1998 Proof Coin Set "Bass and Flinders"

Description

This issued to commemorate the bicentenary of the discovery of Bass Strait by George Bass and Matthew Flinders in 1798. Both George Bass and Matthew Flinders were officers aboard HMS Reliance, the ship that brought the second governor, John Hunter, to New South Wales.

This proof set is stored in the original RAM packaging, including a vibrant and protective blue folder, and an illustrated box.

The Obverse of each coin features her majesty Queen Elizabeth II, designed by Raphael Maklouf, (Her Effigy known as the 'Third Portrait').

The Reverse of the 5c, 10c, 20c, and $1 coins were designed by Stuart Devlin, the $2 coin was designed Horst Hahne and the 50c coin was designed by Vladimir Gottwald. The proof coins in this set are struck on specially prepared blanks using hand polished dies. The finished products freatures a delicately frosted deisgn on a mirror-like surface.
Both Flinders and Bass appear on the 50 cent coin in this set, as well as the map of their route around Tasmania.

A total of 32,225 proof sets were released in 1998.