2018 50 Cent Coloured Uncirculated 75th Anniversary of the 3801 A Legend of Steam
AUD$180
| Coin Type: | 50c |
| Grade: | Coloured Uncirculated |
| Year: | 2018 |
| Mint: | Royal Australian Mint |
| Mintage: | 30,000 |
| Metal: | Cupro-Nickel |
| Mass (approx): | 15.55g |
| Obverse: | Elizabeth II (Ian Rank-Broadley) |
| Reverse: | 3801 Steam Locomotive (A. Ball) |
The romance of train travel and the bygone era of steam locomotives is evoked and brought to life with this coloured uncirculated coin. 3801 – A Legend of Steam celebrates one of Australia’s most loved steam locomotives and its return to operation after a lengthy overhaul and restoration.
3801 locomotive entered into operation for New South Wales Railways in 1943. The 38 class were the last express passenger steam locomotives built for the state rail service and would go on to have successful tenures hauling all the principal trains such as the Newcastle Flyer and the Melbourne expresses. Originally 3801 was painted a dull grey due to war time economics, earning it the nickname The Grey Nurse. In 1947 it received its now distinctive green and yellow colour scheme.
In 1970, 3801 was the first engine to haul a train over the newly standardised transcontinental line from Sydney to Perth. The locomotive was invited to repeat this journey in 1988 as part of the Bicentennial celebrations.
To help celebrate the 75th anniversary of its entry into service, 3801 returned to operation in 2018 after an absence of over ten years and a lengthy overhaul and restoration.
*Stock images courtesy of the Royal Australian Mint.
