2018 50th Anniversary of the Battles of Coral & Balmoral 50 Cent Uncirculated in Card
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| Coin Type: | 50c |
| Grade: | Uncirculated |
| Year: | 2018 |
| Mint: | Royal Australian Mint |
| Mintage: | 30,000 |
| Metal: | Copper Nickel |
| Mass (approx): | 15.55g |
| Obverse: | Queen Elizabeth II (Ian Rank-Broadley) |
| Reverse: | Soldiers manning M2A2 Howitzer (A. Ball) |
During the “Mini-Tet” offensive mounted by the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese forces in May 1968, the 1st Australian Task Force deployed two battalions to an area 20 kilometres north of Bien Hoa city. The Australians established a number of fire support bases to provide firing points for artillery and mortars. These could cover foot patrols carried out by the infantrymen of 1RAR and 3RAR.
One of these bases was Fire Support Base Coral; which was attacked several times between 13 and 22 May. In the first attack, the 1RAR mortar platoon position was overrun. With extensive air support, the attack was beaten off and the gun-pit recaptured. On 26 and 27 May the enemy attacked Fire Support Base Balmoral, but on both occasions were driven off by troops from 3RAR, supported by Centurion tanks.
When the fighting ended, 25 Australian soldiers had died and over 100 were wounded.
Coin image depicts two soldiers manning a M2A2 Howitzer, along with a Centurion tank and Iroquois helicopter.
*Stock images courtesy of the Royal Australian Mint. We may have multiples available.
