Australia 2006 Silver One Ounce Proof Coin 50 Years Of TV

Obverse: Rank-Broadley portrait of Elizabeth II to right;

Reverse: Lenticular image of television

Purity: 99.9% Weight: 31.635g Nett: 1.02ozt

A truly innovative coin - lots of colour and detail.

Struck from 1oz of 99.9% pure silver in proof quality and issued as Australian legal tender, the 50 Years of Australian Television 1956-2006 coin features the Mint's highly acclaimed 'lenticular' imaging effects to portray six television icons from the past 50 years of broadcasting.

The Perth Mint is the only mint in the world to issue legal tender coins displaying 'moving' lenticular images.

Like the classic clips and TV memorabilia at the Powerhouse, The Perth Mint's numismatic tribute recognises the impact of the world's most powerful medium and the outstanding achievements of Australian producers and broadcasters.

Australian television began in Sydney in September 1956 with Station TCN's This is Television.

The following year, Melbourne viewers tuned into variety show In Melbourne Tonight, introduced by Graham Kennedy, who is depicted in colour in the first of six images on the coin's lenticular 'screen’.

As the coin is moved, the images 'morph' miraculously from one to another in a sequence portraying some of the most memorable personalities and productions in Australian television history:

Graham Kennedy - the 'King' of Australian television, who not only named Australia's leading TV awards the 'Logies', but was a recipient on no less than 14 occasions, including Star of the Year in 1959;

Playschool - Australia's most successful regular television program for pre-schoolers that has been on air since 1966;

Skippy - Australia's first international TV superstar whose worldwide popularity earned the show a Logie for Best Export Production in 1969;

Countdown - the Australian music institution said to have created a spike in electricity demand every Sunday night as a result of its fans' devotion.

The Movie Show - the film connoisseurs' choice hosted by Margaret Pomeranz and David Stratton, whose famous spats made it irresistible to almost everyone; and

Hey Hey It's Saturday, Daryl Somers' extraordinarily popular variety show that lasted 28 years because anything could happen - and usually did.

The coin is housed in a spiral-bound presentation booklet and dust cover illustrated with a family watching an early television set.

The booklet, accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity, examines the appeal and greatness of each television icon portrayed on the coin's innovative reverse.

SKU: 22123