2008 Royal Australian Mint Uncirculated Coin Set - International Year of Planet Earth

Celebrate the geological significance of our world with the 2008 International Year of Planet Earth uncirculated coin set. Struck by the Royal Australian Mint in collaboration with Geoscience Australia, this landmark collection highlights the United Nations' theme of "Earth Sciences for Society," serving as a permanent tribute to the global scientific efforts required to understand geological hazards and ensure a sustainable future for our planet.

This set is highly prized by modern decimal collectors as it contains a unique, one-year-only commemorative coin that stands as a core milestone release for dedicated date-run completionists.

Specifications

• Year of Issue: 2008
• Theme: International Year of Planet Earth (United Nations)
• Finish: Uncirculated
• Mintage: Strictly limited to 66,234 sets worldwide
• Obverse Effigy: Ian Rank-Broadley portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
• Issuer / Mint: Royal Australian Mint, Canberra

Design Details & Exclusive 20c CommemorativeThis comprehensive collection includes all six standard Australian decimal denominations issued for the year (5c, 10c, 50c, $1, and $2), anchored by an exclusive, scarce reversal:

• The Exclusive 20-Cent Coin: Headlining the set is a unique commemorative 20c piece designed by Vladimir Gottwald. The reverse depicts a detailed map of Australia surrounded by symbolic, dynamic representations of the natural forces shaping our continent, including tsunamis, floods, earthquakes, and salinity.
• Numismatic Scarcity: Crucially, this specific commemorative 20c design was struck exclusively for this uncirculated year set and was never released into general commercial circulation, making this pack the only way to obtain the coin.

Condition and Presentation Note

• Uncirculated Quality: All six coins are preserved in untouched, original uncirculated condition, capturing sharp design strikes and strong mint architectural detail.
• Official Presentation: Housed in its original official Royal Australian Mint fold-out presentation card, featuring vibrant illustrations, historical context, and educational facts about the Earth’s layers and geological processes.
• Vintage Pack & Toning Notice: Please note that the outer cardboard presentation card may display minor signs of shelf wear or light softening of the corners consistent with the age of this 2008 release. Additionally, please be aware that the 50c and $1 coins in some of these sets have been affected by a minor to moderate degree of natural toning over time, an authentic vintage characteristic commonly seen in long-term archived uncirculated decimal sets.