMY 2009.

Australian Legal Tender

Issued as legal tender under the Australian Currency Act 1965, the coin depicts the Ian Rank-Bradley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse.

Illustrated Australian Post Envelope

The coin is housed in an envelope depicting a stunning coloured image of the dome of the Anglo-Australian Telescope at Siding Spring, NSW.

Spectacular ‘Astrophotography’ Stamps

The envelope also features three Australia Post stamps revealing the beauty of astronomical objects through the art of astrophotography:

• 55c stamp – Sombrero Galaxy M104, in the Virgo constellation, which is named after its extraordinary resemblance to a Mexican hat.
• 1.45 stamp – Reflection Nebula M78, in the constellation of Orion, one of the brightest diffuse reflection nebulae in the sky.
• $2.10 stamp – Spiral Galaxy M83, in the Hydra constellation, also known as the ‘southern pinwheel’, which is thought to be like our own Milky Way.

Commemorative Post Mark

Each stamp is cancelled with a commemorative post mark in the form of stars representing the Southern Cross constellation and the words:

First Day of Issue
25 August 2009
Southern Cross
WA 6426    

Technical Coin Specifications