2019 International Year of Indigenous Languages Silver 50c Proof

2019 International Year of Indigenous Languages Silver 50c Proof

To recognize 2019 as the International Year of Indigenous Languages, the Royal Australian Mint has issued a Fine Silver Proof 50 cent Coin in collaboration with the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS). This coin acknowledges Australia's unique Indigenous languages, and the efforts being undertaken to preserve these important parts of Australian Indigenous culture.

The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2019 as the International Year of Indigenous Languages. In Australia, as in the world, Indigenous Languages are under threat. From over 250 individual language groups in Australia in 1788, almost 130 are now extinct and many of those that remain are identified as threatened. Languages are crucial to the identity of Indigenous Australians as well as being an important part of Australia's history and culture.

The coin samples the diversity of existing Indigenous languages in Australia, recognizing the important of protecting these languages for all Australians.

The reverse design was inspired by Australia's many and varied existing Indigenous languages.

This release has been produced in collaboration with the Royal Australian Mint and the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies.

Each coin comes in a presentation case along with a Certificate of Authenticity.