2009 Royal Australian Mint Uncirculated Coin Set - International Year of Astronomy

Celebrate a pivotal moment in scientific history with the 2009 International Year of Astronomy uncirculated mint set. Struck by the Royal Australian Mint, this limited-edition collection commemorates the International Year of Astronomy (IYA) and marks the 400th anniversary of Galileo Galilei’s revolutionary use of the telescope—the foundation of modern observational astronomy.

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: 2009
• Theme: International Year of Astronomy (United Nations)
• Finish: Uncirculated
• Mintage: Strictly limited to 50,957 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. The reverse design beautifully depicts stargazers observing a celestial star chart against the night sky, symbolising humankind's enduring fascination with the mysteries of the cosmos.
• 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 packaging, featuring vibrant illustrative artwork, historical context, and educational facts about astronomy.
• Vintage Pack Wear: Please note that because this set was originally issued in 2009, the outer cardboard presentation card may display minor signs of shelf wear, faint edge softening, or light handling marks consistent with the age of this vintage release.